If you’re a student heading back to school, someone starting a first job or anyone looking for a reliable, affordable new set of wheels, you’re in luck. There are still some options available that are safe, dependable and cost less than half of the average price of a new car in Canada. Here are five of our favorite new sedans that start at less than $30,000. While there are a few crossovers that come in under this price, you can often get more at a lower price with a sedan.
The Honda Civic is a household name in Canada. Introduced 50 years ago, it’s one of Honda’s most iconic nameplates. It’s also Canada’s best-selling compact car. Reliable and dependable, it stands out from the pack because it is made in Canada. Honda Canada Manufacturing began building the Civic in 1988.
Since then, more than six million Civics have rolled off the assembly line in Alliston, Ont. For 2025, the Civic gets refreshed with sportier styling, innovative technology including Google Built-In and a new hybrid model that comes in a hatchback or sedan version.
The hybrid is powerful yet fuel efficient owing to a two-motor hybrid-electric system with 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. It costs slightly more than some rivals, but its driving dynamics, spacious cabin and fuel efficiency make it a winner.
The base Civic starts at $27,840 before $1,830 for freight and pre-delivery inspection, making it the most expensive vehicle on this list. The hybrid costs a few thousand more.
2025 Honda CivicPetrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
The Toyota Corolla is another staple, having been on Canadian roads for more than 12 generations. While it’s not the most engaging or fun vehicle to drive – the Civic is better – it’s functional, reliable, straight forward to use and filled with safety technology such as 10 airbags, automatic high beams and full-speed dynamic radar cruise control.
It’s also fuel-efficient. I averaged a meagre 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined highway and city driving during my week-long test drive in the base Corolla L model with a two-litre four-cylinder gas engine.
The base sedan starts at $23,970 before $1,760 for freight and PDI; the hybrid sedan costs $27,090 and the hatchback is $24,375. You can even add all-wheel-drive to the sedan. Coupled with a good set of winter tires, the Corolla AWD gives added security and safety on the road.
2025 Toyota CorollaPetrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
If you’ve never heard of the Kia K4, you’re not alone. It’s an all-new small sedan that replaces the discontinued Kia Forte. It’s stylish, spacious and value-packed with safety and convenience technology including forward collison avoidance assist, smart cruise control with stop-and-go and over-the-air software updates.
While not as fuel-efficient as other small cars in the segment such as the Toyota Corolla – I averaged 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres combined highway and city driving – it’s still respectable.
Best of all, the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the K4 a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ – the highest rating a vehicle can receive in crash tests. Prices start at $23,995 before $1,850 for freight and PDI. Unfortunately, there’s no hybrid option offered, yet.
The EX trim has 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque from a two-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine.Jeremy Sinek/The Globe and Mail
The Nissan Sentra’s most appealing feature is its price. Cheaper than the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, it’s one of the least expensive sedans on the road, starting at $23,898 before $1,850 for freight and PDI.
Granted that base model comes with a six-speed manual transmission. Redesigned in 2020, it still looks stylish and spacious, but the infotainment system is outdated compared to some competitors. Nissan is introducing an all-new 2026 Sentra this fall.
Nissan hasn’t released any details about it, yet. But it could result in lower prices and more incentives on the 2025 Sentra as dealers try to move old inventory.
2025 Nissan SentraCourtesy of manufacturer
The Mazda3 is known for its “zoom zoom” fun-to-drive road manners. While the sedan version is a bit tight in the rear seats and cargo area, the hatchback model, dubbed Mazda3 Sport, makes up for it with extra rear seat head- and legroom and cargo space.
Unlike some rivals such as the Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla, the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback both earned top marks in crash test ratings from IIHS.
Prices start at $25,250 for the sedan plus $1,355 for freight and $740 for PDI; while the Mazda 3 Sport hatchback starts at $26,000 plus freight and PDI. You can also get a more powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive for a bit more money.
2025 Mazda3Andrew Holliday Photography 2018/Courtesy of manufacturer
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