Top 10 Most Affordable Cars of 2022 as Chosen by Car & Driver Magazine

Kia Rio represents the best in simple, budget-friendly transportation. It offers great fuel efficiency at an affordable price, all while providing a surprising number of features and a smooth driving experience for its cost. This compact car gives great value for the price. It’s available in sedan or hatchback body styles, but both offer limited rear-seat space and cargo capacity.

The two body styles of the Kia Rio include the sedan, which is $940 cheaper than the 5-door hatchback. Powered by a 120-horsepower inline 4 engine with a CVT, the Rio comes with front-wheel drive only. Its small size makes it fun to drive with good body control around corners, although its dull steering is a reminder of its budget-friendly pricing. Gas stations love it, as the Rio is estimated to achieve 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway according to the EPA.

Base Price: $17,275
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 36/33/41 mpg
Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited warranty.

2022 Hyundai Accent delivers a premium design that defies its surprisingly low price. Every Accent model is powered by a 120-horsepower four-cylinder engine coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It may not be exciting, but it gets the job done efficiently while sipping fuel. The interior isn’t flashy but highly functional, offering modern features, and the Limited model, priced under $21,000, includes heated seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, and push-button start.

Both the base SE and mid-level SEL trims of the Accent now come standard with an updated anti-theft system for 2022. Powered by the 120-horsepower engine with CVT, the Accent we tested reached 60 mph in 8.9 seconds, making it one of the slower vehicles we tested in 2021.

Base Price: $17,690
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 33/29/39 mpg
Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain, 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, and 3 years / 36,000 miles free maintenance.

The 2022 Subaru Impreza offers affordable pricing and comes standard with all-wheel drive, making it a practical compact car, though not particularly thrilling. Available in both sedan and hatchback styles, Subaru provides the Impreza with either a manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Its flat-four engine delivers sluggish acceleration, regardless of the transmission, and its gear shifting feels imprecise.

The Subaru Impreza remains the most affordable all-wheel-drive vehicle available today. It’s powered by a 152-horsepower engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. While it lacks urgency, this setup improves fuel efficiency, with highway estimates reaching 31 mpg according to the EPA. The 2022 Impreza stands out as a strong contender in its segment.

Base Price: $19,790
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 26/23/31 mpg (Manual)
Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain and 3 years / 36,000 miles limited warranty.

The 2022 Kia Forte offers a design and features reminiscent of the sportier Stinger sedan, but at a much more affordable price. The Forte comes with a standard 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a chassis tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling. A higher-powered GT model with 201 horsepower tops the lineup, though it lacks the oomph to challenge performance-oriented alternatives like the Honda Civic Si, Mazda 3, or Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

The Kia Forte is the best-selling model from the Korean brand. Its standard engine is a 147-horsepower four-cylinder, and it boasts impressive fuel efficiency with an estimated EPA highway rating of 41 mpg. It also features a larger fuel tank than the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf, allowing the Forte to travel an estimated 490 miles before needing a refuel.

Base Price: $20,115
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 35/31/41 mpg
Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain and 5 years / 60,000 miles limited warranty.

The Hyundai Venue is one of the most affordable crossovers available in the U.S. Don’t mistake its low price for a lack of desirable features or subpar interior quality. On the contrary, every Venue comes equipped with a range of standard driver-assistance features and a robust infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While its subcompact exterior may appear fun and tiny, the interior is surprisingly spacious, with quality furnishings.

Though it doesn’t come with all-wheel drive and its engine performs best on highways, it is perfectly suited for city limits and tight spaces that define urban areas. The Hyundai Venue is certainly affordable. Its 121-horsepower inline-four engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) provide ample power. The Venue accelerates to 60 mph quicker than the pricier Nissan Kicks and 2.4 seconds faster than the Toyota C-HR.

Base Price: $20,245
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 31/30/33 mpg
Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain, 5 years / 60,000 miles limited, 3 years / 36,000 miles free maintenance.

