Every $25,000 Car You Can Still Buy in 2025

It’s not news that new cars are more expensive than ever. Automakers and naysayers may point out that they’ve simply kept up with the rate of inflation, but that’s little consolation when wages certainly have not.

Despite this, there remains a small contingent of new cars that can still technically be had for less than $25,000 to start. And some of them just barely meet that mark.

No, these vehicles aren’t very big or luxurious, and you’ll largely be shopping at the bottom, most sparsely equipped end of the brochure. But that’s just the name of the game if you’d like that new car smell while having the smallest payments possible.

Using base starting prices, including destination, here’s every new car you can still buy in 2025 for under 25 grand.

Chevrolet Trailblazer: $24,995

Fuel Economy: 30 MPG Combined

Chevy’s subcompact Trailblazer crossover just qualifies for this list, starting at $24,995 including a $1,795 destination charge. That gets you into a base, front-drive 2026 LS model.

Introduced for the 2021 model year to slot under the Equinox, the Trailblazer is only the second least expensive car in the Chevrolet lineup. Using a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, the Trailblazer gets 30 miles per gallon combined. There’s a 1.3 available, but that bumps the price to more than $25,000. Bar some industry-catastrophic collapse, don’t expect this car to stay on this list for long, as any inevitable price creep will surely put it above that mark.

Volkswagen Jetta: $24,220

Fuel Economy: 33 MPG Combined

Starting at $24,220 for a base 2025 S trim, the Volkswagen Jetta is the only European new car to still cost less than 25 grand. Notably, this only applies to the 2025 model year because VW has already announced that prices will be going up, thanks to tariffs, and the ‘26 Jetta will start at over $25K.

Using a 1.5-liter turbo-four good for 158 horsepower and 33 combined mpg, the Jetta is wholly inoffensive to drive. Bar some finicky interior controls, it’s mostly a well-executed car, but it’s also one I consistently struggle to find a strong case for unless you just happen to like the looks and the badge. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s still around.

Nissan Kicks: $23,925

Fuel Economy: 31 MPG Combined

As for a similarly compact and practical crossover that’s a bit more agreeably styled, the recently redesigned Nissan Kicks still starts at $23,925. That’s for the base front-wheel-drive S trim, the only 2026 Kicks available under 25 grand.

Nissan’s subcompact crossover underwent a big, recent glow-up, but its price remains small. A 7.0-inch touchscreen is standard, as is a 141-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 31 miles per gallon combined. The most interesting thing about it, though, is that it kind of looks like a running shoe. Maybe that’s why it’s called that.

Toyota Corolla: $23,920

Fuel Economy: 35 MPG Combined

Likely the car on the list that’ll last the longest, the Toyota Corolla can still be had for less than $25,000, with the base, non-hybrid 2026 LE sedan starting at $23,920 after a $1,195 destination charge. Opting for a Hybrid or Hatchback pushes Toyota’s compact past the $25K mark.

An automotive byword for basic, reliable transportation, the current Corolla isn’t nearly as big a snoozefest to drive as it used to be. It is the base for the wild GR Corolla hot hatch, at the end of the day, and its styling might even be considered exciting if it weren’t so common.

Hyundai Elantra: $23,370

Fuel Economy: 36 MPG Combined

Serving as the Toyota Corolla’s techier, slightly cheaper rival, the Hyundai Elantra starts at $23,370, including $1,245 for destination. That buys a base 2025 SE, but a smarter play would probably be the $24,495 SEL Sport that gets you a whole lot of niceties (like the same wheels found on the Limited) while staying a hair under $25K.

Hyundai makes an Elantra Hybrid, but that goes for $26,695 to start. The gas Elantra isn’t inefficient in its own right, though, using a 2.0-liter four-cylinder to eke out 36 combined mpg and 147 horsepower.

Kia K4: $23,185

Fuel Economy: 34 MPG Combined

The Kia K4 is the newest (and arguably coolest-looking) car here, but it’s still mighty affordable, starting at $23,185 after a $1,195 destination fee. That’s the sticker for a bargain basement LX, but you can spring for the $24,185 LXS without going over $25K. That one gets slightly less frumpy wheels, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, two extra speakers, and a couple of extra active safety gizmos.

The budget-friendly K4 engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and achieving 34 miles per gallon. An even more stylish Hatchback model is coming for 2026, but like the Corolla, I’d be surprised if that one can be had for less than $25K.

Chevrolet Trax: $22,995

Fuel Economy: 30 MPG Combined

For a small Chevy crossover that’s even cheaper than the Trailblazer, the Trax starts at $22,995, including $1,395 for destination. That price is for the base 2025 LS, but a 1RS is still under $25K, coming in at $24,495 with freight.

Despite being cheaper than the Trailblazer, the Trax is practically the same size, if not a little bigger in some dimensions. One big caveat, though, is that it’s exclusively front-wheel-drive and can only be had with the 1.2-liter engine. But if your budget is hard-capped at $25,000, that was probably going to be the move anyway.

Kia Soul: $21,935

Fuel Economy: 30 MPG Combined

You’ve probably heard of memecoins, but if memecars were a thing, the Kia Soul would be a pioneer. And, fortunately, getting in on the ground floor is still pretty affordable in 2025. A base Soul LX can be had for just $21,935, including a $1,445 destination charge, while the nicer S trim is still $24,435.

Funky, hamster-shaped, and polarizingly unique, the Soul is the compact utility you get when you want Mini Cooper-slash-Beetle aura without dealing with German car prices or maintenance. Getting one of these may or may not result in certain friends losing a little respect for you, but I’d argue that those people weren’t great friends in the first place anyway.

Hyundai Venue: $21,695

Fuel Economy: 31 MPG Combined

If you’d like a cheap Hyundai but in crossover form, there’s the Venue. It starts at a very low $21,695 for a base 2025 SE but still qualifies for this list even if you go for the top $24,945 Limited model with the LED headlights and heated seats—one of the only cars here to stay under 25 grand in its nicest trim.

Whichever Venue you choose, though, you’ll find a 1.6-liter four-cylinder making a modest 121 horsepower and good for 31 combined miles per gallon. Perhaps the most interesting part of owning this car, however, is the opportunity to make endless “Where’s the Venue?”-style dad jokes.

Nissan Sentra: $21,590

Fuel Economy: 34 MPG Combined

Spend a little less money on a Nissan while sacrificing a little ground clearance, and you get the Sentra. A base 2025 Sentra S starts at $21,590, including $1,245 for destination, and the mid-tier SV remains sub-$25K, listing for $23,535.

We should note that these prices are for the outgoing 2025 Sentra, not the snazzy brand-new one that Nissan just recently unveiled. Pricing for that one is TBA, but expect a base one of those to still come in under $25,000.

Nissan Versa: $18,435

Fuel Economy: 35 MPG Combined

You can’t talk about affordable new cars without mentioning the Nissan Versa, the cheapest new car in America today. It’s the lone sub-$20,000 ride still on sale with a starting price of $18,435 for a base 2025 S, including $1,245 for destination.

A top SR trim still comes well under 25 G’s, rocking a sticker price of just $22,435. As new cars go, the 35-mile-per-gallon Versa is as basic as they come. Sadly, America’s Cheapest Car won’t be around for much longer because Nissan is discontinuing it after 2025. With it gone, the cheap car mantle would go to the Sentra, but it’s unclear how much of a price bump that new one will come with.