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These top performers cost less than the average new car
It’s easier to go to a new-car dealer and drive home the same day in a vehicle of your choice than just a few years ago. But prices remain high, mostly because automakers continue to build more expensive (that is, profitable) vehicles at the expense of cheaper ones. According to Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and technology company, the average transaction price of a new car held steady at $48,480 in July 2025.
But there are many excellent vehicles that sell for far less than that. To assist bargain hunters, we’ve assembled a list of the best new cars and SUVs under $30,000 based on their Overall Score, factoring in road-test performance, owner satisfaction, predicted reliability, and safety.
Unless otherwise noted, all come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW). If they’re optional or only on specific trims, they don’t push the price above $30,000 before adding in the destination charge, taxes, and fees. That’s why a few models, such as the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and most compact SUVs, aren’t on this list.
Some of these models have our Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions.
All of the vehicles below have met the stringent performance, reliability, and safety requirements necessary to earn CR’s recommendation.
Consumer Reports members can also search our Used Car Marketplace for vehicles for sale in their area, sorting by the factors that matter most.
Jon Linkov
Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.
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