Toyota Corolla Hybrid

A low purchase price is only the start to finding a truly affordable car. Their spectacular fuel economy helps these 10 cars and SUVs keep operating costs in check.

Affordability is top of mind for shoppers, and the 2026 Honda Civic and 2026 Toyota Corolla are two of the best new cars priced around $30,000.

The cheapest new car sold in the U.S. is gone for 2026, but some automakers still offer some affordably priced alternatives.

Our expert car reviewers looked at national list prices and voted for their favorite models under $30,000 in seven different vehicle classes.

Driving a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle can make you feel greener, but if you live where winter is more white than green, you might want to consider one of the hybrids that offer all-wheel drive.

For 2026, Toyota isn’t changing much beyond dropping the 2025 Corolla sedan’s sporty-looking FX Edition but adding standard blind spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert across the lineup, as well as a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on the XSE and hybrid XLE trim levels.

Although prices for late-model used cars have recently jumped, Cars.com has assembled a healthy list of choices available for a budget of about $20,000.

As the discussion around tariffs swirls, here’s a better — but not perfect — picture of just how “American” 10 of the bestselling vehicles of 2024 really are.

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

Hybrids are some of the hottest selling cars at the moment, and fortunately, a boom in hybrid sales means that more of them are trickling down into the used market.