Today’s Ask is a tough one for me, because I find all new cars to be interesting. Some more interesting than others, of course, but even the cheapest models (which some, I assume, consider to be “least interesting” by default) I find to be very interesting, for two reasons. First and foremost, cheap cars are where my new-car budget is, and it’s only natural to be more interested in cars one can actually afford. That doesn’t mean I’m disinterested in the many, so many cars I can’t afford, but I’m not going to bother configuring cars with a base price twice what I can afford or poring over hypercar specs.
Second, cheap cars are interesting because the designers and engineers are so much more constrained, and every penny is pinched with a hydraulic press. I’m fascinated by where and how a little extra is spent and where corners were cut to make up for it. I recall my old Honda Civic DX’s glove compartment was a single piece of plastic with molded-in nubs that popped into holes to serve as the hinge points. Just a spectacularly cheap design, but hey, that allowed for a little extra cash to be applied to more important parts of the car.
That said, and with no research beyond a quick brain-racking, I’d say the cheap new cars I find most interesting are …
Chevy Trax. Every time I see a Trax, I think “those look good.”
Another “those look good:” the Kia K4 hatchback.
I just rented a Mazda 3 sedan in Hawaii and enjoyed it a lot, so it’s definitely on the list (and it would be even if I hadn’t, TBH. Give it to me in Soul Red Crystal with a hatch.
How about you? What cheap cars do you find most interesting?
+1 on the Mazda 3
Cheap is relative, but certainly the Mavericks being the cheapest for what they offer. I found it so interesting I bought one, an ’25 AWD Hybrid Lariat with 4K towing. Not cheap, but still (at the time) MSRP at about $41K, I got it for a great deal for under $38K for my loaded example.
My youngest also found it so interesting, she then purchased a new 25 Maverick too, but just an plain XLT Hybrid 2wd, for under $32K.
So far, both cars have been great.
If you look not at MSRP, but wheeling/dealing deals for a new car, especially one that FORD decided to discontinue, the best I’ve ever seen is the deal my oldest got… A ’25 Ford Escape PHEV (that comes nicely optioned standard) – sticker was $54K, she got it NEW for $27K. That’s DAMN CHEAP for a nice CUV that gets 40+ mpg in the city, mid 30s on the highway, and also goes about 35-40 miles on battery. Perfect if your daily commute is less than 30 miles or so. Plus it easily recharges at night off a simple 120v outlet. Best deal I’ve ever seen on a NEW vehicle.
PS when going cheap, I’d give extra points to the KIA/Hyundai offerings due to their longer warranties.
I keep looking at those blue bolts. For somewhere between $22k and $25k it looks decent enough. I just don’t trust GM. I’m interested in the slate but still on the fence about pulling the trigger. If the new leaf had AWD for under $30k I might have bought one. I see those bright yellow green and blue Hyundai Konas that look quite interesting for $25k they seem quite decent. I couldn’t believe those Mazda cx50 are $23k. That sort of interested me but they appear driven by absolutely nutcase wrong coasters. They end up flipped in ditches alot plus are normally road raging and throwing rocks at people after they almost crash into them.So I don’t want to be associated with that crazy. Plus I really thought and I’m not sure if they have a problem because I see so many flipped in ditches. Maverick has gotten to expensive for me to be interested. Soul was always sort of interesting along with the lower end Kia and Hyundai cars. Right now Elantra is sort of interesting at $22k K4 seems decent enough. But so is that Korean Buick at $23k.
To answer the question in a different manner – I actually find the vast majority of expensive cars to be un-interesting and boring. Go back 10+ years, sit in something like a Audi A8, and you’d be blown away by the interior quality, features, driving dynamics, style, etc. Sit in something similar today, and it doesn’t really feel that different than anything else out there (especially now that automakers have given up on interior design by just gluing tablets on the dashboard).
This is a good answer I think. Luxury seems to have been commodifyed into purely high-end sensual consumption. That’s always been part of it (think how good the leather interiors of older Mercedes smell), but critically, there was a sizeable element of peace of mind as well, that you were purchasing something of high quality through and through, something that had held up to the demands of racing, etc. Not a glamorous virtue maybe, but a satisfying one that could be said to embrace concepts like value.
That seems largely gone, replaced by a flashy look-at-me ethos that’s fairly hollow inside. You might even make the case that cheap cars where designers are forced to innovate to offer features while staying within a budget have way more actual substance.
We could argue that today there is hardly any innovation in small cars too.
Almost all of them (all of them?) are variations of the same theme: front-transverse-engined, front wheel drive, McPherson struts in the front, torsion bean in the rear. 3/4 cylinder inline engines (usually with a turbo). 5 door hatchbacks (lower or higher depending if they’ve been crosoverised), two seats in the front, a bench to seat (almost always) three in the back.
