By Marcus Lu Graphics/Design: Sam Parker
Ranked: America’s Cheapest New Cars in 2025
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
Finding a new car for under $20,000 is becoming increasingly difficult, with only 3 models below the threshold
The average price of a new car in the U.S. is around $48,000
Car prices in the U.S. have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, squeezing budget-conscious buyers. In 2025, things are getting even tougher, with only three models starting below $20,000 when new.
To help you find your next vehicle, we’ve highlighted America’s cheapest new cars that are available today.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from Car and Driver. It highlights the 10 cheapest new sedans or hatchbacks in America by their starting MSRP, all of which come from Asian and European automakers.
Sub-$20K Cars Are Nearly Extinct
Only three vehicles—two versions of the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Versa—are priced under $20,000.
Buyers looking at a Mirage should be aware that both models are ranked very poorly by Car and Driver (2.5 to 3 out of 10) due to their unrefined powertrains and cheap interiors.
The Mitsubishi Mirage offers an impressive warranty and surprising fuel efficiency, even if it somehow feels even cheaper than its low price suggests.
Note that the Mirage has been discontinued in the U.S., though dealers are expected to have stock until the end of summer 2025.
Asian Brands Dominate the List
Nine of the 10 cheapest models come from Japanese or South Korean brands, reflecting their ability to produce cheaper, value-driven vehicles.
U.S. auto tariffs, however, are going to make it harder for these brands to succeed. Estimates from Goldman Sachs predict that Mazda could see a massive 59% profit reduction due to the tariffs, while Nissan could see a 56% drop.
Toyota and Honda, two of America’s top automakers by market share, will avoid most of the damage due to their well-established U.S. manufacturing bases.
New book by Etienne de la Boetie2 exposes that the government and Hollywood have been running a multi-generational, trillion-dollar psychological operation on the population to indoctrinate them into accepting a ruling class, confiscatory taxation, and inflationary fractional reserve currency issued by private banks.
The book details 25 unethically manipulative techniques the “government” and monopoly media have been secretly using on the population, ranging from a hidden curriculum in their mandatory schools and scouting to the secret placement of propaganda in over 1,000+ movies and 1,000+ television shows. These techniques include subliminal messages and product placement of the American flag “anchored” to moments of high-positive emotion during the “programming”.
See the Press Release with more details HERE.
Buy the book at SeeTheCage.com
Substack readers can get the book for FREE by “Going Paid” to ANY of the Art of Liberty Foundation’s four Substacks AND get access to all four of those Substacks! Simply “Go Paid” and we will reply with details.
