Online calculator to help you decide on a house or car within your budget
These simple tips will help you figure out your budget if you’re looking to buy a home or car.
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- Prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price without options.
- Although many of the cheapest cars are made by foreign manufacturers, there are still some affordable domestic cars.
Cheap new cars are almost extinct.
Car prices have been rising for the past few years and show no signs of going down. There are still some more affordable options, but even those vehicles are now more expensive. If you want a car for around $30,000 or less, you’ll have to dig pretty deep.
Most of the cheaper vehicles on sale today are made in Japan or Korea, but there are still affordable domestic options as well. As part of the USA TODAY Network, the Detroit Free Press reviewed the American automaker’s products in October and found 10 cars that aren’t all that expensive. Prices are based on starting MSRP without options and are subject to change over time.
Chevrolet Trax: $22,995
The Trax is a small, compact crossover that is GM’s least expensive new car offering. Estimated fuel economy reaches 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
Chevrolet Trailblazer: $24,995
The Chevrolet Trailblazer may not look like its previous versions from the early to mid-2000s, but at least it’s more affordable.
Buick Envista: $25,995
The Envista may be a cheap car, but it has a better interior than other competing small crossovers. It’s built on the same platform as the Trax and shares the same 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive.
Buick Encore GX: $27,895
The Envista’s big brother, the Encore GX, looks similar and has the same powertrain, but it’s larger and offers optional all-wheel drive.
Ford Maverick: $28,145
The Ford Maverick is the cheapest pickup truck on the market. It may be smaller than other trucks, but it can still tow up to 2,000 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds in base trim.
Chevrolet Volt: $28,995
The Chevrolet Volt is back. Although it is officially listed as a 2027 model, it will be released in the first quarter of 2026.
Dodge Hornet: $29,995
The Dodge Hornet is a small, sporty crossover from an automaker known for its loud, aggressive muscle cars. It may not have the excitement of other Dodge cars, but it’s the most affordable model in the lineup. The Hornet is built on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, so production has been delayed due to tariffs. It is unclear whether there will be a 2026 model.
Jeep Compass: $30,165
Jeep’s least expensive product is the Compass. It has been redesigned for the 2026 model year, and prices will increase from about $26,000 to nearly $30,000. This is one of the most affordable SUVs with off-road capabilities.
Chevrolet Equinox: $30,495
The gas-powered Equinox is cheaper than the EV. While some of the previously mentioned vehicles were small crossovers, the Equinox is larger and offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo.
GMC Terrain: $31,895
GMC is a company that only manufactures trucks and SUVs. The Terrain is the least expensive vehicle in the lineup, but it’s no slouch. The base Elevation trim comes loaded with great technology, including a 15-inch infotainment screen and over 16 standard safety features.
Kenan Thompson is a car culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Keenan at kthompson@freepress.com. Follow him on Instagram @keenanaautos. To sign up automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.