There has been no novelty in packaging or engineering for years (decades?). And no racing pedigree because all major series are now running bespoke, often space-framed silhouettes in their top classes.
On the other hand, regular cars have become so good that they would run rings around legends from 3 or 4 decades ago, even basic ones.
I always enjoy that a contemporary Toyota Camry is a better performer than most classic muscle or sports cars. But your point does make me wonder if the electric era and its all-new powertrain will birth new ideas for many of things you mention, since many of the current ones are the way they are, at least somewhere, because of the ICE engine they’re built around.
The fact that rear wheel drive is coming back for affordable cars or things like the fully independent rear suspension in the 5 are good signs.
Let’s see!
Yes but EVs come from the computer crowd that want to roll over to a new device every 18 months, and quite frankly most people can’t rollover to a new car every 18 months maybe this where leasing works and avoiding the subscription because my phone has the necessary apps.
Frankly they should save money and just offer a link up to the owners current devices. My ,$69 phone can do that.
I would be interested in a Seltos or Crosstrek but there are preciously few cheap cars.
Right now I have a KIA K4 as rental. I think it looks cool, inside and out. It has ok steering feel and is very refined. However without a doubt it is the most boring car I have ever driven. I was bored of it before I’d even gotten out of the Avis lot. It is definitely not a bad car – performance, ride and handling and practicality are all good. But there is something about it that is so soul sapping, so anti enthusiast, so grey and bland and lacking in any flavour or joy at all and another few hours in it has only reinforced that. I simply cannot fathom purchasing one if you have ever driven any other car. Put it this way I’ve had its Ceratos as rentals and they were much better so maybe its the CVT though to be fair its very refined. There is just something about it. No it’s not the ADAS. A 2014 Mitsubishi ASX rental car was much better though so maybe not the CVT. A 2019 Nissan X-Trail (Rogue) was much better, on the same roads. Maybe it is just too refined.
Counterpoint: There is nothing cheap now. The car market, from top to bottom, is a complete mess. Hard to be interesting when it’s overpriced new. The used market is even more absurd. Automakers stopped offering interesting runabouts to America because new American car buyers wanted more. More size. More power. More options. More cupholders. More bling.
Maximum everything in America is going to contribute to our downfall. Maximum profit squeezed out of every angle of our lives is exhausting what I find “interesting”. What I find interesting and alarming is how we’re just sleepwalking into the abyss. My two favorite things, cars and building home PCs, have been ravaged by insane greed. And while car prices are seriously crazy, try building yourself a new gaming computer today. *tear*
This timeline must end. Doc, Marty, do your thing…
A base Nissan Versa costs $17,390, which is around €15,260. That’s pretty affordable isn’t it?
Well right now you can get a new Versa for $22 to $24 thousand if you want a 2024 or 2025 there don’t appear to be any 2026 when 2027 should be coming out so I guess they discontinued them for 2026. Which to me makes them a car to look at
For sure. It’s not that we get absolutely nothing, that was a bit exaggerated, just that compared to decades past, we barely have any interesting cheap, new options, which rolls into having few good, used options. I’m not sure if the cheap, used car market cratering is similar all the world over, but used car prices in the US, especially the lowest end, are really bad now.
I just did a quick search and currently in Spain, in the new car market there are 88 different cars (includes trim levels, engines and automatic / manual) on sale for €20,000 ($22,800) or less.
There are some questionable choices down there, but most of the others are perfectly decent A and B-segment hatchbacks and crossovers (although true that in some cases with very small underpowered normally aspirated engines).
I say you are partially right. Back when supplies were limited they wisely built the most profitable. But now the supplies are more available they refuse to open up production of cheaper vehicles because they realize they can stop having 3 lines of production, overtime, and extra inventory and still make more money. But all it takes is one company to release an affordable popular vehicle and the floodgates break open
I think this timeline may not end, but it may become a little too exciting, then really boring for a dozen million years or so. The last 5000 years have been a real hoot, though. The last couple of hundred years have been alternately terrible and really great. The folks who think “end times” are a good thing and are doing their best to take the rest of us with them, in my opinion, can run along ahead without me.
Honda Super One/Super N. A tiny EV which borrows the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s fake gearshifts, with engine noise pumped through a overspecced Bose sound system? Count me in. Assuming it actually comes in at under AU$40k of course. Over that threshold and I’d no longer consider it “cheap” given how tiny it is.
I had a Trax rental last year and I think they did a fine job with it. Throttle response was a bit weird, but I was used to my wife’s Civic hybrid and going back to an economy gasser is an adjustment. I’d take the Civic over the Trax any day, unless you need the extra space.
