10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends Update

According to a recent Consumer Reports newsletter update on the lowest price you can expect to pay on a new car, lower-priced models are not untouched by the current market and giving new car shoppers sticker shock when they discover that they will have to pay premium prices that reach $1,000 or more above the MSRP of the least expensive new models available today. Which is why it helps to find out what car buyers are actually paying right now with this recent update from CR analysts.

Doing the Work for You

Fortunately, CR analysts are watching the market closely and trying to find the makes and models that will provide new car shoppers with good, solid, and reliable cars without having to go into 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.

Despite the lower transaction prices, all models listed, “…meet CR’s stringent standards for road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety from the list.”

What You Will Find from the List

From CR’s list you will find amongst the recommended models, “… those models ranked based on transaction price—not MSRP—starting with the cheapest model, at $21,503. Because we’re citing actual figures, we list the specific configuration. Other versions of the featured models often carry similar pricing, such as the percentage above or below MSRP.”

Related article: 10 Cheap Cars That Consumer Reports Recommends

10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends Update

1. Kia Forte 2024

Price Range:  $19,990 - $25,390

CR MPG:  Overall 34 / City 22 / Hwy 49 mpg

#12 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Kia Forte LXS IVT

Average transaction price: $21,317

Average spent over MSRP: $827

MSRP: $20,490

2. Nissan Sentra 2024

Price Range:  $20,890 - $23,980

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 22 / Hwy 44 mpg

#13 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Nissan Sentra SV CVT

Average transaction price: $22,390

Average spent over MSRP: $570

MSRP: $21,820

3. Toyota Corolla 2024

Price Range:  $22,050 - $28,340

CR MPG:  Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg

#6 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla LE

Average transaction price: $22,632

Average spent over MSRP: $582

MSRP: $22,050

4. Hyundai Venue 2024

Price Range:  $19,900 - $23,150

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 23 / Hwy 41 mpg

#2 of 6 Subcompact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Hyundai Venue SEL IVT

Average transaction price: $22,904

Average spent over MSRP: $1,004

MSRP: $21,900

5. Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2024

Price Range:  $22,050 - $28,340

CR MPG:  Overall 48 / City 37 / Hwy 59 mpg

#8 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Average transaction price: $23,929

Average spent over MSRP: $429

MSRP: $23,500

6. Hyundai Elantra 2024

Price Range:  $21,625 - $35,200

CR MPG:  Overall 33 / City 21 / Hwy 49 mpg

#7 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Hyundai Elantra SEL

Average transaction price: $24,060

Average spent over MSRP: $485

MSRP: $23,575

7. Nissan Kicks 2024

Price Range:  $21,050 - $23,610

CR MPG:  Overall 32 / City 24 / Hwy 40 mpg

#1 of 6 Subcompact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Nissan Kicks SV

Average transaction price: $24,073

Average spent over MSRP: $1,163

MSRP: $22,910

8. Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2024

Price Range:  $23,505 - $26,805

CR MPG:  Overall 36 / City 24 / Hwy 51 mpg

#10 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE CVT

Average transaction price: $24,193

Average spent over MSRP: $688

MSRP: $23,505

9. Subaru Impreza 2024

Price Range:  $22,995 - $27,885

CR MPG:  Overall 29 / City 19 / Hwy 42 mpg

#5 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Subaru Impreza Sport

Average transaction price: $24,991

Average spent over MSRP: $4

MSRP: $24,995

10. Mazda 3 2024

Price Range:  $24,170 - $36,650

CR MPG:  Overall 30 / City 20 / Hwy 44 mpg

#3 of 16 Compact cars

Recommended model: 2024 Mazda 3 2.5 S Select Sport

Average transaction price: $25,015

Average spent over MSRP: $325

MSRP: $24,690

For a more detailed breakdown of the data, please visit the CR website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

For more CR-related car reviews, here are three useful ones with car shopping advice for consumers:

• Consumer Reports Best American Cars, SUVs, and Trucks
• Consumer Reports' Most Popular New Cars and SUV
• Cars Proven to Get to 200,000 Miles and Beyond

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Most Satisfying New Pickup Trucks

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