2017 Best Affordable Vehicles

The Nissan Versa’s claim to fame is that it’s the cheapest car sold in America ($11,990 base MSRP). Nissan sells two different types of Versas: the sedan and the hatchback called the Versa Note. The hatchback is a few thousand dollars more but offers more practicality. Both the sedan and hatchback come with a 106 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT.

The base model doesn’t come with much, but if you step up to the higher trim levels, you can get a NissanConnect infotainment system with navigation and Bluetooth, keyless entry, alloy wheels, fog lights, and Nissan’s Around View Monitor camera system.

The Chevrolet Spark ($13,000 base MSRP) is a fantastic city car. It’s the kind of little car that thrives in tight spaces and at low speeds. Chevrolet has built a tiny car that puts vehicles like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Smart Fortwo to shame. The Spark handles well for such a little car, and its 98 hp 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine is actually peppy at low speeds. The car can be had with either a five-speed manual transmission or CVT.

The best thing about this car is it comes well-equipped. It can be had with a 7-inch infotainment system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, heated seats, power sunroof, and Onstar. Many of those features come standard on low trims, too.

Ford’s most affordable car is the Fiesta ($13,660 base MSRP), and it’s pretty darn good. Although Ford has had issues with its dual-clutch automatic transmission, buy the car with the manual gearbox, and you’ll find that it’s one of the best cars at this price point. The Ford Fiesta can be had with either a 120 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, a 123 hp 1.0-liter turbo three-cylinder, or a 197 hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. If you want a reliable car buy the Fiesta with the five-speed manual, though there is a 6-speed automatic option.

The Fiesta comes reasonably well-equipped, too. You can buy the car with a 6.5-inch Sync infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, apps and more. If you want an especially sporty version of the car, get the Fiesta ST. That car is only available as a hatchback but is one of the best hot hatches on the market for the money.

The Kia Rio ($14,165 base MSRP) is a smart and inexpensive buy. While the 2017 model year design is a little tired, it’s still a good car. Kia has a new Rio for 2018 that’s much improved, but a little more expensive. The current Rio comes with a 138 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood that can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The interior of the Rio features notably better materials than other similarly priced cars and a smartly laid out and easy to use technology setup. The Rio can be had with a 7-inch UVO infotainment system, heated leather seats, power moonroof, automatic headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and Bluetooth.

The Hyundai Accent ($14,745 base MSRP) is the brand’s most affordable offering. It’s a car that offers basic transportation in sedan or hatchback form at an affordable price. The model is powered by a 137 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai has redesigned the Accent for 2018, which should take the car to new heights.

The 2017 Accent's interior is well laid out with plenty of available features, including Bluetooth, satellite radio, auxiliary input, and a USB port. The new 2018 Accent will have more features than the 2017 car, but if you’re just looking for a simple and reliable vehicle, this certainly isn’t a bad choice.

The Fiat 500 ($14,995 base MSRP) is a little and fun Italian hatchback. It’s cute as a button and charms everyone who sees it. Its base engine is available with a 101 hp 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission in most trims. If you get the sporty Abarth trim you get a 160 hp 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder. You can also go with the 500e, which is fully electric and makes 111 hp and can travel 87 miles per charge.

The Fiat 500 doesn’t have much space in the cabin, but there’s still quite a lot of content. The car can be had with the Uconnect 5.0 system with apps, auxiliary inputs, voice command, and Bluetooth. Fiat also offers a ragtop version of the 500. If you want to feel the wind in your hair at a low price, this is an option.

The Chevrolet Sonic ($15,145 base MSRP) does essentially the same thing its smaller brother, the Spark does: offer great value in a feature-packed car that's good to drive. For 2017, the model received some minor styling updates that help both the sedan and hatchback fit in with the Chevy lineup. The Sonic has a 138 hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder base engine and a 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine as an upgrade. Manual and automatic transmissions are available with both engines.

Inside, you’ll find a simple but attractive cabin. Some materials are on the cheaper side, but that’s forgivable thanks to the car’s long list of features. You can get the Sonic with a 7-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and heated seats. If the Spark is just a little too small, this is the car for you.

Toyota’s Yaris iA ($15,950 base MSRP) is actually a rebadged Mazda2 sedan. The Yaris hatchback that Toyota sells is a very different car. It has the same 106 hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine but otherwise isn't really the same. The Yaris iA is a better car in our minds, and that’s why it’s on here instead of the Yaris hatchback. The iA is actually a fun-to-drive, affordable sedan.

The issue with the Yaris iA is that it doesn’t come with many options at all. That being said, the car does have some useful features, including a 7-inch display infotainment system, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and available dealer-installed navigation. The Yaris hatchback offers essentially the same equipment just spread out over a couple trim levels.

The Honda Fit ($16,090 base MSRP) is the affordable subcompact car you should get if you have a lot of stuff to carry around. It’s has a surprisingly large cargo area, and Honda’s innovatively folding rear seats, open up 52.7 cubic feet of space which buries most competitors. The Fit is powered by a 130 hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or CVT.

The Fit’s infotainment system can be a little hard to use, but you can get a lot of features in this car, including a 7-inch touchscreen, power moonroof, push-button start, navigation, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and HD Radio. If you’re after a versatile and feature packed hatchback, the Fit could be for you.

The Kia Soul ($16,100 base MSRP) is most remembered for the company’s odd hamster marketing campaign, but the fact of the matter is that the Soul is a great automobile. It’s somewhat of a crossover, but it's often classified as a wagon. No matter where you put it, there’s no denying it’s one of the best values around. The Soul is powered by either a 130 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, 161 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, or 201 hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder. The base engine can be had with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. All other engines come only with the automatic. The Soul is also available as an EV with 109 hp and a range of 93 miles.

The Soul isn’t just about what’s under the hood. The interior is nice and well-laid out. It can be had with an 8-inch touchscreen UVO infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, premium Harman Kardon audio system, auxiliary input, USB ports, and Bluetooth. The Soul is the most expensive vehicle on this list, but its price is warranted.