I’ve come to realize my conception of which new cars are “cheap” is deeply flawed… For whatever reason, I believed you could get a base model 0-option 2-door manual Bronco for under 30k, and that would be my answer, but no, those are over 43k now. Still probably the most interesting new vehicle to me in that price range, but not a cheap vehicle.
I also had in my mind that Caterham 7s were a lot less expensive than they actually are, considering how much “car” you actually get… Again, still the most interesting car in its price range, but more expensive than a Bronco even!
Toyota GR86, there we go, that’s a decently affordable interesting new car that turns out to actually be the price I thought it was. You can even get it in blue for no additional cost, how nice! Assuming you can find one with no markups, that is.
But, the current Miata is still a bit less expensive, and I do find it interesting. So that wins.
But, it wins because the Slate isn’t for sale yet and therefore doesn’t count :p Lack of places to charge it would be the only downside of a Slate for me, the range is perfectly adequate for my uses. I just love the customizability, and the fact that you could buy a usable vehicle outright before you can afford your dream vehicle, and then upgrade your vehicle with factory support over time as you save money to make it your dream vehicle! It rewards patience in a way no other vehicle does, and I love it for that. They don’t just sell you a truck, they sell you an opportunity to dream.
Probably not truly the cheapest I find neat but what came first to mind is the base Kona Electric. It is the center of a venn diagram specific to me, kind of.
It’s a sub-ish-compact hatchback/SUV thing, standard with V2L now, a place to secure a spare tire under the trunk floor, conventional door handles.
The 200 mile base model won’t go too far but it’ll be just fine for commuting and runabout duty, it’s a Hyundai but the combination of features it combines are rather compelling. To a point.
Well, two of my three were in the article: Chevy Trax and Kia K4 hatchback. My third is the Kia Niro, mostly because I enjoyed my old Niro so much and the newer one has better styling. I will admit that I don’t care for the K4 sedan with its odd rear end, but the hatchback really nailed the look.
Prius prime if we’re limited to out own markets.
Geely Preface sedan if not.
The Buick Envista (say it “On-Veesta” to be fancy). Other than the awful bumper-located incandescent brake lights and lack of AWD (and power), this is a GREAT looking car for the money—inside and out. I know it would cost a couple grand more with more kit, but goddamn she a stunner. It looks great in Avenir guise, but my preference is the ST with its black wheels. It looks like a poor man’s Lamborghini Urus or something. I should probably note I have not updated my eye glasses prescription for in four years, but still.
Just put the Chevy Bolt powertrain in this with AWD and I think that would be money.
Just made a small research on the Buick Envista, as it was being mentioned several times in the comments.
Why is such a car available with such an underpowered engine. Are Americans trying to be Europeans?
For comparison the Skoda Karoq (similar wheelbase but shorter) is available with a 2 litre turbocharged four cylinder 190bhp engine. Although probably the best seller is the 1.5 litre 150bhp turbo four.
I believe (but am not totally sure) that GM did its decade-old trick of having aggressive throttle tip-in, so they feel pretty quick off the line (if wheezy shortly thereafter) and feel pretty decently-powered for around town use. Which is the target for these.
I’ve been entranced with these guys since they came out, as Buick hasn’t made a cool everyday car in very long time.
It is a nice looking car indeed.
I know what you mean, my aunt’s Smart Forfour Turbo is set up in the same way, aggressive throttle mapping in the first quarter to have this quick off the line feeling. But afterwards 90bhp can only take you so far…
Also, funny a 4.7m car is considered a “town car”.
I’ve helped a lot of non-enthusiasts shop for and buy cars over the years. Most people like when something is “zippy” around town, and that seems to be the primary indicator of performance for a lot of folks. Which makes sense, most people aren’t regularly sprinting from 0-60.
Like they say, Americans talk horsepower but drive torque. I remember the car ads of my youth that endlessly touted HP figures but almost never mentioned torque. Of course, we get almost neither these days.
Funny, I just walked by one of these earlier today and thought (1) those are handsome vehicles and (2) no one ever seems to talk about modern Buicks.
Chevy Bolt for a cheap EV. Way better than it has any right to be.
Ford Maverick for a hybrid does-it-all vehicle. Even at 2026 pricing it’s a good value.
I was driving the three cheapest cars in the UK a month ago, the Dacia Sandero was, erm, quite good, rather brilliantly it comes in a LPG version, if it were to be available in US dollars it would be about $20,000, here it is £15,000. I liked it, Mind, I have many cars, none of which are post 2000, so I might have mildly different criteria. Oh I tell lies, I have a Nissan Leaf, it says it will go 40 miles, it has gone 80!
I am interested in the new Slate pickup. It is exactly what I need in a truck. I might pick one up if they are still around in the a few years.
