Cars360 – All the Cars on Sale for Less Than $20,000
With the imminent demise of the 2022 Chevrolet Spark approaching, the number of budget-friendly new car options has dwindled to less than one. Thankfully, there are still a few vehicles on the market with sticker prices under $20,000 – an ideal price point if you want to keep the payments low. Here's a roundup of every car you can buy for under $20,000.
1. Mitsubishi Mirage (and Mirage G4)
Hail the king of all affordability: When the sun sets this summer, the Mitsubishi Mirage will commandeer the least expensive car on sale. The base MSRP of the substandard Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan is $15,925 and $16,795 respectively.
Fuel economy is good for both, according to the EPA, with the Mirage expected to consume an estimated 36 mpg in combined city and highway driving, and the Mirage G4 setting the 35 mpg benchmark. Both the figures are mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission. Choosing the available continuously variable automatic transmission (or CVT) increases efficiency by 2-3 mpg, but automatic models also cost a bit more. However, that’s where the positives end for the new cheapest car in America. The Mirage in any form lacks refinement and is marked by a noisy interior, underpowered three-cylinder engine and poor build quality.
2. Nissan Versa
With an MSRP of $16,105, the Nissan Versa is the least expensive new sedan you can buy. Fuel economy with the manual transmission is estimated at 30 mpg in the EPA’s combined cycle, while buyers of the CVT-equipped model get 35 mpg combined.
The entry-level Versa is surprisingly spacious for this segment, and comes equipped with advanced safety assists that are often found only on the top trims of rivals. Even the Versa SR loaded with CVT has an MSRP of $19,515 – a few hundred dollars under our budget range. The Versa is one of the more pleasant subcompact cars on sale today, and it’s better than the Mirage Hatch for only $180 more.
3. Kia Rio
The Kia Rio is another economy car that is available as either a sedan or a hatchback. The starting MSRP for the sedan is $17,275, while the hatch starts at $18,215. Both come standard with a CVT automatic, which costs extra on the Mirage and Versa. Like the Nissan, the Rio is at its best when you move up the trim ladder, where the car remains relatively inexpensive but comes equipped with a generous suite of active safety technology.
Fuel economy is estimated at 36 mpg – slightly less than the Mirage with its CVT – but the Kia is a better package overall. The Rio is mechanically related to the Hyundai Xcent (below) but was refreshed for 2021, while the Xcent has been sporting the same look since 2018.
4. Hyundai Accent
If we had to pick a leader in the under $20K segment for driving feel, it would be the Hyundai Accent. Though the Accent is not sporty in the traditional sense, it handles quite well for an economy car. The Xcent sedan has a starting MSRP of $17,690 and comes standard with a CVT automatic this year. Fuel economy for the Accent mirrors that of the Rio, with an estimated 36 mpg combined.
Even the base model is a step up from old-fashioned economy cars, but we like the Accent best in the midair SEL trim ($18,945). Its many upgrades include convenient Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone integration and a 7-inch touchscreen. That inclusion alone makes it feel like a more expensive car, especially when you consider the Accent’s comfortable ride and solid build quality.
5. Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is the only all-wheel-drive vehicle you can get for under $20,000. The MSRP for a manual transmission-equipped sedan starts at $19,790, with the optional CVT overshooting our budget cap at $21,090. Fuel economy for this compact sedan takes a noticeable hit over the subcompacts listed here, with an EPA estimate of 26 mpg combined. Paying extra for CVT raises the combined estimate to a more reasonable 32 mpg combined.
There are signs that a completely redesigned Impreza is on the horizon, even early next year, so Subaru buyers may want to wait before committing. Still, the current Impreza is a smart choice for buyers who want an affordable car with all-wheel drive. That said, if all-wheel drive isn’t that much of a priority for you, there are a number of options that are not only cheaper but also more efficient and better equipped for the money.
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