Kia has carved out its niche in the market by producing vehicles that are both fuel-efficient and easy to drive, with compact designs that stand out. The Kia Soul was first introduced in 2008 and released as a 2009 model. For 2021, this five-door crossover SUV sports a more athletic design, with impressive performance thanks to powertrain options reaching 201 horsepower.

The Kia Soul is the only model on this list to win two 10Best awards. It offers an affordable price tag, remarkable cargo space, and a 147-horsepower engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which doesn’t leave you wanting for power. According to the EPA, the latest generation of the electric Kia Soul, also known as the Kia e-Soul, can travel up to 243 miles on a single charge—about 2.5 times farther than the previous iteration of the electric motor.

Base Price: $20,505
EPA Fuel Economy Combined / City / Highway: 27/25/31 mpg (2.0L)
Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain, 5 years / 60,000 miles limited warranty.

Nissan Sentra 2022 is a stylish choice in the compact car segment. Nissan offers a single engine option, a relatively less powerful four-cylinder. It doesn't come with a manual transmission or all-wheel drive. However, there is an SR model with a sportier suspension and 18-inch wheels. Despite this, the 2022 Sentra is still quite attractive, loaded with features that many shoppers will appreciate.

The Nissan Sentra may not excite you, but it’s well-equipped with an array of standard safety features. It’s powered by a 149-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine mated to a CVT. The Sentra we tested managed to go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds, which is a bit faster than other vehicles on the list. While it’s not as thrilling to drive as the Honda Civic, the Sentra SR model comes in at a lower base price compared to the Civic.

Base price: $20,635
EPA combined/city/highway fuel economy: 33/29/39 mpg
Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain warranty and a 3 years/36,000 miles limited warranty.

Chevy Spark was discontinued without a direct replacement, but it remains a great value. Since 2020, the Spark has been the most affordable new car in the U.S. It’s powered by a 98-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine, with a 5-speed manual transmission offered in the most budget-friendly version. Spark achieves an EPA-estimated 38 mpg on the highway and has a nine-gallon fuel tank that’s cheap to fill. Unfortunately, the Spark lacks many standard safety features. Collision warning and automatic emergency braking are only available if you pay extra. Cruise control is also an added feature.

The interior of the Chevrolet Spark isn't bad, but it’s not as refined as some of the alternatives from Mitsubishi. That being said, Chevy’s infotainment system is packed with useful content that’s intuitive and easy to use. Each 2022 Spark comes with a less powerful engine that struggles on the highway but does well around town and in traffic.

Base price: $14,595
EPA combined/city/highway fuel economy: 33/29/38 mpg
Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain warranty, 3 years/36,000 miles limited warranty, and one free maintenance service in the first year.

The 2022 Mirage is the hatchback version of the sedan model, Mirage G4. The hatchback provides a bit more cargo space than its four-door sibling, though they share almost everything else, including the underwhelming 78-horsepower three-cylinder engine. Acceleration is sluggish and predictable, and the Mirage doesn't offer much satisfaction when driving. However, its cabin is fairly well-equipped, with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and automatic climate control as standard features.

The Mitsubishi Mirage stands as one of the most affordable new cars in the U.S. The Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan come with a 78-horsepower three-cylinder engine. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, though the Mirage we tested had a CVT. It took 12.8 seconds to reach 60 mph, and reaching 90 mph requires nearly 36 seconds of full acceleration. Achieving 75 mph takes over a quarter-mile. However, the savings are immediate.

Base price: $16,125
EPA combined/city/highway fuel economy: 36/33/41 mpg
Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles limited warranty and 5 years/60,000 miles.

The Nissan Versa is equipped with a variety of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking front and rear, automatic high beam headlights, and lane departure warning. A 122-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine powers the front wheels, and a 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the base S model.

If that sounds appealing, those willing to spend close to $20,000 for a Versa SR or SV will enjoy the same horsepower, but with the less exciting CVT. However, the manual transmission in the Nissan Versa significantly sacrifices fuel economy, offering an estimated 35 mpg on the highway, compared to 40 mpg with the CVT.

Base price: $16,205
EPA combined/city/highway fuel economy: 30/27/35 mpg
Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles drivetrain and a 3-year/36,000 miles limited warranty.