5 low-cost automobiles you may 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 would 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 may 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, sincere transportation. It’s the solely automotive within the US beginning at below $20K. The excellent news is that it’s a nicer automotive than the value suggests. The unhealthy information is that Nissan will almost certainly finish manufacturing of the Versa S this yr.

Essentially the most reasonably priced Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. There’s a CVT possibility out there, which provides higher gasoline financial system, however will price about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has first rate luxurious options for its worth, with a number of choices you may add and pay for. Security and driver help expertise 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 right for each day city driving, commuting, the varsity run, and weekly buying. Its small dimension makes it simple to park and maneuver in heavy site visitors. Security and driver help expertise 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 dimension, this automotive is a bit under-powered for easy freeway overtaking. The essential Venue has a vibe that kind 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 to be like, and a boxy, upright physique that creates quite a lot of area inside. The Soul is a really sensible and nice city runaround with good options and many driver help and security expertise to maintain everyone secure, though it too doesn’t get the utmost stars in crash assessments.

The Soul comes normal with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The essential LX already gives an excellent, stable automotive, 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 to be like and a nice, 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 costlier variants, however it’s nonetheless a nice automotive to drive within the metropolis, and seems like good worth for cash. Security and driver help are on par with the opposite automobiles on this record.

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

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1

2025 Nissan Sentra S

$21,590

Nissan

The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan, larger than the opposite automobiles on this record, on par with the costlier Honda Civic or VW Jetta in dimension. Reviewers typically comment on the comfy entrance seats and nice inside fittings. It additionally has an honest quantity of trunk area for a sedan.

The Sentra has a standard two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear modifications like an automated. This improves the texture and sound of the automotive, if not the efficiency. The baseline Sentra has good options that may be upgraded, and its security and driver help expertise 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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