How to buy a cheap and good car in America

Industry analysts report that the average new car price has reached roughly $48,000. What is the reason for this and how to find a cheap but good car?

There are still plenty of options on the market that cost significantly less than the average new car.

For example, tires for the 2024 Chevrolet Trax and Chevrolet Trailblazer cost between $20,000 and $22,000, which isn’t expensive by today’s standards. Both are good, especially the Trax, which received high ratings in a recent CNN test. When it comes to affordable cars, buyers have to stop counting engine power, but these two small Chevy SUVs have three-cylinder, turbocharged engines that make driving a breeze. Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine, said, “They pick up speed relatively easily on the highway, and at speeds of 70-80 miles per hour (112-128 km/h), your car won’t feel like it’s slowing down. “The interior design and materials are not as luxurious as the more expensive models, but they are generally good.”

defined.

Jane Ulitskaya, editor of Cars.com, – “The secret to a cheap car is matching your car with the features you consider essential.

problem. It’s impossible to get a car with the lowest base price and must-have features like Apple CarPlay. However, there are a surprising number of cheap cars

models, including CarPlay, wireless CarPlay, wireless phone

The app has features and functions that you may not want

there are” he wrote.

Recently, Cars.com announced its “Most Valuable Cars” of 2023, and the tech-savvy Kia Rio S was named the winner. It costs around $20,000 and has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic LED high beams, automatic climate control, lane departure warning, and a collision avoidance system that detects unexpected pedestrians. Cars.com’s favorite pickup truck to drive is the Ford Maverick XL sedan with the Co-Pilot 360 driver assistance package. That pushes the price up to $27,000, but it’s well below the $45,000 average pickup truck. It’s a great hybrid that gets 37 miles per gallon (3.7 L).

Tax credits, electric vehicles

Thanks to the new tax incentives, it is possible to buy fully electric cars at low prices.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has a starting price of about $27,800, but a $7,500 tax rebate brings the actual price down to about $20,000. Zack Gale, content director of MotorTrend’s Buyers Guide, agrees that the Bolt is an affordable option. If you have access to a home charger, this would be the best option. Because there’s nothing better than not having to go to the gas station. In general, being open to trying new things and considering options that you haven’t seen before can influence purchases. Some cars can be had for less than $20,000. A Nissan Versa with a manual transmission is a nice car for $16,000.