Inexpensive new cars are rare, but these models still start under $25,000

July 3, 2026 adminsr

Need a fresh set of wheels? Well, it’s a tough time to buy an affordable car.

In April, the average list price for a new vehicle accelerated past $50,000, per CarGurus.

High prices are forcing Americans into some scary-looking finances, too. The average monthly payment has stayed well above $750, and the average loan term is inching toward seven years.

Meanwhile, the supply of lower-priced new cars is shrinking. Cox Automotive data shared with Business Insider shows the affordable end of the new-car market has narrowed over the past year.

In April, Cox counted 20 models with average transaction prices below $30,000, down from 27 last May. Four of those models had average MSRPs above $30,000, suggesting some vehicles are falling below the threshold only because of discounts. Six had incentives above the national average of 6.7%, another sign that deals are helping keep some models in affordable territory.

Still, the cheap, new car isn’t fully extinct yet. A small group of new cars still starts below $25,000 — at least before mandatory destination fees, taxes, options, and dealer markups factor in.

Here are the 11 lowest-priced new cars on sale today.

Hyundai Venue: starting at $20,550

Hyundai’s Venue, with a starting price just above $20,000, is America’s lowest-cost vehicle.

Hyundai

Hyundai’s Venue is the lowest-priced new vehicle on sale in the US. The diminutive SUV starts at $20,550, and even the top SEL trim starts at $22,825 before destination.

Chevy Trax: starting at $21,700

A light green Chevy Trax is parked on a patch of pavement. — Chevy’s subcompact crossover, the Trax, was the brand’s third-most-popular car in the first quarter of 2026.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet’s Trax got a facelift for the 2024 model year, while keeping a lower starting price than many rivals. The base LS trim starts at $21,700 before destination, while the 2RS and ACTIV trims start at $25,400.

Kia K4: starting at $22,290

A Kia K4 sedan is displayed on a white showroom floor during an automotive show. — Kia offers two variants of the sub-$30,000 K4.

Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images

Kia’s K4 replaced the Forte as the brand’s entry-level compact sedan for the 2025 model year. The K4 starts at $22,290 before destination, making it the lowest-priced new sedan on sale in the US.

Drivers can also opt for the hatchback version, which starts at $24,990 before destination.

Nissan Sentra: starting at $22,600

A beige Nissan Sentra sedan is parked on a carpeted floor at the Detroit Auto Show. — Nissan gave the Sentra a major facelift after discontinuing its lower-priced sibling, the Versa.

: Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

With the Versa gonethe Sentra is now Nissan’s cheapest sedan. The redesigned 2026 Sentra starts at $22,600 before destination for the base S trim.

Shoppers may still find remaining 2025 Sentras on dealer lots, which could give buyers another lower-priced option depending on local inventory.

Hyundai Elantra: starting at $22,625

A gray Hyundai Elantra takes a turn on a tree-lined street. — Pricing for Hyundai’s Elantra spans from under $23,000 to over $40,000, depending on the trim.

Hyundai

Hyundai’s smallest sedan remains one of the few compact cars with a starting price below $25,000, even after the standard destination fee.

The Elantra lineup also includes hybrid and performance-oriented N models, though higher-end versions move far beyond budget-car territory. The Elantra N can easily push above $40,000.

Nissan Kicks: starting at $22,730

A lime green Nissan Kicks drives down a four-lane road with a tree-lined median. — Nissan’s sneaker-inspired SUV is the company’s second-lowest-priced model.

Nissan

The Kicks (as in, sneakers) is Nissan’s lowest-priced SUV, slotting below the larger Rogue. The base S trim starts below $25,000 before destination.

Still, options and higher trims — including all-wheel-drive models — can quickly push the Kicks’ price above $30,000.

Toyota Corolla: starting at $23,125

A white Toyota Corolla sedan faces the camera, parked next to a body of water. — Toyota’s Corolla is the world’s best-selling automotive nameplate, with more than 50 million units sold.

Toyota

Toyota’s Corolla remains one of the most familiar names in the compact-car segment, and it still clears the sub-$25,000 bar. The base LE trim starts at $23,125 before destination.

The automaker also has a hatchback version with a starting price of $24,580, while hybrid models start at $24,975.

Chevy Trailblazer: starting at $23,300

A blue Chevy Trailblazer with a black top is parked on the showroom floor during an auto showcase. — Chevy’s Trailblazer is slightly more expensive than the Trax, but it offers optional all-wheel drive.

Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Chevrolet’s Trailblazer gives GM another lower-priced option alongside the Trax. The Trailblazer’s stance is more upright, giving it a more standard SUV-ish look.

The base LS trim starts below $25,000 before destination, though all-wheel drive and higher trims quickly move pricing into $30,000 territory.

Kia Seltos: starting at $23,790

A turquoise Kia Seltos sits on a patch of gravel at dusk. — Kia’s Seltos is getting a major facelift for 2027.

Come on

Kia ended production of the boxy Soul SUV at the end of 2025, effectively handing over the title for the brand’s lowest-cost SUV to the Seltos.

Seltos is getting a major remodel in 2027, including modern exterior design updates, more interior room, and an optional hybrid powertrain. Pricing for the new model is expected to increase.

Volkswagen Jetta: starting at $23,995

A light blue Volkswagen Jetta sedan drives down a two-lane road past a hill with trees. — Volkswagen’s Jetta is a mainstay low-priced sedan in the American market.

Volkswagen

The Jetta — which first reached American shores in 1979 — is Volkswagen’s last sedan in the US. Its base S trim remains under $25,000 before destination, while the cushier SEL model starts just around $30,000. A sports-oriented GLI trim jumps past $33,000.

Slate Truck: starting at $24,950

A Slate Truck is parked underneath a marquee sign with its $24,950 starting price. — Slate finally unveiled its sub-$25k starting price this week.

Slate

Slate’s only vehicle will have a starting price of $24,950, the company confirmed to Business Insider.

Base models of the little electric truck are an exercise in minimalism: they have only two doors and two seats, no speakers for music, and no infotainment screen on the dashboard. A full battery will power the car for 205 miles.

Shoppers can add options to the car after it arrives in their driveway — including everything from an SUV cap and a second row of seats to a dash-mount for a Bluetooth speaker. Options can quickly push the truck over the $30,000 price point, Business Insider found.