Cheapest New Cars of 2026 — 18 you can buy for under $27,000.
The least expensive new car in the US right now is the 2026 Hyundai Venue, at $20,550 before freight. Below it is every new car we found under $27,000, ranked by the starting price each automaker publishes. 8 of them have already switched to 2027 models, so each row says which year the price is for.
Buying One Used Instead?
A year- or two-old example of any car here usually costs less. Enter its VIN for a free preview of title brands, salvage records and odometer readings.
Free preview · No sign-up · No owner or personal data
Quick Answer
- What is the cheapest new car in 2026?
- The 2026 Hyundai Venue SE, at $20,550 plus $1,600 freight on Hyundai's own pricing sheet. Next come the 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS at $21,700 and the 2027 Kia K4 LX at $22,390. These are starting prices; taxes, registration and dealer fees come on top.
- What happened to the Nissan Versa?
- Nissan's own Versa page now says "No Longer in Production". There is no 2026 Versa, which is why the Venue holds the bottom spot. Nissan's cheapest models are now the 2027 Kicks at $22,790 and the 2027 Sentra at $22,990.
- Do these prices include destination?
- No. Every price here is the manufacturer's suggested retail price before the destination or freight charge, which is billed on every new car. Where the maker states it for that model year: Hyundai Venue $1,600, Mazda Mazda3 Sedan $1,235, Mazda CX-30 $1,495.
Four steps from a starting price to an out-the-door price
The cheapest car on paper is only the cheapest car once the same costs are added to every option.
- 1Start at the base MSRPThe starting price is the cheapest trim with no options.
- 2Add destinationSet by the automaker and charged on every new car.
- 3Add tax, title and feesSales tax, registration and dealer fees vary by state.
- 4Price a used one tooCheck the VIN of a nearly new one before you compare.
The Cheapest New Cars on Sale Now
Every new car we found with a starting price under $27,000, cheapest first, read on 7 November 2026. The model year is the one the maker's site was selling at that price.
| Car | Year | Starting MSRP | EPA combined mpg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Venue SE | 2026 | $20,550 | 31 |
| Chevrolet Trax LS | 2026 | $21,700 | 29 |
| Kia K4 LX | 2027 | $22,390 | 28–33 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE | 2026 | $22,625 | 31–35 |
| Nissan Kicks | 2027 | $22,790 | 30–31 |
| Nissan Sentra | 2027 | $22,990 | 32–33 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | 2026 | $23,125 | 34–35 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer LS | 2026 | $23,600 | 27–31 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2027 | $23,995 | 33–34 |
| Mazda Mazda3 Sedan 2.5 S | 2026 | $24,650 | 27–30 |
| Buick Envista | 2026 | $24,700 | 30 |
| Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE | 2027 | $24,780 | 33–35 |
| Kia Seltos LX | 2027 | $24,990 | 26–30 |
| Honda Civic Sedan | 2027 | $24,995 | 36 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross L | 2026 | $25,335 | 30–32 |
| Mazda CX-30 2.5 S | 2026 | $26,375 | 25–27 |
| Subaru Impreza Sport | 2026 | $26,595 | 29 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2027 | $26,995 | 29 |
Prices exclude destination, tax, title and dealer fees. Fuel economy is EPA's combined rating for the gas versions of each model in that model year (hybrids excluded). Hyundai's model pages print no base price, so the Venue and Elantra figures come from Hyundai's pricing sheets.
The Cheapest: 2026 Hyundai Venue
The Venue SE costs $20,550, and Hyundai's pricing sheet adds $1,600 in freight, so $22,150 before tax and fees. It is a small front-wheel-drive SUV with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission, rated by EPA at 31 mpg combined.
Cheap doesn't mean bare. The SE comes with forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, a rearview camera, an 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control and 15-inch alloy wheels. The air conditioning is manual.
What the SEL adds for $2,275 more
- Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning.
- 17-inch wheels and rear disc brakes.
- Comfort: heated front seats, power sunroof, automatic climate.
- Convenience: proximity key and a wireless charging pad.
Cheapest by Type
The same list, sorted by what you need the car to be.
Small SUV: Hyundai Venue
$20,550, the cheapest new car overall.
Compact SUV: Chevrolet Trax
$21,700 for the LS, 29 mpg combined.
Sedan: Kia K4
$22,390 for the 2027 LX.
Best mpg: Honda Civic Sedan
36 mpg combined from $24,995.
Hatchback: Toyota Corolla Hatchback
$24,780 for the 2027 SE.
