Can you still buy a sedan for less than $20,000?
Once the most-popular vehicle type in the nation, the sedan has been in steady sales decline for all of this century. There’s nothing surprising about this. Consumer’s see greater value—even at greater cost—in crossovers, which generally provide more space for cargo and people than do sedans, and are more often available with AWD, a desirable feature in the Snowbelt, and which generally improves resale value as well.
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The Cheapest Sedan in America
Consider that in 2012, Toyota sold nearly 405,000 Camrys in the U.S. Last year the Japanese maker failed to retail 300,000 examples. What makes this number more compelling, is that most of Camry’s direct competition—Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala and Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion and Taurus—is no longer in production.
For the most part, American car brands have abandoned the sedan. In fact, Ford no longer sells any sedans in the U.S., though it does offer a number of them in Europe and China.
And while the Honda Accord and Civic, and Toyota Camry and Corolla are still available, they are not as affordable as they once were. A base Civic LX, for example, now starts at just over $25,000. So, what is a practical, no-nonsense, sedan-seeking consumer to do? What, pray tell, is the least-expensive sedan you can buy?
Meet the 2024 Nissan Versa.
Nissan’s least-expensive model—which can still be had with a manual transmission—is the last sedan available with a starting price of less than $18,000.
The spunky, likeable Versa isn’t especially luxurious, but it is well equipped, relatively fun to drive, and extremely easy on the gas. Offered in three trim levels–S, SV, and SR—Versa can be outfitted to meet the needs of most frugally motived shoppers, and it looks pretty good as well.
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The 2024 Versa lineup:
Versa S with 5-speed manual: $17,405 (includes $1115 destination charge)
Versa S with CVT automatic: $19,047 (includes $1115 destination charge)
Versa SV with CVT automatic: $20,695 (includes $1115 destination charge)
Versa SR with CVT automatic: $21,415 (includes $1115 destination charge)
All Versas are powered by a 122 horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines. With the 5-speed manual Versa is rated at a combined 33 mpg. With the automatic that number rises to 34.
The next-least-expensive sedan available in the U.S. for 2024 is the Mitsubishi Mirage G4. The base ES model starts at 19,055 including a $1095 destination charge and mandatory $165 “Welcome Package.”
All Mirages are powered by a 78-horsepower, 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine mated to a CVT automatic. The G4 sedan is EPA rated at 37 mpg.
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Rounding out the top-three cheapest sedans of 2024 is the Kia Forte. Kia’s Honda-Civic-sized 4-door is larger than the Versa and Mirage, and more powerful as well. The base LX, which starts at just $20,915, including $1125 destination charge, boasts a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. A CVT auto is the only transmission offered with this powerplant. The sporty Forte GT is offered with a 201-horsepower engine and 6-speed manual transmission, predictably costs a lot more.
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