Top 10 Cheapest Cars on Sale in the United States by Segment

The first mass-produced cheap car is the Ford Model T. Before the Tin Lizzie, passenger cars were a luxury item for the better-off men to prove their social and professional status. The Model T, on the other hand, democratized motoring and opened travel to middle-class America thanks to the then-innovative way it was assembled.

Until the Model T came to the scene, most cars were made by hand. Because of this individual approach to production, servicing was a pain in the you-know-what. The change to assembly line production ended that and revolutionized the automotive industry altogether. Yes, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash from 1901 is the first mass-produced automobile, I know. But the 1908 Ford Model T is in a league of its own thanks to interchangeability and its starting price.

In the first year of production, the Model T cost around $825 or $21,700 in today’s money. By 1925, the price was $260 as Henry Ford continued to fine-tune the assembly line, thus reducing costs associated with production and spare parts. That’s the equivalent of $3,510 in 2016, which is mind-boggling value for money. After the Model T, the cheap & cheerful trend continued with the Fiat 500 Topolino, Volkswagen Beetle, Citroen 2CV, and the original MINI.

The most affordable cars of 2016 are extremely different to their iconic predecessors, all things considered. Don’t forget that “cheapest” is a quality that goes hand in hand with “you get what you pay for.” On the plus side, even the most basic rides of the present era are superior to much pricier cars from the 1990s or from the dreadful Malaise Era.

Teenagers who just got their license, young professionals, and those who simply need something to drive around in will dig our top 10 list, categorized by segment. In respect to the ado, let’s start the countdown with the cheapest brand new car on the market in 2016:

Subcompact Car - 2016 Nissan Versa Sedan ($11,990)

Described as the “Big Little Car,” the Nissan Versa has been the cheapest car sold in the United States for a long time now. Yes, the five-door Versa Note hatchback costs more and offers more cargo room, but that one is $2,240 more expensive than the Versa Sedan.

The entry-level model is the 2016 Nissan Versa Sedan S, and for the $11,990 starting retail price, you get a 109 horsepower inline-four connected to a 5-speed manual, 36 mpg (6.5 l/100 km) highway, air conditioning, Bluetooth, and a rudimentary stereo with 4 speakers.

Compact Car - 2016 Kia Forte ($15,990)

From the 2015 model year onwards, the Kia Forte enjoyed the status of the cheapest compact car on sale in the U. S. of A. Now that’s great bang for the buck as far as space is concerned. Care to guess what kind of equipment comes as standard on the Kia Forte LX trim?

Remote keyless entry, Sirius XM satellite radio, buttons on the steering wheels, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and a USB slot will have to suffice. In terms of motivation, a 6-speed stick is mated to a 145 horsepower motor that returns 37 mpg (6.3 l/100 km) highway.

Mid-Size Car - 2016 Mazda6 ($21,495)

In Europe, the Mazda6 isn’t the most inexpensive mid-size car on the market. In the United States, however, it is, and boy this is a fine mid-size sedan, the type of car that unashamedly defies its segment. And unlike most other cheap cars, this one is exceptionally beautiful.

For $21,495 sans the $820 destination charge, the 2016 Mazda6 Sport comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, power mirrors with integrated turn signals, cruise control, push button start, and one of the best-handling chassis in the business. The 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G engine is a fine naturally aspirated powerplant too, thanks to the 184 HP it churns out and the EPA-rated 37 mpg (6.3 l/100 km) highway.

Full-Size Car - 2016 Chevrolet Impala ($27,095)

For $15 more than a 2016 Ford Taurus, you’ll get an Impala. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? But don’t let the nameplate fool you for the current Impala doesn’t hold a candle to the first three generations of the vehicle, Chevy’s most expensive model through model year 1965.

For all intents and purposes, the 2016 Chevrolet Impala is one of the most common cars for rental companies. I couldn’t live with such a car after becoming aware of such a detail. But then again, it does come with a 3.6-liter V6, an automatic, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

Sports Car - 2016 Ford Mustang V6 ($24,145)

The model that singlehandedly defined the pony car genre in the 1960s is now the cheapest option available in the segment. Yup, the Ford Mustang V6 is less than a Scion FR-S. And no, the awful Scion tC doesn’t count because it’s a very poor excuse for a 2-door coupe.

$24,145 isn’t a lot of money for the most instantly recognizable American car ever made. Mind you, the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 won’t get you anywhere fast. Its 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque will light the rear wheels up easy enough whenever you feel like hooning.

Minivan - 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan ($22,095)

If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful minivan, this one is it. The Dodge Grand Caravan can trace its roots back to the Caravan and Voyager from ’84, the nameplates that made America fall in love with the minivan. Toyota and Honda offer the better minivans, though.

If nothing else matters except for seating up to seven people, then the Grand Caravan should be everything you’ll ever need. Stow ’n Go seating and storage, dual sliding side doors, and a Pentastar V6 that returns up to 25 mpg (9.4 l/100 km) highway are its primary attributes.

Small SUV - 2016 Honda HR-V ($19,215)

For reasons I find hard to comprehend, the Kia Soul ($15,800) is classified in the United States as a subcompact SUV even though it has more commonalities with a longroof and you can’t have AWD. For these reasons alone, we’ll ignore the South Korean model altogether.

The $19,215 Honda HR-V is the de facto affordable small SUV. Standard equipment is generous and includes a 5-inch infotainment system, Bluetooth audio streaming, multi-angle rearview camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, and 60/40 split folding second-row seats. The CVT commands $800 on top of the starting price. The cheapest HR-V with AWD and CVT will set you back $21,315 sans the destination charge.

Compact SUV - 2016 Jeep Patriot ($17,595)

Thanks to its go-anywhere look and box-shaped body shell, the Patriot is a thorough Jeep with respectable approach and departure angles. The 10-year-old model is even cheaper than the Renegade, albeit it feels cheap inside. As in agonizingly cheap and poorly made.

Opting for the two-wheel-drive Sport model with the 2-liter engine will get you more than 400 miles (643 kilometers) on the highway with a full tank of gasoline, 400 of the most agonizing miles you have ever driven. The Patriot Sport 4x4, on the other hand, is $2,000 more expensive.

Mid-Size SUV - 2016 Dodge Journey ($20,995)

The Dodge Journey is known as the Fiat Freemont in Europe and even though it’s marketed as a mid-size crossover, you can’t escape the fact that the Journey is nothing more than a glorified family hauler. It’s a cheap glorified family hauler, though, starting at a mere $20,995.

If you need more SUV-ness from your seven seater family car, the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander ticks the right boxes at $22,150. The downside of the Japanese mid-size crossover SUV compared to the Dodge Journey is that the third-row seats are only suitable for children.

Full-Size SUV - 2016 Ford Flex ($29,600)

It looks like an oversized wagon, yet it is the coolest choice among seven-seater crossovers. This is the Flex, one of the most underrated models to wear a Ford badge and one that undercuts its main rivals as far as pricing is concerned. My favorite design detail comes in the form of the horizontal grooves that evoke the long-established woodie wagons from the 1950s.

As standard, the Ford Flex SE trim level comes with leather and perforated inserts, a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, a rearview camera, 6-way power driver’s seat, voice-activated SYNC technology, and many more. The drawback of such an enormous crossover is fuel efficiency. With up to 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) highway, sipping fuel isn’t one of its strongest points.