Standard AWD: Subaru Impreza
$26,595; Subaru sells it as an AWD hatchback.
The Sticker Price Is Not the Price
Destination is charged on every new car and it is set by the automaker, not the dealer. Add it before you compare. On the 3 cars where the maker states it for the current model year, it moves the price by $1,235 to $1,600.
Sales tax, title, registration and the dealer's documentation fee come on top of that and depend on your state and the dealer.
Prices Have Already Moved Since Launch
The same car's price at its 2026 launch, from the automaker's own release, against what its site listed on the date we checked.
| Car | Launch price | Price now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia K4 LX | $22,190 · 2026 (Kia, Dec 2025) | $22,390 · 2027 | +$200 |
| Nissan Sentra | $22,600 · 2026 (Nissan, Nov 2025) | $22,990 · 2027 | +$390 |
| Nissan Kicks | $22,730 · 2026 (Nissan, Aug 2025) | $22,790 · 2027 | +$60 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $22,725 · 2026 (Toyota, Jul 2025) | $23,125 · 2026, repriced | +$400 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross L | $24,635 · 2026 (Toyota, Sep 2025) | $25,335 · 2026, repriced | +$700 |
Toyota raised the 2026 Corolla and Corolla Cross after launch without a model-year change; Kia and Nissan moved to 2027 at a higher price. Treat any older article's price as a floor.
Pricing a Nearly New One Instead?
A one- or two-year-old example of these cars can cost less than new. Enter the VIN for a free preview of title brands, junk and salvage records and odometer readings.
Why the Bottom of the Market Is Thin
On the date we checked, the cheapest new car was $20,550 before freight, and the Nissan Versa, long one of the least expensive cars sold here, was listed by Nissan as no longer in production. Only 14 new cars started under $25,000.
Prices are also creeping. The Kia K4 LX went from $22,190 to $22,390 when Kia moved to the 2027 model, the Nissan Sentra from $22,600 to $22,990, and Toyota raised the Toyota Corolla LE by $400 within the 2026 model year. A figure from a launch announcement may already be out of date by the time you visit a dealer.
That is why the table above says which model year each price is for. 8 of the 18 cars were already sold as 2027 models, so a 2026 car still on a lot can be a better buy if the dealer will move on price.
Five Checks Before You Buy a Cheap Car
A low price is a reason to look harder, not less.
Get the out-the-door price
Ask for one total in writing: price, destination, tax and fees.
Check recalls by VIN
Open recalls are tied to the VIN, even on a new car.
Price the insurance
Two cars at the same price can cost very different amounts to insure.
Watch for add-ons
Pre-installed extras can erase the gap to the next car up.
Read the window sticker
It lists the trim, options and price the car left the factory with.
Related Checks and Guides
Deals, financing, insurance and the history behind a used alternative.
Where These Facts Come From
Prices come from each automaker's own site; fuel economy from the federal government's fuel-economy database.
Read on 7 November 2026. Automakers change prices without notice; check the maker's site or a dealer before you rely on a figure. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with any automaker named here.
Cheapest New Cars — Frequently Asked Questions
Prices, model years and what's left out.
What is the cheapest new SUV?+
The 2026 Hyundai Venue SE at $20,550, then the 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS at $21,700. The Venue is front-wheel drive.
What is the cheapest new car with all-wheel drive?+
On this list, the 2026 Subaru Impreza at $26,595, which Subaru sells as an all-wheel-drive hatchback. The Subaru Crosstrek follows at $26,995.
What is the cheapest new Toyota?+
The 2026 Toyota Corolla LE at $23,125 on toyota.com, 34–35 mpg combined.
Is a 2026 or a 2027 model cheaper?+
Usually the older model year, because the new one tends to launch at a higher price: the Kia K4 LX rose $200 and the Nissan Sentra $390 at the switch to 2027. A leftover 2026 on a dealer's lot is often where the negotiating room is.
Why isn't the Hyundai Kona on the list?+
Hyundai's site had moved to the 2027 Kona and its model page printed no base price when we checked, so we couldn't verify a current one. We only list cars whose price we could read on the maker's own site or pricing sheet.
Is a used car cheaper than the cheapest new car?+
Often, but check what you're getting. Enter the VIN of any used car for a free preview; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Comparing New With Nearly New?
Enter any 17-character VIN for a free preview. The full report is $14.99 once and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Prices are the manufacturers' published starting prices as read on 7 November 2026 and exclude destination, taxes and fees. CarCheckerVIN does not sell new cars and is not affiliated with any automaker named here. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
Related VIN Checks
More tools to verify any vehicle's history