Abstract
- The Nissan Versa S is an reasonably priced fundamental sedan with good options, beginning underneath $20K.
- The Hyundai Venue provides a subcompact crossover with normal options for comfy city driving.
- The Chevrolet Trax supplies a pleasing subcompact crossover with good worth and sharper appears to be like.
We had been all very when the $20K Slate EV was announced. It was a pickup with no options, not even painted. Inside was a clean dashboard and windup home windows — and you possibly can add options at a value.
Did we just like the Slate because it was cheap and since we may pay for less than the options we needed? The average car costs around $48K, however you may get one for round $20K, and even much less. What do you get for that? Is it a horrible empty field or is it good sufficient for somebody who hates paying for stuff they do not want? I did not know both, so I did some digging, and that is what I discovered.
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5
2025 Nissan Versa S
$17,190
Nissan
The Nissan Versa S is a small five-seat FWD sedan usually described as fundamental, trustworthy transportation. It’s the solely automobile within the US beginning at underneath $20K. The excellent news is that it’s a nicer automobile than the worth suggests. The dangerous information is that Nissan will more than likely finish manufacturing of the Versa S this 12 months.
Essentially the most reasonably priced Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. There’s a CVT choice accessible, which provides higher gas economic system, however will price about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has respectable luxurious options for its value, with a number of choices you’ll be able to add and pay for. Security and driver help expertise are additionally extra complete than I anticipated.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
7-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Non-compulsory |
USB ports |
3 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
5 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
122 hp |
Gasoline economic system mixed |
30 MPG |
0-60 mph |
9.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
15 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
3-year/36,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |

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4
2025 Hyundai Venue SE
$20,200
Hyundai
The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover that seats 5 comfortably, with good options as normal. As a small crossover, the Venue is good for day by day city driving, commuting, the varsity run, and weekly procuring. Its small dimension makes it simple to park and maneuver in heavy visitors. Security and driver help expertise are superb, though it doesn’t rating the utmost on its crash check.
The Venue comes normal with CVT transmission, which provides to its easy driving, however even at that small dimension, this automobile is a bit under-powered for easy freeway overtaking. The essential Venue has a vibe that form of justifies its $3K greater price ticket than the essential Nissan Versa.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
Ajustable seats |
Sure |
LCD display |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure wi-fi |
USB ports |
2 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Rearview digicam with parking help |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
121 hp |
Gasoline eocnomy mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
18.7 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
10-year/100,000 miles |

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3
2025 Kia Soul LX
$20,490
Kia
The Kia Soul is a subcompact five-seat crossover with quirky appears to be like, and a boxy, upright physique that creates a number of house inside. The Soul is a really sensible and nice city runaround with good options and plenty of driver help and security expertise to maintain everyone protected, though it too doesn’t get the utmost stars in crash exams.
The Soul comes normal with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The essential LX already supplies , strong automobile, and you’ve got a selection of many optional features to make your ride better. Just like the Venue, the Kia Soul is extra at house within the metropolis than on the freeway.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure |
USB ports |
Non-compulsory |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
2.0L I-4 |
Horsepower |
147 hp |
Gasoline economic system mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.0 seconds |
Cargo house |
24 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
10-year/100,000 miles |

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2
2025 Chevrolet Trax LS
$20,500
Wiki Commons Ethan Llamas
The Chevrolet Trax is a five-seat subcompact crossover. It has sharp appears to be like and a pleasing, if considerably bland, inside. The Trax has decrease, extra car-like dimensions than the Kia Soul, for instance. The underside trim is decidedly naked in options in comparison with its dearer variants, however it’s nonetheless a pleasing automobile to drive within the metropolis, and looks like good worth for cash. Security and driver help are on par with the opposite automobiles on this checklist.
One space the place it stands out is the six-speed computerized transmission for individuals who dislike the sound and really feel of the CVT, though the small turbo engine has to work arduous for its horses. The Trax has good house for passengers and cargo.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure |
USB ports |
Sure |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
1.2L 3-cylinder turbo |
Horsepower |
137 hp |
Gasoline economic system mixed |
29 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.8 seconds |
Cargo house |
26 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
3-year/36,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |

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1
2025 Nissan Sentra S
$21,590
Nissan
The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan, larger than the opposite automobiles on this checklist, on par with the dearer Honda Civic or VW Jetta in dimension. Reviewers usually comment on the comfy entrance seats and nice inside fittings. It additionally has a good quantity of trunk house for a sedan.
The Sentra has a standard two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear modifications like an computerized. This improves the texture and sound of the automobile, if not the efficiency. The baseline Sentra has good options that may be upgraded, and its security and driver help expertise is pretty much as good as any sedan in its class. Just like the smaller Versa, this Nissan additionally will get 5 stars within the NHTSA crash check.
Aircon |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
7-inch |
BlueTooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure |
USB ports |
2 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
5 stars |
Engine |
2.0L I-4 |
Horsepower |
149 hp |
Gasoline Financial system mixed |
34 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.9 seconds |
Cargo house |
14 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
3-year/36,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |

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