5 low-cost automobiles you will need to do your analysis on

We had been all very when the $20K Slate EV was announced. It was a pickup with no options, not even painted. Inside was a clean dashboard and windup home windows — and you possibly can add options at a worth.

Did we just like the Slate because it was cheap and since we might pay for under the options we wished? The average car costs around $48K, however you will get one for round $20K, and even much less. What do you get for that? Is it a horrible empty field or is it good sufficient for somebody who hates paying for stuff they do not want? I did not know both, so I did some digging, and that is what I discovered.

5

2025 Nissan Versa S

$17,190

Nissan

The Nissan Versa S is a small five-seat FWD sedan typically described as primary, trustworthy transportation. It’s the solely automobile within the US beginning at below $20K. The excellent news is that it’s a nicer automobile than the worth suggests. The unhealthy information is that Nissan will almost certainly finish manufacturing of the Versa S this yr.

Probably the most inexpensive Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. There’s a CVT possibility obtainable, which provides higher gas financial system, however will price about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has respectable luxurious options for its worth, with a number of choices you may add and pay for. Security and driver help know-how are additionally extra complete than I anticipated.

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4

2025 Hyundai Venue SE

$20,200

Hyundai

The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover that seats 5 comfortably, with good options as normal. As a small crossover, the Venue is good for day by day city driving, commuting, the college run, and weekly procuring. Its small measurement makes it simple to park and maneuver in heavy site visitors. Security and driver help know-how are superb, though it doesn’t rating the utmost on its crash check.

The Venue comes normal with CVT transmission, which provides to its easy driving, however even at that small measurement, this automobile is a bit under-powered for easy freeway overtaking. The fundamental Venue has a vibe that form of justifies its $3K greater price ticket than the essential Nissan Versa.

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3

2025 Kia Soul LX

$20,490

Kia

The Kia Soul is a subcompact five-seat crossover with quirky appears, and a boxy, upright physique that creates lots of house inside. The Soul is a really sensible and nice city runaround with good options and many driver help and security know-how to maintain everyone secure, though it too doesn’t get the utmost stars in crash checks.

The Soul comes normal with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The fundamental LX already supplies a superb, stable automobile, and you’ve got a alternative of many optional features to make your ride better. Just like the Venue, the Kia Soul is extra at dwelling within the metropolis than on the freeway.

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2

2025 Chevrolet Trax LS

$20,500

Wiki Commons Ethan Llamas

The Chevrolet Trax is a five-seat subcompact crossover. It has sharp appears and a pleasing, if considerably bland, inside. The Trax has decrease, extra car-like dimensions than the Kia Soul, for instance. The underside trim is decidedly naked in options in comparison with its dearer variants, however it’s nonetheless a pleasing automobile to drive within the metropolis, and appears like good worth for cash. Security and driver help are on par with the opposite automobiles on this listing.

One space the place it stands out is the six-speed automated transmission for many who dislike the sound and really feel of the CVT, though the small turbo engine has to work laborious for its horses. The Trax has good house for passengers and cargo.

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1

2025 Nissan Sentra S

$21,590

Nissan

The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan, greater than the opposite automobiles on this listing, on par with the dearer Honda Civic or VW Jetta in measurement. Reviewers typically comment on the snug entrance seats and nice inside fittings. It additionally has an honest quantity of trunk house for a sedan.

The Sentra has a traditional two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear modifications like an automated. This improves the texture and sound of the automobile, if not the efficiency. The baseline Sentra has good options that may be upgraded, and its security and driver help know-how is pretty much as good as any sedan in its class. Just like the smaller Versa, this Nissan additionally will get 5 stars within the NHTSA crash check.

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