The Cheapest New Cars Of 2026 That Still Feel Affordable – HotCars
When we talk about cheap cars here, we’re typically thinking about used cars. That’s understandable, as you can always find the biggest bargains if you dip into the used market. But, what if you want a cheap new car? That’s where finding a true bargain becomes much more difficult. Sadly, you won’t find anything cheaper than $20,000 in American showrooms today. But, there are plenty of options below $25,000. All of them give you great value for money, even if you might have to put up with some compromises. They’re also all from proven manufacturers that are known for making solid, reliable cars.
Interestingly, while SUVs reign supreme in today’s car market, only a couple of these cheap new cars are crossovers. Most of these cars are traditional sedans or hatchbacks. Another interesting thing you might notice is that a couple of them still give you the option to row your own gears!
It’s not that surprising that a variant of the 2026 Honda Civic Sedan would be on this list. The Civic has always represented great value for money. That’s especially the case with the cheaper versions, like the base model LX. The Civic LX comes with a 150 hp 2-liter inline-4, mated to a CVT transmission. While this might not be the most enthusiast-friendly powertrain, it’s got enough power to get around and it’s pretty economical at 36 mpg combined. It’s got the Honda Sensing safety features as standard too, so it doesn’t scrimp on safety even at its low price.
The hybrid version of the 2026 Toyota Corolla LE is the cheapest new car you can get in America that’s got any kind of electrification. It’s powered by a combination of a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle inline-4 and a single electric motor, producing 138 hp all together. It’s also got Toyota’s standard-issue eCVT system as part of the powertrain. While this doesn’t result in anything special or exciting, what it does give you is a practical daily driver with proven reliability at a very cheap price.
The Mazda 3 has to be one of North America’s most enduring daily drivers. It refuses to die, and refuses to modernize in the same way that its competitors have. As a result, the base model 2.5 S is a great new car bargain for people who just want something simple to get them from A to B. This variant of the 2026 Mazda 3 has a 186 hp 2.5-liter engine that uses Mazda’s emissions-reducing Skyactiv technology, and is available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s available in sedan or hatchback form, with the sedan being the cheaper model at $24,550 base MSRP in the US. If you go for the sedan version, you get the cheapest car Mazda sells in the USA and one of the cheapest new cars in America in general.
These are the perfect cars for anyone who wants to drive brand new on a tight budget. Some of them still offer manual transmissions.
Like many compact sedans these days, the Volkswagen Jetta tends to not get a spotlight. But, it really should, because the base model S version of the 2026 Jetta is possibly one of the biggest new car bargains out there. Its base MSRP of just under $24,000 makes it the cheapest Volkswagen you can in American showrooms. It comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and you can have it as a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic. That’s enough power to get this compact sedan from A to B, and it’s definitely a great option if you absolutely want something with a stick-shift.
The sporty GLI model tends to take the spotlight in the Jetta range, and for good reason. But, the base S deserves its flowers too for how it’s such great value for money. Plus, it’s pretty rare to find any regular brand-new car that still lets you row your own gears!
No, that’s not a typo. This is the second time the 2026 Toyota Corolla LE is appearing on this list! That’s because this is the non-hybrid version. The non-hybrid version has a 2-liter inline 4 that produces 169 hp, and it’s only available with a CVT transmission. It’s significantly cheaper, and that’s no doubt down to it not having all the additional components of its hybrid sibling. That noticeable dip in price also makes it the cheapest model Toyota sells in the US. North America doesn’t get the supremely budget-friendly Yaris, so the Corolla acts as its entry-level car on the American side of the atlantic.
The Hyundai Elantra has always been one of the best value for money options on the new car market. That’s even the case with the fast Elantra N, which is one of the cheapest sports sedans you can buy in North America. It’s not surprising, then, that the 2026 Hyundai Elantra SE is one of the cheapest new cars you can buy in the USA. Like several other cars here, it’s powered by a 2-liter inline-4 (producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque) that’s paired up with a CVT transmission. That makes it much less fun than the Elantra N. But, as a daily driver, it’s pretty economical (around 36 mpg combined). It’s also really hard to argue with that base MSRP of less than $23,000!
A genuinely quick car and a relatively affordable price tag aren’t mutually exclusive in 2025.
The Nissan Sentra has been a staple of the American sedan market for decades now. The 2026 model year version carries on in that tradition, offering a great and reliable car for anyone who still wants a traditional 4-door sedan. The entry-level S version is also, surprisingly, one of the cheapest new cars on the market right now. It’s yet another 2-liter inline-4 combined with a CVT choice here, with the engine producing 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, the Sentra S is one of the few cars left that still has steel wheels with wheel covers!
Once known for its budget-friendly cars, Kia has become a bit more of a premium brand these days. It does still sell at least one very cheap new car, though. That’s the LX version of the 2026 Kia K4. It’s got the same engine and transmission as the Hyundai Elantra SE we covered earlier, giving it similar performance and economy. The main difference with the Kia K4 is its funkier and more futuristic styling, and that cheaper base MSRP that dips below $22,000.
If you want to buy American, the 2026 Chevrolet Trax could be a good choice. The base model LS is the cheapest car from any American brand on sale right now. It’s one of only two crossovers on this list, too. This has the smallest engine out of any car on this list – a 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-3 producing 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. It’s also the only car here to exclusively come with a conventional, 6-speed automatic transmission. If you want something that’s just a no-nonsense, budget compact car, this more American approach to things could be the way to go!
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The second of the two crossovers here, the Hyundai Venue has made a name for itself in recent years for being stupendously cheap. It’s no surprise, then, that the 2026 model year version is still the cheapest new car on sale in America. The base model SE can be yours for just $20,550 at its base MSRP in the USA. All versions of the Venue get only one engine option (a 1.6-liter inline 4 that produces 121 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque) and the only transmission option across the range is a CVT. Not all buyers will be thrilled with that. It’s maybe a decent trade-off for how cheap it is, though!
Sources: Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
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