Chevrolet Trax

There are a variety of models with a rock-bottom base price, many of which also get good gas mileage — see our top 10 cheapest new cars on the market.

We’ve compared hundreds of models and thousands of configurations to find the cars that give you the most bang for the buck in popular vehicle classes including SUVs, pickup trucks, EVs, and sedans and hatchbacks.

Wheel warming has gone mainstream, with the feature standard or optional not just on luxury vehicles, but on an increasing number of models with sticker prices of $40,000 or less.

Of 30 vehicles subject to the new test in the agency’s latest front crash evaluation, 22 rated good or acceptable.

An increasing number of vehicles with sticker prices of $40,000 or less, some much less, offer heated mirrors.

A starting price usually references a car’s base model, excluding available features, options and fees, making it a poor benchmark in some cases.

Eight new vehicles qualified for the agency’s Top Safety Pick awards, including five that achieved the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating.

For the 2025 model year, Chevrolet sticks to the Trax’s formula by adding only two new exterior colors and leaving most everything else unchanged.

For the 2024 list of best value new cars, we’ve expanded the categories to more closely align with those used in Cars.com’s research tools.

Check out the all-new and fully redesigned conventional SUVs for 2024 — some of which also offer a fully electric version.