Venue.
I tried to rent one last year, but was “upgraded” to a Taos. So disappointed.
Tell me about it. I was meant to get a Suzuki Swift but got the looks cool but turns out incredibly boring to drive new KIA K4 hatch
$0. Because there is not a single new car on the market that I have any interest in buying anymore. Last year, I probably could have about stomached a new 6spd GTI, but that option is no more. I still like Gladiators a LOT, but same thing – no manual anymore. I am not paying new car money for an automatic anything. Never have, never will.
Just no reason to buy new when there are literally infinite used cars of the types I actually want still out there in minty condition. I had a TON of fun buying new cars for a dozen years, but those days are done.
Drove an absolutely zero option base model Chevy Trax as a rental a little while back and even with 4 grown men aboard it was a perfectly capable little car. Who knows what the long term reliability will be, but I thought it was really good for the price point.
i’m on team “there are no bad new cars” I thinking it was Jason Torchinsky who coined that phrase? I agree the chevy trax sets a new standard for what a “cheap” new car is as it is decently roomy, cargo area is good, turbocharged engine (!) , the technology is actually impressive for an “entry level” car.
But interesting??
I would like to nominate the Chevy Trailblazer all wheel drive . Yeah its a closely related cousin. But the Higher ground clearence, shorter wheelbase, 9 speed auto awd version and a bit of power. the whole package is actually very compelling. I drive one company provided for work ive put about 50k miles on it. I had work put all terrain tires on it and it’s completely changed the character of the car in a good way. With the factory economy car tires it was very stiff and traction was very limited. With the all terains are much smoother and driving down dirt and muddy roads you don’t really worry the ground clearence is there, the aproach angle is fantastic you dont really have to slow down to turn on and off curbs and aprons , in the wet you can really feel the rear axle earning it’s paycheck and you can even press a button to turn the awd off if you feel like hyper mileing!
The Toyota GR 86 is such a fantastic entry level sports car. its like a modern 240sx. if/when toyota discontinues those a lot of people are going to be very sad and enthusiasts are going to hang on to them for dear life. I can’t think of any other car that is less expensive that i can say undoubtedly “these are going to be coveted fiercely in 20 years”
So far after 30 months and 7000 miles, we really love our 2024 Chevrolet Trax LS. We bought it as a retirement road-trip vehicle and we’ve taken it on over 6500 miles of road trips so far.
To us, it’s not an SUV, as Chevrolet calls it, but rather a subcompact little wagon. Just this past week we drove it across Michigan’s upper peninsula, across the Mackinac bridge (where you can give four actual dollar bills to a real person manning (personing?) the toll booth) and spent a few days in the Dearborn, MI area visiting the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. (BTW, the Detroit suburbs seem to be filled with the 2nd-gen Trax and its Buick cousin)
From there we went across lower Michigan and into the Chicago suburbs. While we were there, we found a metal patio table and four metal chairs at an antique shop. They were foldable, and the table and all four chairs fit behind the back seats of our little Trax and we still had room for our suitcases and the two coolers we packed for our trip.
It’s a great little car. I have to be careful not to spin the tires when taking off. It’s pretty quick for a 3-cylinder. It’s been averaging around 33 mpg. Others have mentioned the projected reliability of that little wet-timing-belt turbocharged 1.2L, but ours came with a free third-party lifetime powertrain warranty that covers the entire powertrain from the turbo down to the wheel bearings, so hopefully we get many years worth of road-trips out of ours.
2024 Trax LS
I agree. Last month my wife fell in love with the Envista. The quietness and ride quality are amazing, especially considering we have the 19″ wheels. I hesitated over the wet timing belt but got over it. It’s a great retirement car.
Right now it’s the Slate, but I’m open to the lil’ Ford truck provided it’s not loaded with tech crap.
I won’t be looking until late 2027 though so plenty of time to find out.
For me, definitely the Slate pickup truck. It’s an EV without tech bloat or deliberate enshittification and is supposedly repairable with basic tools. I don’t even like trucks. But it is the only new vehicle that appeals to me enough that if I needed a car, I’d seriously consider purchasing one. Not even the new Miata does that, as much as I prefer sports cars.
I still might buy one, in full, without a payment plan.
No where did it say we had to pick a US market vehicle.
My choice is the Suzuki Jimny. About 25K in Mexico and about 15K for the Kei spec one in Japan.
Totally I would trade my Wrangler for a 4 door Jimny tomorrow if I could get a new one with a warranty.
If I needed to replace my car (’20 manual Honda Fit, now THAT’S an interesting cheap car!) right away, I’d be looking for a late model small-body Chevy Bolt since I can L2 charge for free at work.