15 New Cars You Can Buy for under $20,000 (2024)

The current Chevy Spark has been in production since 2016, when the fourth-gen model was launched, and it is Chevrolet's least expensive new car. The Spark hatch, built in South Korea, offers a very modest footprint, excellent fuel economy of 33 mpg combined and a basic but still very current infotainment system (which means you have to pair a phone to get navigation). But there are plenty of standard features, and jumping a few trim levels up from the base model does not require a lot money. The trade-offs for the low starting price have to do with the Spark's dimensions: There is not much room for cargo or rear seat passengers. But then again, people don't buy the Spark to regularly drive adult-size passengers—it's largely a commuter for one person and perhaps a medium-size dog.

The Versa just received a redesign for the 2020 model year, keeping the styling of the larger Maxima and gaining new features in the process. Power comes from a 1.6-liter inline-four engine paired with a choice of a five-speed manual or a CVT, both sending power to the front wheels only. The Versa's CVT option serves up a combined 35 mpg—very good for this segment—while the interior is perhaps the real star here with a standard 7.0-inch infotainment screen and great ergonomics. The Versa starts at $15,625 but does not look cheap on the outside, even if you opt for one of the lower trim levels.

Offered in hatch and sedan form, the Rio is Kia's most affordable model, offering good interior ergonomics and solid handling. The Rio was redesigned for 2018 so it remains relatively fresh, with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a CVT doing the work underhood. The interior features very good materials for its price range, and room for passengers and cargo is acceptable but not wildly generous. Exterior design is funky and memorable. Interior design is well laid out and expensive-looking for this segment, while materials feel very good for the price. The Rio's handling and ride is actually quite entertaining, so these can be hustled along even when paired with a CVT, even though the automatic (no longer offered) served up a slightly more agreeable driving experience. With a starting price of $15,850, the Rio is a lot of car for the money and better than other models in its segment and price category.

The Fit is nothing short of a legend in this segment, combining a spacious interior with good ergonomics and lively dynamics. The interior is perhaps the best part of this hatchback, offering supportive seats, a high-set driving position and excellent visibility all around. The Fit is also taller than some of the other entries in this segment, which buys it a lot of cargo space, especially with the rear seats folded down. There is a surprising amount of rear seat legroom, so the Fit is reasonably comfortable for four adults, which is not always true for hatchbacks in this price range and size. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder sends 130 horses to the Fit's front wheels, paired either with a CVT or a six-speed manual. A total of four trim levels provide plenty of choice when it comes to interior accommodations. The Fit starts at $17,120 and is usually ranked as one of the stars of its segment, for good reason.

The latest generation of the Forte was introduced just last year, with base models pairing an admirable list of standard features with a well-sized interior and good road manners. The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 147 hp, but buyers can ratchet it up to a turbocharged 1.6-liter good for 201 hp that's made its way into a number of Kia's small cars. The Forte has advanced quite a bit over the years from its humble roots, now wearing the styling of a pocket-size Stinger. The CVT takes some of the fun out of the Forte with the base engine, but a six-speed manual is also on the menu, as is a seven-speed dual-clutch in GT flavor. Yes, it's possible to dress up a Forte with plenty of options and a more powerful engine and end up with a fun small sedan, but the base model still offers plenty of standard items if you want to keep the out-the-door price below $20,000.

The Venue is all-new for 2020, and it pairs the body of an SUV with the footprint of a very small car. Designed specifically for city dwellers who like to get out of the city every once in a while, the Venue is powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC inline-four, producing 121 hp. This doesn't sound like a lot, but it's enough to move the small crossover along, and one of the high points is a 32-mpg combined rating. The height of the Venue really makes the interior feel spacious, even though cargo room out back is, well, meant for city dwellers. Still, four people would not feel squeezed into the interior, and as an alternative to a hatchback the Venue seems like a serious upgrade. Especially given the fact that it's priced like a hatchback.

The Accent is nothing short of a budget wheels legend. The smallest sedan in Hyundai's lineup still prizes economy above all else— especially fuel economy, so power is still on the low side with 120 hp on tap, but paired with a CVT it returns a combined 36 mpg. The high points are interior accommodations, which feel spacious for something of this size and filter out road noise quite well. A manual transmission is on the menu for those wishing to not listen to the CVT and simultaneously get the classic commuter experience. Overall, the Accent is very complete even if handling and ride quality aren't as sharp as in some competitors. But when it comes to no-frills commuting the Accent is tough to beat on price.

