According to a Consumer Reports newsletter update on the lowest price you can expect to pay on a new car:
"The cheapest cars in America can be found by looking at transaction prices—what people are actually paying—rather than looking at just the window stickers."
What Cars Are the Cheapest to Buy Right Now?
Fortunately, CR analysts are closely monitoring the market and seeking out makes and models that will provide new car shoppers with good, solid, and reliable cars without requiring serious car debt.
"To help members find the best car at the lowest cost, we have analyzed the average transaction price for new cars using national data from TrueCar, a CR partner, and sorted all models based on their selling price. We then selected 10 models to highlight that are recommended by CR, meeting our stringent standards for road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety," stated CR automotive experts.
"This month, nine of the 10 featured models (Buick, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota) are selling for more than their sticker prices."
Which is the Cheapest and Most Reliable Model?
From CR's list, you will find amongst the recommended models "…those models ranked based on the transaction price—not the MSRP—starting with the cheapest model, at $21,141. Because we're citing actual figures, we list the specific configuration. Other versions of the featured models often carry relatively similar pricing, with the same percentage above or below the MSRP," states the recent newsletter update.
10 CHEAP CARS THAT CR RECOMMENDS
1. 2025 Hyundai Venue $21,141
Price Range: $20,200 - $23,450
CR MPG: Overall 32 / City 23 / Hwy 41 mpg
#18 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Hyundai Venue SE IVT
Average transaction price: $21,141
Average spent over MSRP: $941
MSRP: $20,200
2. 2025 Nissan Sentra $21,449
Price Range: $21,590 - $24,590
CR MPG: Overall 32 / City 22 / Hwy 44 mpg
#6 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Nissan Sentra S CVT
Average transaction price: $21,449
Average spent over MSRP: $141
MSRP: $21,590
3. 2025 Nissan Versa $21,683
Price Range: $17,190 - $21,190
CR MPG: Overall 32 / City 22 / Hwy 45 mpg
#19 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Nissan Versa SR CVT
Average transaction price: $21,683
Average spent over MSRP: $493
MSRP: $21,190
4. 2025 Toyota Corolla $22,753
Price Range: $22,325 - $28,190
CR MPG: Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg
#8 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Toyota Corolla LE
Average transaction price: $22,753
Average spent over MSRP: $428
MSRP: $22,325
5. 2025 Hyundai Elantra $24,094
Price Range: $21,125 - $35,850
CR MPG: Overall 33 / City 21 / Hwy 49 mpg
#16 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport IVT
Average transaction price: $24,094
Average spent over MSRP: $844
MSRP: $23,250
6. 2025 Mazda 3 $24,160
Price Range: $23,950 - $36,950
CR MPG: Overall 30 / City 20 / Hwy 44 mpg
#5 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Mazda3 2.5 S
Average transaction price: $24,160
Average spent over MSRP: $210
MSRP: $23,950
7. 2025 Kia Soul $24,306
Price Range: $20,490 - $24,790
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 21 / Hwy 35 mpg
#11 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Kia Soul S
Average transaction price: $24,306
Average spent over MSRP: $1,316
MSRP: $22,990
8. 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback $24,582
Price Range: $23,780 - $27,080
CR MPG: Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg
#12 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE CVT
Average transaction price: $24,582
Average spent over MSRP: $802
MSRP: $23,780
9. 2025 Buick Envista $25,681
Price Range: $23,800 - $28,600
CR MPG: Overall 29 / City 21 / Hwy 39 mpg
#17 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Buick Envista Sport Touring
Average transaction price: $25,681
Average spent over MSRP: $381
MSRP: $25,300
10. 2025 Subaru Impreza $25,682
Price Range: $24,360 - $29,250
CR MPG: Overall 29 / City 19 / Hwy 42 mpg
#2 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks
Recommended model: 2025 Subaru Impreza Sport AWD
Average transaction price: $25,682
Average spent under MSRP: $72
MSRP: $25,610
If you are in the market for a used or slightly used new car, here are three recent articles from personal experiences that are helpful and informative:
- "My 2016 Corolla Saved My Husband, 11-Month-Old Daughter, and Me"
- 2025 Toyota Camry Complaints – "I Just Won My Lemon Lawsuit On My 2025 Toyota Camry, I Plan On Getting My Money and Getting a 2026 Camry Model"
- People Seem To Think I Am The Worst Mother Ever For Allowing My Daughter To Buy A 2024 Toyota Corolla With 3,000 Miles On It
For an additional recent Consumer Reports recommendation, be sure to check out the "Best Used Cars: Consumer Reports' Top Picks for June 2025" in case you might be weighing the option of buying a used car over a new one.
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
