Let face it. New cars today are too expensive. Prices have been creeping up for years and the current batch of every-changing tariffs aren’t helping. Things are so bad, the United States government is considering some unusual measures to help curb costs.
In this era of doom, gloom, and high transactional prices, there still are some good value options on the market. We don’t necessarily mean the lowest priced vehicles on the market, but rather those that offer a lot of car-per-dollar.
Below we’ve have listed 10 of these options, spanning several different segments, that are full of value. Hey, if we’re going to have to spend a lot of money for a new vehicle right now, we best be getting our money’s worth.
We’ll start things off with a car that offers a ton of space for little money. The 2025 Nissan Versa may be a subcompact, but inside it feels much more spacious. Even the entry-level S trim comes with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, all for $18,635 including destination charges. Even going for the sportier looking, fully loaded SR model slots in around the $23,000 mark.
Sticking to the theme of a lot of physical car for not that much mosey, we have the larger-than-compact Volkswagen Jetta. With more than enough space for four adults, the Jetta also includes a more refined, premium feeling vehicle than the price point would suggest. A torquey 1.5-liter turbocharged engine comes standard as does an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Other standard equipment on the entry level S trim includes alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, dual 8-inch screens, and more. Pricing is just a bit over $25,000 including destination charges.
If saving fuel is just as important as saving money, Toyota has it covered. The 2025 Corolla Hybrid LE starts at a price of just $25,770 including destination charges. Sure, it comes with steel wheels wearing wheel covers and manually operated seats, but the 134 hp engine has good torque and it achieves 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway. Plus, it’s a Toyota Corolla, so resale value and reliability should be top notch.
Cars aren’t for everyone, in fact, they aren’t for most people these days. Consumers are crazy for SUVs. One of the most affordable SUVs to offer all-wheel drive is the new Nissan Kicks. Starting at a price of $25,425 including destination charges, the all-wheel drive funky-looking Kicks S features a 2.0-liter engine. If all-wheel drive isn’t as important, a front wheel drive model is also available for $1,500 less.
Despite the low price point, the S trim still includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless apple CarPlay, and a 7-inch digital driver information centre.
The Subaru Crosstrek may not be one of the more affordable compact SUVs anymore, but if it’s off-road capability in a competent vehicle, at the lowest price point, it’s hard to beat this little adventurer. With 180 hp, standard all-wheel drive, Subaru’s X-Mode, and 8.7-inches of ground clearance, the Crosstrek has the hardware to travel quite far off-road.
At a price of $28,415 including destination charges, the Crosstrek has just as good on road manners as well, and includes nice features like 18-inch alloy wheels, dual zone automatic climate control, and paddle shifters.
The current Goldilocks of the SUV world is the Hyundai Santa Fe. Choice is immense, with gas or hybrid powertrains, front- or all-wheel drive, near luxury content or off-road hardware. Starting at a price of $36,400 including destination charges, even a fully loaded AWD Hybrid Calligraphy, which rivals some near-luxury competitors in terms of content and finish, only costs $51,850. Plus, despite being smaller than most other three-row SUVs on the market, it has one of the more spacious third rows currently available. There’s purpose behind that boxy shape.
One prominent body style we haven’t covered yet is the pickup truck. It’s North America’s favorite vehicle year after year and Ford has a right-sized homerun in the Maverick. Like the Santa Fe, it can be had in turbo or hybrid configurations, powering the front or all-four wheels. Combining open-bed utility with SUV capability and car-like driving behaviour, it’s the best of all worlds. Pricing starts at just $28,840 including destination charges for the entry-level XL which has a cool, steel-wheel work-truck look to it.
Enough about practical cars, how about some fun! Lucky for us, there are quite a few, relatively affordable sporty cars on sale right now. The Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR 86 twins are a blast to drive as is the Mazda MX-5. For more practical-minded folks, the Volkswagen GTI and Honda Civic Si are sport compacts that won’t break the bank.
But, the best performance bang for the buck is the Hyundai Elantra N. Starting at just $36,345, the N has all the right sporty bits, like a 276 hp turbocharged engine, six-speed manual transmission, electronically controlled suspension, launch control, beefy vented brakes all around, and grippy tires. It’s an absolute riot to drive and feels quite premium inside as well.
For those that love V8 engines, we got your back, but from an unlikely source. Muscle cars like the Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro historically have been the place to find the most affordable eight-cylinder power. But the Camaro is dead and the V8 Mustang has gotten quite expensive.
One of the most affordable places to find a V8 right now is in the Dodge Durango. The GT V8 AWD comes in around the $45,000 mark and features the sweet-sounding 5.7-liter HEMI. It doesn’t hurt the Durango looks bad-ass too and has a modern, quite spacious interior. It’s an American full-size muscle sedan masquerading as a SUV.
Getting something premium doesn’t necessarily mean needing to mortgage a house. Take the Buick Envista as an example. With crossover coupe styling that’s quite popular in the luxury SUV world, the small Buick boasts premium looks, materials, and features for $25,995 including destination charges. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, lane keep assist, remote engine start, 8-inch digital driver information center, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It’s possible to add on some extra options, or even upgrade to the Sport Touring model, and still remain well under $30,000. If premium finishes aren’t overly important, it’s also possible to get the Envista’s more practical corporate sibling, the Chevrolet Trax, for an even lower price.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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