10 of the Least Expensive Sedans in 2024

The cars on this list come with fuel-sipping engines, low starting prices, and tons of standard features.

Connor Hoffman | 
Apr 8, 2024 | 5 min read

Kia

Sedans generally benefit from better fuel economy and lower starting prices than SUVs and crossovers. Even so, they're a dying breed, as major automakers such as Ford and General Motors have been dropping sedans from their lineups in favor of crossovers. The sedans that remain are typically the entry point into an automaker's lineup, making them among the most affordable new vehicles available these days.

Here are 10 of the least expensive sedans for sale in 2024. Prices have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

red Nissan Versa parked in an industrial area.Nissan

Nissan Versa

$18,000

Starting at about $18,000, the Nissan Versa is one of the least expensive new cars you can buy today. The compact sedan comes standard with a manual transmission. Opting for the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) will cost $19,000 to start and will get you an EPA-reported 32/40/35 mpg city/highway/combined — 5 mpg better in combined driving than the manual. The CVT-equipped models also come standard with safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning.

Two Mitsubishi Mirages in silver and yellow parked in front of stores.Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Mirage G4

$19,000

The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan starts at around $19,000. It has an efficient CVT that helps it achieve 35/41/37 mpg. A Black Edition model is also available, adding black wheels, a black spoiler, and red trim throughout the interior.

Kia Forte in silver parked on a road in front of mountains.Kia

Kia Forte

$21,000

Sadly, Kia dropped the sub-$20,000 Rio sedan from its lineup for the 2024 model year. That makes the Forte sedan, starting at about $21,000, the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of a new Kia.

The automaker offers two different engines in the Forte: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and a more powerful 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder on the sporty GT model, which can be had with a six-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy suffers on that model, however, at just 22/31/26 mpg with the manual. The 2.0-liter gets up to 30/41/34 mpg.

Blue Nissan Sentra driving on road past green hill.Nissan

Nissan Sentra

$22,000

If the Versa is too small for you and you're on a tight budget, the Nissan Sentra costs just above $22,000. All Sentra models come equipped with a CVT. The entry S trim comes with cloth seats and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the SV model adds an 8.0-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, and push-button start.

Silver Toyota Corolla driving in urban area with sun behind it.Toyota

Toyota Corolla

$23,000

Toyota offers the Corolla as a hatchback, sedan, or hybrid sedan. The regular sedan starts at around $23,000 and has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT that allows for up to 32/41/35 mpg.

It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 standard, which is the company's suite of safety and driver-assistance features. The Corolla Hybrid starts at less than $25,000 and is rated at up to 53/46/50 mpg.

Gray Hyundai Elantra parked next to hills.Hyundai

Hyundai Elantra

$23,000

Although Hyundai's Ioniq electric vehicles have made headlines more recently, the automaker's Elantra remains one of the most efficient — and cheapest — gas-powered sedans you can buy today.

Prices start at around $23,000 for the SE model that gets up to 32/41/36 mpg. The SE also comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Two Volkswagen Jettas in blue and red parked in a warehouse.Volkswagen

Volkswagen Jetta

$23,000

One of the pricier sedans on this list is the Volkswagen Jetta, starting at about $23,000 for the entry S model. It comes standard with loads of tech and safety features, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wired smartphone integration and Volkswagen's IQ.Drive collision-warning system.

Silver Honda Civic driving down a twisty road.Honda

Honda Civic

$25,000

The Honda Civic is one of the original small economy sedans, entering the U.S. market in the early 1970s. Today, the Civic starts just above $25,000. Hatchback, high-performance Si and track-focused Type R variants are also available, but the standard sedan comes powered by a 158-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's good for up to 31/40/35 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, according to the EPA.

Mazda3 in black parked next to an industrial building.Mazda

Mazda Mazda3

$25,000

Mazda now offers only one sedan, the Mazda3, which starts just north of $25,000. As one of the pricier and more premium options on this list, the Mazda3 offers the choice of two engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower or a turbocharged version that makes 250 horsepower.

To get the turbocharged engine, however, you must fork over about $33,000 for the 2.5 Carbon Turbo model. The 191-hp 2.5 S model, which is the entry point, comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and is rated at up to 27/37/31 mpg.

Black Subaru Legacy parked on snowy ground by mountains.Subaru

Subaru Legacy

$26,000

Subaru's cheapest offering is the Impreza hatchback, but in terms of sedans, the least-expensive option is the Legacy, which starts at around $26,000. The base model comes with a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, while the top Sport and Touring XT models get Subaru's turbocharged boxer four.

The base engine gets an estimated 27/35/30 mpg, and it's a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is standard across the board. All models also come standard with a version of EyeSight, Subaru's suite of driver-assistance tech.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.


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Connor Hoffman

Connor Hoffman is a writer and editor based in Kansas City. Prior to becoming a freelance writer, he was an editor at a national car magazine and worked in communications at a major automaker. He loves off-roading and camping in his 4Runner, golfing (poorly), and shredding on his mountain bike.