Shopping for a new car can be a thrilling experience. After all, there’s something special about that new car smell and knowing you’ll be the first one behind the wheel. But if you’re on a budget, you might worry your options are limited, or that you’ll have to give up on some of your “must-haves.” Believe me, I’ve been there, and it’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed by prices and financing details.
The good news is, most car manufacturers keep a broad audience in mind when designing their lineups, so even if you can only spend up to $20,000, you’ve still got a good shot at finding a brand-new vehicle that ticks your boxes — everything from decent fuel economy and reliable safety features to the comfort of a modern interior.
How We Chose the Vehicles on This List
In order to find cars for sale under $20,000, we searched through the various manufacturer vehicle line-ups. That netted us a small list of brand-new vehicles available for sale with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $19,999 or less. Because the list was very short, we also dug a little deeper into nearly-new vehicles you could find within the same constraints.
2025 Nissan Versa
The 2025 Nissan Versa is the only 2025 model on our list. It has a starting MSRP of $17,190, and you can find the S FWD and S CVT FWD models for under $20,000. The Versa is a subcompact sedan, and while the price tag might be low, that doesn’t mean it isn’t rich with features.
Both the S FWD and S CVT FWD get reasonable gas mileage, 30 MPG and 35 MPG, respectively, but the latter has some extra features available as options.
2024 Kia Forte
The Kia Forte was discontinued after the 2024 model year and replaced with the K4. However, dealerships still have some available across the country and since it’s been discontinued, the sticker price can be found below $20,000.
Per Car and Driver, the interior is very comfortable and suitable for long drives, even if the ride itself can be kind of sluggish. It has a purported combined fuel economy of 34 MPG. The cargo space is also significant, besting the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
If you’re looking for a comfortable ride with storage that won’t set you back a pretty penny, this car fits the budget.
2024 Hyundai Venue
If you need more room and are considering an SUV, the 2024 Hyundai Venue SE fits the bill (quite literally) with a starting MSRP of $19,900. Stick with the SE model if you want to stay under $20,000.
The Venue SE has a combined 31 MPG and several newer features, such as lane assist and forward collision-avoidance assist. You can also connect your phone to the vehicle via Bluetooth and use either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
2024 Mitsubishi Mirage
The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is a more compact model with a starting MSRP of $16,695. The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, a four-door sedan, is also for sale, with an MSRP starting at $17,795.
I drove a Mirage when I was younger and will admit it’s a fun little car for someone just starting out or someone on a budget. You don’t get a lot of bells and whistles with these models, but they’re very conservative on gas, a combined 37 MPG, and have the basic features you need for a simple ride, like keyless entry and Bluetooth capability.
Don’t Count Out Other Nearly-New 2024 Models
While our search for new cars under $20,000 admittedly fell a bit short of options, we did happen to find several nearly-new vehicles with low mileage. The good news is that someone else eats the depreciation on these vehicles, essentially giving you a better deal overall.
The key is to find a certified pre-owned car with enough of the original warranty available to cover you in case something goes wrong.
2024 Hyundai Elantra
Our search turned up a number of 2024 Hyundai Elantra SELs under $20,000. Some of them even had as few as 5,000 miles on them.
The SEL trim is great for traveling as it gets a combined 34 MPG, with up to 40 MPG on the highway. It has all the necessary technology to keep you running smooth, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available as options when you connect your Bluetooth.
2024 Nissan Sentra SV
If you’re in the market for a Nissan and want a model bigger than the Versa, you can find the 2024 Sentra at various dealerships across the country for less than $20,000. We even found one that had just over 3,000 miles on it—essentially brand-spanking new.
The 2024 model had an updated look, per Car & Driver, and this was the year the manufacturer added an Xtronic CVT to help boost fuel efficiency. The interior is designed for comfort and can hold more passengers and cargo than the smaller Versa. If you’re willing to go slightly used over new, you could find yourself a real deal.
2024 Nissan Rogue S
Oh look, it’s another Nissan, this time an SUV. We found a few 2024 Nissan Rogues for sale for less than $20,000, including an S trim that had just 21,000 miles on it. Considering the model started at $29,810 MSRP, this is a steal of a deal.
Car & Driver touts the SUV’s comfortable ride and revitalized look, which makes it sleek. But even though it’s a bigger vehicle, fuel economy is still pretty good, with 30 MPG city and 37 MPG highway.
2024 Kia Soul
If you’ve got a thing for boxy cars, we’ve found some lightly used 2024 Kia Soul models for sale, including this one with little more than 5,000 miles on it.
This small SUV gets good gas mileage and has enough seating for five with plenty of room to get comfy. It handles extremely well despite having lackluster acceleration.
In Closing
Don’t feel that just because you’re shopping on a budget that you won’t be able to find a car. There are a few brand-new models out there, and if you’re diligent, you can find several that will hit your price point. It’s all a matter of doing the footwork and knowing what you want.
