What Are The Best Cheap Cars In The US In 2026?

The average transaction price for a new car has reached $50,000 so consumers are looking for cheap but good cars. Here are the best cheap cars in the US.

Cars aren’t getting any cheaper in the US. The average price for a new car still hovers at $50,000 and occasionally breaks records. 

The high cost forces buyers to rethink their plans, always with cars in mind. After all, as we had discussed earlier, the vehicle is essential for American mobility. 

As a result of such high prices, it’s common for people to search for cheap but good cars in the market. However, sometimes going cheap can cost you dearly in the future. So, at Four Wheel Trends, we’ve compiled the list of the best cheap cars in every category. 

The cars, SUVs and trucks here might not be the cheapest in their class. However, they rank the highest in reliability and satisfaction, according to different sources. 

We have also given you some honorable mentions in every category for the best cheap cars you can find. You will find that the honorable mentions aren’t necessarily the cheapest. However, they are also some of the best options we’ve found.

Best cheap compact car

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best cheap cars out there, period. However, it’s also one of the best options in its class. 

Its reliability sets it apart from the rest. While it’s $2,000 more expensive than the Hyundai Venue (the cheapest car in the market), the Toyota Corolla is far more reliable than many competitors. 

The base trim is the LE, which starts at a suggested MSRP of $22,000. It comes with excellent features for a cheap car, including Blind Spot Monitoring, ten airbags, and Hill Start Assist Control.

Having owned one, I wouldn’t recommend the LE if you’re not a fan of cheaper interiors. While the quality isn’t bad, the basic upholstery and steel wheels do give the Corolla LE a rudimentary look. However, this doesn’t take away from the reliability that makes it one of the best cheap cars in the market.

You can opt for the SE, which comes with more features but doesn’t spike the price up as much as the XSE.

Honorable Mentions:

• Nissan Sentra
• Kia K1
• Honda Civic

Best cheap mid-size car

Honda Accord

The mid-size car is a dying breed, as most automakers are stopping their production. However, you can find solid options. The best cheap mid-size car is the Honda Accord. 

This legendary car offers everything you need, at a comfortable price. Granted, it’s in the middle of the pack when it comes to pricing, but its reliability and features make it an excellent option. 

The Honda Accord is one of the best cheap cars in the midsize sedan segment because the entry-level trim, the LX, comes with everything you need and nothing you don’t. While it might not be the best-handling vehicle, its punchy 192-horsepower engine makes for a fun drive.

At the same time, the LX might be the only trim level you should buy if you don’t like hybrids. Honda only offers two trims, the LX and SE, with a non-hybrid engine. The SE starts at $30,695, making it more expensive than what this list is all about.

While the Accord is one of the best cheap cars out there, we have to say it’s not the most exciting. It has elegant looks, but it won’t stand out of the crowd. To many, that’s a great thing.

Honorable Mentions

• Nissan Altima
• Kia K5
• Toyota Camry

Best Subcompact SUV

Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks surprises everyone looking for an SUV that provides a bit more than the expected in a frugal subcompact segment. Not only that, but the automaker managed to reinvent itself after years of reliability issues. 

In the past, the Nissan Kicks (and many of the company’s vehicles) had the unpleasant reputation of coming with one of the worst transmissions in the market. The Kick still has the CVT, but Nissan has made improvements that increased its reliability.

The Nissan Kicks provides a fun personality, but it has enough options to not feel cheap. Plus, it has won the hearts of many doubters.

One significant change the new Nissan Kicks has is that comes with the option for AWD in the cheapest trim. This wasn’t possible with previous generations. For $1,500 more, you can get the S Version with AWD.

Is it worth it? It depends on your needs, but you have to remember that the Nissan Kicks comes with 140 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t the most powerful out there. The added weight of an AWD system could make it slower.

Honorable Mentions

• Hyundai Venue
• Toyota Corolla Cross
• Mazda CX-30

Best Cheap Small SUV

Toyota RAV4

The most popular segment has plenty of offers, but the Toyota RAV4 continues to impress with its reliability and features. It holds value well, which is crucial for those financially-minded, and offers several powerplants (although you have to pay more for hybrids). 

We consider it one of the best cheap cars in the market and we speak from personal experience. I’ve owned two of them, and they have never given me issues.

The Toyota RAV4 might not win any excitement awards, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to. Instead, you can rely on its versatility and reliability for a long-lasting vehicle. 

One interesting challenge for the Toyota RAV4 is maintaining its rank as an excellent option with the new generation. We’ll be definitely looking forward to it, as it starts at $31,900, which is cheaper than others. However, it leaps considerably when considering other trims.

Honorable Mentions

• Hyundai Tucson
• Honda CR-V
• Chevy Blazer

Best Cheap Midsize SUV

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is another excellent candidate for the best cheap car you can find, albeit it’s more expensive than others in this list. With a starting price of around $45,000, it isn’t for everyone. Plus, Toyota announced that it’s ending production of the gasoline-powered and hybrid Highlander to replace them with EVs.

This means that you have only until the end of 2026 to buy a gasoline-powered Toyota Highlander, which is the one we’d buy.

The Toyota Highlander is an excellent option for those who want a larger vehicle that can do most of what large families need. It’s not an offroader by any means, but it will navigate most gravel and snow conditions, making it one of the best cheap cars out there.

Why did we choose the Highlander instead of others, such as the Honda Pilot? For one, the Highlander offers better fuel economy. However, the Honda Pilot is also an excellent choice, if you want a reliable vehicle that comes with more exciting (and expensive) trims.

The Honda Pilot midsize SUV can seat eight comfortably and comes packed with features. It makes driving the family a great option, and you feel great knowing that it’s one of the best cheap cars out there, costing $3,000 less than the Highlander. However, you should keep in mind that its price increases considerably with more features. 

Honorable Mentions

• Honda Pilot
• Chevrolet Traverse
• Mazda CX-5

Key Factors About Owning One Of The Best Cheap Cars In The US

This list provides you with options for the best cheap cars in the US in several categories, but there’s another important factor to consider. Overall, ownership cost in these vehicles is usually cheaper.

Let’s consider insurance. Most of these cars will have cheaper insurance than the competition, barring other factors.

This list of the cheapest cars to insure includes some of the vehicles we’ve mentioned here. It’s important to remember that insurance can vary greatly because of factors such as your age, home state, gender and past driving history. So, keeping a clean slate is always good.

Then, there’s maintenance cost. This is a critical aspect of any vehicle you own, and the candidates for the best cheap cars to own are also cheap to maintain, with the Corolla leading the way.

In general, a car’s overall cost isn’t only about the price. You have to consider aspects such as depreciation as well. This is how much your vehicle will lose in value over time. After all, even if you buy a cheap car, you want to be able to resell it for a good price in the future.

Closing Thoughts On The Best Cheap Cars In The US

We end our list here because cars become more expensive after this, defeating the purpose of the list. In the end, what we’re looking for is a reliable, cheap car that can help us, and still comes under the $50,000-mark. 

The reality is that the best cheap cars might become a pain point for American buyers. Several factors drive up costs, and we might soon have to consider $40,000 as the entry point for cheap cars.

However, for the moment, this list should provide you with excellent options when looking at cheaper cars. Are there any we missed?