With new cars rising in price as quickly as our gas prices these days, we're always on the hunt for a bargain to save money as reliably and safely as possible. New cars cost an average of nearly $50,000, but there are still a handful of affordable models available. It's unlikely that we'll ever see a new sub-$20k car again. However, the $30k - $35k price range is still full of a variety of models to suit everybody's lifestyle. Buyers could pick cars as simple as a new Toyota Corolla or an equivalent compact sedan, or they can get a little closer to that $35,000 budget for nicer, more practical, and capable vehicles.That said, those $35k vehicles on sale today can oftentimes be found for even cheaper on the used market. Used cars come with inherent risks that usually come down to the previous owners failing to maintain them. There are more well-maintained used models out there with relatively low mileage that have already taken the depreciation hit.We're here to take a look at both sides today. Here are five new cars that start at under $35,000, and their used counterparts for even less money. We chose a variety of new models, ranging from a sports car, to a pickup truck, an EV, and more.All specifications have been pulled directly from the manufacturers. New car prices are correct at the time of writing, and exclude destination, options, taxes, incentives, and other potential fees. Used car prices vary depending on location, condition, mileage, the number of owners, title status, and more. This list is organized by new-car price from cheapest to most expensive, with used cars following each respective new model. 2026 Mazda CX-50 Base Price: $29,900 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium PlusThere aren't any large SUVs that start under $35k this year, but buyers can still find a handful of two-row models. For example, the 2026 Mazda CX-50 is a popular practical family hauler with standard all-wheel drive that starts at just $29,900. All non-turbocharged trim levels technically start under $35k.On one hand, that's a great deal for an SUV that borders on the edge of premium with a high-quality interior and features like standard dual-zone air conditioning, and higher trims (still within our budget) get heated leather seats. The downside to choosing this brand-new model, and any other new model, for that matter, is depreciation. The CX-50 is projected to lose about 37% of its value after five years on the road, according to CarEdge. 2023 Mazda CX-50 Current Used Value: $22,000 2024 Mazda CX-50 front 3/4Since the CX-50 was only just introduced in 2023, that's as old as we can get for this model. That said, it's already dropped in price enough to be a great deal without feeling old. There haven't been any updates to its design, so examples with low mileage may feel brand-new. The best part about the 2023 CX-50 is that it's currently valued at around $22,000 for a base model.Higher trims are worth more, of course, but even the first Turbo trim level is going for around $28k today. Downsides to this model are situational. There shouldn't be any issues with a used CX-50 yet, since it's not that old, but there's always some risk when buying from private sellers. 2026 Nissan Leaf Base Price: $29,990 2026 Nissan LeafThe 2026 Nissan Leaf is a revolution due to its new generation's styling, power, efficiency, range, and more. We liked it so much that CarBuzz named it the Best EV, Best Budget Vehicle, and the Car of the Year in our Buzz Awards this year. Its cheapest trim starts at just under $30k, which is astonishingly affordable for an electric vehicle.It's base model, the S+ trim, can drive up to 303 miles on a full charge, too. That said, it's cheap for a reason. This Nissan is pretty bare-bones with few comfort features at the base level. Cloth upholstery, manually-adjustable seats, and steel wheels are standard features. 2025 Nissan Leaf Current Used Value: $17,500 2025 Nissan Leaf White Front Angled ViewA used Nissan Leaf, even from 2025 (the last model year of its previous generation), is the first model on this list where we would highly recommend spending extra to buy the newer generation. Let's start with the upsides, though: it's dirt cheap. A 2025 Leaf S with barely any miles and a single owner can go for around $17,000 today.The SV Plus, on the other hand, is the 2025 model's highest trim; it's worth around $26,700 on average, and comes with an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heat pump, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control. One downside is its lack of power (the SV Plus gets up to 214 hp, though), and an estimated range of just 149–212 miles. 2026 Honda Civic SI Base Price: $31,495 2026 Honda Civic SiThe only cheap sports cars left on sale include the Mazda Miata, Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, and this: the 2026 Honda Civic SI, which starts at $31,495 before destination. You can buy any one of the other sports models listed, but we chose to highlight the Civic SI since it comes with a manual transmission as its only option, in addition to a comfortable power output, solid reliability, and great handling. Our only gripe with buying this model is that it has four doors. We know sports car buyers would usually rather have a coupe or convertible, so let's look at the used Civic Si next. 2020 Honda Civic SI Coupe Current Used Value: $19,600 2020 Honda Civic Si CoupeThe 10th-generationCivic SI Coupe was the last of its kind. Buyers can find used 2020 models with two-door styling and more for about $20k today. This is a thrilling coupe with a helical front limited-slip differential, a short-throw close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, and it's capable of balancing between daily driving and track days.The only downsides to this model include a relatively glitchy and difficult infotainment system, and the lack of a K-Series engine found in older models. When compared to the 2026 model, though, it's a great choice for budget buyers. 2026 Toyota Tacoma Base Price: $32,445 2026 Toyota Tacoma SRTrucks are usually pretty expensive today, but the Toyota Tacoma offers the power and capability of a work truck for under $35,000. The Tacoma SR is the only trim that fits into our budget. It does so by offering less power than the SR5 or other models with the non-hybrid powertrain, and essentially no comfort features.Yes, buyers will enjoy the rugged versatility of a pickup truck that can haul up to 1,460 pounds in its bed, but that means settling for cloth, manually-adjustable seats, a four-speaker audio system, single-zone manual climate control, and steel wheels. It's perfect for those who only need it for job sites, but it's not the best daily driver. 2020 Toyota Tacoma Current Used Value: $25,600 2020 Toyota Tacoma front 3/4Buyers can save nearly $10k by choosing a 2020 Tacoma SR, or they can spend just as much as a new model and get a higher trim. With a budget of $35,000, the TRD Off-Road trim is available on the used market with a legendary 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine that will last forever.It can tow far more than the base model from either model year mentioned in this list, has more comfort features, and makes for a solid off-road platform. The aftermarket modification scene surrounding this model is more attainable than the new model, too. 2026 Acura Integra Base Price: $33,400 2026 Acura Integra A (11)-1Our last new model on the list goes in a more luxurious direction. The 2026 Acura Integra is available in five trims, with the base model starting under $35k. Even at its most basic, this Integra comes with leatherette upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. It's built on the same platform as the Civic hatchback, so it shares an engine and power output with the Civic SI mentioned above. That said, if you plan on sticking to a $35k budget, you'll be missing out on a bunch more comfort features found in higher trim levels. 2023 Acura Integra Current Used Value: $26,900 2023 - 2025 Acura IntegraLooking back to the current Integra's first model year, 2023, means opening access to higher trim levels with more features that make it feel less like a fancy Honda and more like a true luxury car. According to CarBuzz' Price Trends data, the A-Spec trim with the Technology Package falls within our budget.That means buyers can get front and rear parking sensors, a 9-inch touchscreen display, the ELS Studio 3D 16-speaker audio system, microsuede upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and much more. It's difficult to find a downside to buying this over a new model, except for the fact that there's no Type S variant available for the 2023 model year, and the 2024 Type S is too expensive.