The Elantra is positioned above the Accent in Hyundai's lineup; for just a little more money it serves up a roomier interior, a more powerful engine and much better driving dynamics. Plenty of standard equipment is on board here, and while the base 2.0-liter engine is not exceptionally powerful in the 2020 model, the ride is quite comfortable and the ergonomics are well sorted. The Elantra is being replaced this year by the new 2021 model, which is a little larger and will feature a 2.0-liter inline-four good for 147 hp, paired with a stepped CVT. The hybrid version of the upcoming 2021 model will even have a six-speed dual-clutch and will serve up 195 hp. The outgoing model lands right around the $20,000 mark, which is where we expect the next one to start, as well.

The Veloster still offers a funky design, and if you want to get into a hatchback these days for under $20,000, it's still one of the best ways to do so. A 2.0-liter four-pot is the base engine, and it can be paired with a manual transmission, while the chassis serves up sharp road manners. If this sounds like a recipe for some fun on a budget, it actually is—the cargo room is pretty good, too. The interior feels spacious, while the cabin offers plenty of room to stretch out. The half-door on the Veloster's passenger side, thankfully, has been kept with the latest redesign, adding even more versatility to what is already a very usable package. The range stretches almost all the way up to $30,000 if you want even more performance, in the Veloster N spec, but the real bargain lies close to the base model.

Subaru still offers an inexpensive sedan even though it has staked its lineup on wagon-like vehicles of all sizes, and the Impreza serves up something remarkable for this segment: standard all-wheel drive. The price to pay is a rather noisy engine: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a choice of a CVT or a six-speed manual. The interior is roomy, but materials can feel a little cheap in places, which is one of the things that has held the Impreza back while rivals have surged ahead. The exterior dimensions are generous, however, so it feels like a grown-up sedan. This is one of those cars that deserves to be better but has been upstaged by rivals. Subaru's EyeSight safety system is available in the upper trim levels, so it can take a bit of money to get some of the goodies. Still, for those who need all-wheel drive at a low price, the base Impreza will give them that.

Positioned below the Corolla in Toyota's lineup is the Yaris hatch and sedan duo, powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic. The Yaris serves up a well-made interior that oozes quality, even in the lower trims, as well as plenty of standard features. Handling is zippy enough, thanks to the fact that the car was actually designed by Mazda and is basically the Mazda 2, which is no longer sold here. Yaris steering is sharp, while very modest exterior dimensions make it versatile in urban environments. Those who want cargo room will want to opt for the hatch, because the sedan is a little small on the outside—four tall adults will not be super-comfortable inside on long trips.

Positioned below the (now discontinued) Cruze but above the tiny Spark, the Sonic soldiers on in updated form since being introduced for 2012. The Sonic makes the most of what it has, including a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder good for 138 hp, and offers a roomy interior and good ergonomics, as well as plenty of standard equipment. Handling is quick and zippy enough to make the Sonic seem fun, while the interior can actually carry four adults in relative comfort. Sonic interior materials feel a little too inexpensive for their own good, but the Sonic has its priorities straight in offering economical transportation. An automatic is now the sole transmission choice, after Chevy discontinued the manual, so buyers may miss out on the full retro commuting experience.

Wolfsburg's small sedan is still fighting it out in the marketplace with a vast number of Korean and Japanese models, and is the only German car on this list. Now in its seventh generation, the Jetta offers sharp exterior styling and a refined ride quality. A turbocharged four-cylinder does the work underhood, producing 147 hp. Not a lot of equipment is standard in the bare-bones base Jetta model—kind of a theme with German cars—so it's possible to spend about $10,000 in additional options. But then you'd end up with a really pricey Jetta. A six-speed manual is standard, while an eight-speed automatic is optional. If you're wondering where the Golf is on this list, it's north of the $20,000 mark, having long ago become a premium item.

The Mirage has been on the market since 2012 with a few minor updates, but it feels even older than that. Famous for uninspiring dynamics, a buzzy engine and lots of body roll, the Mirage has nevertheless found an audience in a segment that once had many competitors. Available in hatch and sedan flavors, the Mirage has received a few updates in recent years that have made it a little more palatable, including a reworked suspension system. Unfortunately, it has kept that famously buzzy engine. The 39-mpg combined rating is one of just a few Mirage high points, but with gas being cheap these days it's kind of a moot feature at the moment. The Mirage starts at $14,790, but it is easily outperformed by competitors in a lot of key areas, if not the length of the warranty that, in the Mirage's case, is 10 years/100,000 miles.

The Soul has had a solid grip on its segment for a while, and it's easy to see why. The tall hatch offers an impressive amount of interior space, while serving up fun driving dynamics and making the most of its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which sends 147 hp to the front wheels. The Soul scores high on versatility and comfort, offering a very ergonomic cabin and plenty of cargo space; rear seat passengers have plenty of room, as well. The Soul is Kia's bestselling model in the U.S., offering a lot of car for not a lot of money. With a starting price of $17,485, the Soul boasts plenty of standard features, surefooted dynamics and a modest footprint.