10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends Update

According to a recent Consumer Reports newsletter update on the lowest price you can expect to pay on a new car, lower-priced models are not untouched by the current market and giving new car shoppers sticker shock when they discover that they will have to pay premium prices that reach $1,000 or more above the MSRP of the least expensive new models available today. Which is why it helps to find out what car buyers are actually paying right now with this recent update from CR analysts.

Doing the Work for You

Fortunately, CR analysts are watching the market closely and trying to find the makes and models that will provide new car shoppers with good, solid, and reliable cars without having to go into serious car debt.

“To help members find the best car at the lowest cost, we have analyzed the average transaction price for new cars using national data from TrueCar, a CR partner, and sorted all models based on their selling price. We then selected 10 models to highlight that are recommended by CR, meeting our stringent standards for road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety,” stated CR automotive experts.

Despite the lower transaction prices, all models listed, “…meet CR’s stringent standards for road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety from the list.”

What You Will Find from the List

From CR’s list you will find amongst the recommended models, “… those models ranked based on transaction price—not MSRP—starting with the cheapest model, at $21,503. Because we’re citing actual figures, we list the specific configuration. Other versions of the featured models often carry similar pricing, such as the percentage above or below MSRP.”

Related article: 10 Cheap Cars That Consumer Reports Recommends

10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends Update

1. Kia Forte 2024

Price Range:  $19,990 - $25,390

CR MPG:  Overall 34 / City 22 / Hwy 49 mpg

#12 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Kia Forte LXS IVT
Average transaction price: $21,317
Average spent over MSRP: $827
MSRP: $20,490

2. Nissan Sentra 2024

Price Range:  $20,890 - $23,980

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 22 / Hwy 44 mpg

#13 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Nissan Sentra SV CVT
Average transaction price: $22,390
Average spent over MSRP: $570
MSRP: $21,820

3. Toyota Corolla 2024

Price Range:  $22,050 - $28,340

CR MPG:  Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg

#6 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla LE
Average transaction price: $22,632
Average spent over MSRP: $582
MSRP: $22,050

4. Hyundai Venue 2024

Price Range:  $19,900 - $23,150

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 23 / Hwy 41 mpg

#2 of 6 Subcompact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Hyundai Venue SEL IVT
Average transaction price: $22,904
Average spent over MSRP: $1,004
MSRP: $21,900

5. Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2024

Price Range:  $22,050 - $28,340

CR MPG:  Overall 48 / City 37 / Hwy 59 mpg

#8 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Average transaction price: $23,929
Average spent over MSRP: $429
MSRP: $23,500

6. Hyundai Elantra 2024

Price Range:  $21,625 - $35,200

CR MPG:  Overall 33 / City 21 / Hwy 49 mpg

#7 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Hyundai Elantra SEL
Average transaction price: $24,060
Average spent over MSRP: $485
MSRP: $23,575

7. Nissan Kicks 2024

Price Range:  $21,050 - $23,610

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 24 / Hwy 40 mpg

#1 of 6 Subcompact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Nissan Kicks SV
Average transaction price: $24,073
Average spent over MSRP: $1,163
MSRP: $22,910

8. Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2024

Price Range:  $23,505 - $26,805

CR MPG:  Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg

#10 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE CVT
Average transaction price: $24,193
Average spent over MSRP: $688
MSRP: $23,505

9. Subaru Impreza 2024

Price Range:  $22,995 - $27,885

CR MPG:  Overall 29 / City 19 / Hwy 42 mpg

#5 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Subaru Impreza Sport
Average transaction price: $24,991
Average spent over MSRP: $4
MSRP: $24,995

10. Mazda 3 2024

Price Range:  $24,170 - $36,650

CR MPG:  Overall 30 / City 20 / Hwy 44 mpg

#3 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Mazda 3 2.5 S Select Sport
Average transaction price: $25,015
Average spent over MSRP: $325
MSRP: $24,690

For a more detailed breakdown of the data, please visit the CR website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

For more CR-related car reviews, here are three useful ones with car shopping advice for consumers:

• Consumer Reports Best American Cars, SUVs, and Trucks
• Consumer Reports' Most Popular New Cars and SUV
• Cars Proven to Get to 200,000 Miles and Beyond

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Most Satisfying New Pickup Trucks

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