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Best New Cars and SUVs for Under $30,000

Here’s your chance to choose a great new car or SUV at an affordable price with this Consumer Reports recently released list of their recommended top choice new cars and SUVs available this month for under $30,000 that they qualify stating that, “These top performers cost less than the average new car.”
Cars and SUVs for the Budget Shopper

Car Shopping is Looking More Promising…But at a Price

According to a recent Consumer Reports newsletter, the market is looking like it is finally improving with increased numbers of vehicles on dealership lots. However, many of those models are the pricier ones with an average value of more than $48,375 according to Kelley Blue Book valuations.

Related article: Consumer Reports Top Choices for Best SUVs Under $40,000

While this is good for the dealerships, it’s not so good for budget-minded car shoppers who are looking for a new car or SUV right now.

To help consumers identify those new vehicles that are worthy of your hard-earned wages, CR analysts did the work for you by assembling their top sedan and SUV choices valued less than the average but are the best in a more affordable price range.

“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,” say CR automotive experts.

Best New Cars and SUVs

That said, here is a summary of their top picks (listed in alphabetical order within classes) as well as slightly lesser, but still top-rated models to seriously consider for some smart consumer new vehicle shopping.

BEST SMALL CAR: 2023 TOYOTA COROLLA HYBRID
Price Range: $21,700 - $27,425
CR MPG: Overall 48 / City 37 / Hwy 59 mpg
#1 of 12 Small sedans

Other Top Models include the:
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
Kia Soul
Mazda3
Nissan Kicks
Toyota Corolla
Volkswagen Jetta

BEST MIDSIZED CAR: 2023 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID
Price Range: $26,320 - $36,745
CR MPG: Overall 47 / City 39 / Hwy 53 mpg
#1 of 13 Midsized cars

Other Top Models include the:
Kia K5
Hyundai Sonata
Honda Accord
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry

BEST SMALL SUV: 2023 NISSAN ROGUE
Price Range: $27,360 - $38,840
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 17 / Hwy 34 mpg
#4 of 28 Compact sport-utility vehicles

Other Top Models include the:
Buick Encore GX
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Seltos
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Toyota Corolla Cross

And finally…

For additional CR-related articles, here are a few select ones to consider:

• Best New Cars You Can Buy Under $25,000

• Best Cars for Teens Recommended by Consumer Reports

• Best Hybrid Cars for Under $35,000 Per Consumer Reports Advice

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

COMING UP NEXT: Toyota Dominates Consumer Reports’ Best Hybrid SUVs That Cost $35,000 to $45,000

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