The 10 Cheap Cars CR Recommends Includes 2 Subarus But They Are Now Sold Out

Is the Subaru Impreza and Subaru Crosstrek one of the best new cars you can buy today? According to a new ranking by Consumer Reports (by subscription), the 2023 Impreza is the second-best, most affordable new car for shoppers, and the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is the ninth top model they recommend. 

The only problem with CR's updated report is that the 2023 Subaru Impreza and 2023 Subaru Crosstrek are both sold out. The all-new redesigned 2024 Subaru Impreza and 2024 Crosstrek are significantly improved over the 2023 models. But they are too new and have yet to be tested by Consumer Reports.

CR's recommended models must adhere to strict guidelines to make its most recommended cars list. They must have the lowest transaction price and not sell over the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). CR analyzed the average transaction price for new cars using data from TrueCar and sorted all models based on their selling price.

But the cars must also meet CR's stringent standards for road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety to make the list. Here are the ten best cheap cars that Consumer Reports recommends listed, starting with the vehicle with the least expensive transaction price.

The 10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends

The Volkswagen Jetta is ranked the least expensive, followed by the second-best Subaru Impreza. The Kia Soul is the third best, followed by the Nissan Kicks, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Ford Maverick, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda HR-V. 

What does Consumer Reports say about the Subaru Impreza?

While the second least expensive new car with the lowest transaction price is the Impreza, CR ranks the Impreza number three overall of all compact cars. 

The 2023 Subaru Impreza with a manual transmission has an average transaction price of $21,258. The average spent over MSRP is $963, and the average MSRP is $20,295 on all trim levels.

As mentioned above, the 2023 Subaru Impreza is sold out as Subaru makes the model change from 2023 to the all-new next-generation 2024 Impreza hatchback. The redesigned models are arriving now at U.S. dealers. 

Subaru discontinued the Impreza sedan and the Impreza with a 5-speed manual transmission. But no one objected because the new 2024 Impreza hatch is sportier and gets significant upgrades over the 2023 model year. The new 2024 Impreza RS with a 2.5-liter engine upgrade is worth checking out.

Check Out This Related Story: The All-New Subaru Impreza RS 2.5L - Is It A Hot Enough Hatch?

What is the price of the 2024 Impreza?

The 2024 Subaru Impreza Base hatchback starts at $24,085, the Sport hatch starts at $26,085, and the all-new RS hatch with the 2.5-liter Boxer engine starts at $28,975. Pricing includes destination and delivery fees ($1,090).

Why should you consider the Impreza, and what sets the new Impreza hatch apart from the other nine models listed above?

The completely remodeled 2024 Impreza offers exceptional value. The Impreza comes standard with the Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, which means it's all-weather capable, and you won't get stuck in the snow, mud, dirt, or sand. 

The Impreza gets the highest safety score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). All 2024 Impreza trims come standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist safety technology and will keep you safer than other small cars in the event of a crash.

What is the 2024 Impreza fuel mileage?

The Impreza is fuel-efficient. The EPA says the fuel mileage rating for the 2024 Impreza RS with the new 2.5-liter engine is 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The 2024 Impreza with the 2.0-liter engine's EPA-estimated fuel economy is 27/34 city/highway mpg and 30 combined mpg.

What does CR say about the Subaru Crosstrek?

While the ninth least expensive new car with the lowest transaction price is the Crosstrek, CR ranks the Crosstrek number two of all the 15 subcompact SUVs.

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek with a manual transmission has an average transaction price of $24,667. The average spent over MSRP is $1,022, and the average MSRP is $23,645 on all trim levels.

What is the price of the 2024 Crosstrek?

The redesigned 2024 Crosstrek comes in five trim levels for U.S. customers. The Base trim starts at $26,290 (the same MSRP as the 2023 Base model equipped with the Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission).

The 2024 Crosstrek Premium has a starting price of $27,440, Sport ($30,290), and Limited ($32,190). Pricing includes destination and delivery fees ($1,225). The all-new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness costs $33,290, including dealer destination and delivery fees. The Wilderness trim arrives this fall.

What is the 2024 Crosstrek fuel mileage?

The remodeled 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport and Limited trims with the 2.5-liter get an EPA-estimated 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The EPA has not released fuel mileage for the Crosstrek Wilderness.

The 2024 Crosstrek Premium trim with the 2.0-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated 27/34 mpg and 29 combined mpg with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic.

What sets the Crosstrek apart from the other cheap subcompact SUVs?

The Subaru Crosstrek comes with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which no competitor exceeds (9.3 inches on Wilderness). Crosstrek also comes with X-Mode on Base and Premium trim levels for all-weather performance and dual function X-Mode on Sport, Limited, and Wilderness trims for improved off-pavement performance.

Most Subaru retailers are charging MSRP for the new 2024 Impreza and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek rather than raising the price over the sticker price. Consumer Reports says the 2023 Impreza is the second-best, most affordable new car; the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is the ninth-best model. You won't find a 2023 model year sitting on dealer's lots, and the newly redesigned 2024 models should be at the top of CR's recommended models list when they are finally tested. Stay tuned. 

Don’t Miss This Related Story: Head To Head 2024 Subaru Impreza Vs. Crosstrek - Hot Hatch Or Off-Road Warrior

Denis Flierl brings over thirty years of combined auto industry and automotive journalism experience to Torque News readers. He is an accredited Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) member. The last twelve years have been spent with Torque News, covering Subaru vehicles and the latest news. Check back daily for his expert Subaru analysis. You'll find the latest stories on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Please leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and tweet it to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru