5 low-cost vehicles you will need to do your analysis on

Abstract

• The Nissan Versa S is an inexpensive primary sedan with good options, beginning below $20K.
• The Hyundai Venue gives a subcompact crossover with normal options for comfy city driving.
• The Chevrolet Trax gives a nice subcompact crossover with good worth and sharper seems.

We had been all very when the $20K Slate EV was introduced. It was a pickup with no options, not even painted. Inside was a clean dashboard and windup home windows — and you can add options at a worth.

Did we just like the Slate as a result of it was low-cost and since we may pay for under the options we needed? The common automobile prices round $48K, however you will get one for round $20K, and even much less. What do you get for that? Is it a horrible empty field or is it good sufficient for somebody who hates paying for stuff they do not want? I did not know both, so I did some digging, and that is what I discovered.

5

2025 Nissan Versa S

$17,190

The Nissan Versa S is a small five-seat FWD sedan usually described as primary, trustworthy transportation. It’s the solely automobile within the US beginning at below $20K. The excellent news is that it’s a nicer automobile than the value suggests. The unhealthy information is that Nissan will more than likely finish manufacturing of the Versa S this yr.

Essentially the most inexpensive Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed guide transmission. There’s a CVT choice out there, which provides higher gas financial system, however will value about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has respectable luxurious options for its worth, with a number of choices you possibly can add and pay for. Security and driver help know-how are additionally extra complete than I anticipated.

Function highlights

Specification

4

2025 Hyundai Venue SE

$20,200

The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover that seats 5 comfortably, with good options as normal. As a small crossover, the Venue is good for each day city driving, commuting, the college run, and weekly procuring. Its small measurement makes it straightforward to park and maneuver in heavy site visitors. Security and driver help know-how are excellent, though it doesn’t rating the utmost on its crash take a look at.

The Venue comes normal with CVT transmission, which provides to its easy driving, however even at that small measurement, this automobile is a bit under-powered for easy freeway overtaking. The fundamental Venue has a vibe that type of justifies its $3K greater price ticket than the essential Nissan Versa.

Function highlights

Specification

3

2025 Kia Soul LX

$20,490

The Kia Soul is a subcompact five-seat crossover with quirky seems, and a boxy, upright physique that creates a variety of area inside. The Soul is a really sensible and nice city runaround with good options and plenty of driver help and security know-how to maintain all people protected, though it too doesn’t get the utmost stars in crash assessments.

The Soul comes normal with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The fundamental LX already gives a very good, stable automobile, and you’ve got a selection of many elective options to make your trip higher. Just like the Venue, the Kia Soul is extra at house within the metropolis than on the freeway.

Function highlights

Specification

2

2025 Chevrolet Trax LS

$20,500

The Chevrolet Trax is a five-seat subcompact crossover. It has sharp seems and a nice, if considerably bland, inside. The Trax has decrease, extra car-like dimensions than the Kia Soul, for instance. The underside trim is decidedly naked in options in comparison with its costlier variants, however it’s nonetheless a nice automobile to drive within the metropolis, and looks like good worth for cash. Security and driver help are on par with the opposite vehicles on this record.

One space the place it stands out is the six-speed computerized transmission for individuals who dislike the sound and really feel of the CVT, though the small turbo engine has to work laborious for its horses. The Trax has good area for passengers and cargo.

Function highlights

Specification

1

2025 Nissan Sentra S

$21,590

The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan, greater than the opposite vehicles on this record, on par with the costlier Honda Civic or VW Jetta in measurement. Reviewers usually comment on the comfy entrance seats and nice inside fittings. It additionally has a good quantity of trunk area for a sedan.

The Sentra has a standard two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear adjustments like an computerized. This improves the texture and sound of the automobile, if not the efficiency. The baseline Sentra has good options that may be upgraded, and its security and driver help know-how is pretty much as good as any sedan in its class. Just like the smaller Versa, this Nissan additionally will get 5 stars within the NHTSA crash take a look at.

Specification