Best New Cars for Under $20,000

On Sep 11, 2021

Contrary to what many people think, a great, dependable car doesn’t have to cost you half the price of a home. You can find plenty of vehicles for under $20,000 that provide superior fuel economy and plenty of features to keep you both entertained and informed on the road. Here are five of the best cars you can score for under $20k that will leave you wanting for nothing.

1. Chevrolet Trailblazer

This Chevy masterpiece perfectly combines elegance and fuel efficiency, and it starts at only $19,000. The exterior is sporty, and the car also boasts impressive fuel mileage for an SUV – up to 29 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The Trailblazer doesn’t lack bells and whistles either, boasting up-to-date technology, such as a built-in 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and Bluetooth. Two USB ports and a four-speaker audio system are also standard.

2. Subaru Impreza

This modern-looking car starts at a mere $18,957, and it will definitely feel like a party while you’re driving it. You can purchase this car in either the sporty hatchback version or elegant sedan version, and with both, you can enjoy up to 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The Impreza is quite a deal, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on technology. You can enjoy an infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, USB port, and four-speaker audio.

3. Volkswagen Jetta

The VW Jetta has always been one of the best economy cars on the road, and the 2021 S model does not disappoint. This compact car starts at around $18,895 for the base model, and it offers 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. In addition to not breaking your budget, the Civic also provides you with many up-to-date features, including a rear-view camera, 6.5-inch touchscreen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay,

4. Nissan Versa

It’s almost unbelievable that this car starts at only $14,980 because the stylish interior could rival cars of much higher price points. The new 2021 model offers up to 32 mpg city and 40 mpg highway fuel economy, The Versa also has features such as 7-inch touchscreen, four-speaker audio, and Bluetooth. It even includes driver assistance features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

5. MINI Cooper Oxford Edition

The Mini Cooper Oxford Edition is the only Cooper available for under $20K. The vehicle starts at $19,750 a nice and you get some surprisingly luxurious features for the price. The vehicle comes with a dual-pane panoramic moonroof, heated seats, park distance control and a rearview camera. There’s also a 6.5-inch display with Bluetooth. The Cooper gets up to 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

6. Hyundai Venue

The 2022 Hyundai Venue SE starts at $18,750, making it one of the most affordable subcompact SUVs on the market. Standard features with this model include an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and HD Radio – just to name a few. Fuel economy estimates are at 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

7. Kia Rio

The 2021 Kia Rio LX is well under $20K at $16,050. The subcompact vehicle makes a reliable commuter with plenty of features for the price. You’ll get an infotainment system with 8-inch touch display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and six-speaker audio. The Rio gets a decent 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

8. Kia Soul

The 2021 Kia Soul LX has a starting price of $17,490. It features a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, six-speaker audio, adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, automatic emergency braking and other driver assistance features. It gets 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

9. Hyundai Veloster

The Hyundai Veloster is one of the most practical sedans you can get for under $20K. The vehicle boasts an intuitive infotainment system, great performance and plenty of standard features for your money. The base 2.0 trim starts at $18,900. A manual transmission is standard but for $1,000 more you can get an automatic and it will still be under $20K. In addition to a 7-inch display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth, you’ll get driver assistance features too. Driver attention monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning and forward collision warning are all included. As for fuel economy, you’ll get 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

10. Kia Forte

The 2021 Kia Forte FE is the last on our list, starting at $17,890. The Forte is one of the best new compacts you can get for your money. It has a spacious, comfortable interior, complete with an 8-inch display infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Driver assistance features are standard here as well, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. With the base FE trim, you’ll enjoy an estimated 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, but if you upgrade to a CVT transmission, you can get up to 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.