Best Cars Under $30,000
Paying a fair price for the car you want is important, and these cars should fill the bill. For more results, see Luxury Cars Under $30,000 and Best SUVs Under $30,000.
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SUV
$19,600
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
3.9
Consumer
28 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The well-rounded 2024 Chevrolet Equinox is a good value in compact SUVs, but it fails to stand out in its competitive class.
Sedan
$20,600
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.6
Consumer
30 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Subaru Legacy is a roomy and proven midsize sedan, and the only one with all-wheel drive included as standard across the line.
SUV
$23,100
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.2
Consumer
21 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse Limited 3-row midsize SUV is a familiar face in a crowd of newer contenders.
SUV
$23,300
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
3.8
Consumer
N/A
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Ford Escape is a practical compact SUV with a spacious interior, efficient hybrid options, and the latest tech features.
Pickup
$23,500
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.5
Consumer
21 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Nissan Frontier is a good midsize truck competing against some newer and more sophisticated rivals.
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SUV
$25,100
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.3
Consumer
19 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Jeep Wrangler continues its legacy as a stellar off-roader while offering modern technology and a wide variety in its lineup.
SUV
$25,900
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
3.9
Consumer
23 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Volkswagen Atlas is one of the roomiest 3-row midsize SUVs on the market, and it’s been enhanced for 2024.
Pickup
$27,300
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.5
Consumer
20 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Nissan Frontier is a good midsize truck competing against some newer and more sophisticated rivals.
SUV
$29,000
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.3
Consumer
20 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Jeep Wrangler continues its legacy as a stellar off-roader while offering modern technology and a wide variety in its lineup.
SUV
$29,000
Starting Price
4.0
Expert
4.4
Consumer
25 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2024 Maserati Grecale has more exclusivity than a typical compact luxury SUV.
SUV
$18,400
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.2
Consumer
31 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Kia Seltos is our Subcompact SUV Best Buy for 2023. It’s a versatile and well-rounded subcompact SUV with a roomy interior, great safety features, and standard AWD on most trims.
Sedan
$22,200
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.4
Consumer
32 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The all-new 2023 Honda Accord appears set to repeat history by taking the top spot in the midsize sedan class.
Convertible
$22,900
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.7
Consumer
29 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the little sports car with the capacity for big fun. It has a perfect blend of handling, power, and affordability.
Hatchback
$23,400
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.1
Consumer
57 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid enters a new generation with even better fuel economy, fresh tech, and remarkable style. All-wheel drive remains available and the new drivetrain delivers significantly more power.
Sedan
$24,600
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.4
Consumer
44 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid is the more efficient — and more powerful — version of our highest-rated midsize sedan, and the segment’s Best Buy Award winner.
Hatchback
$25,000
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.0
Consumer
40 Miles
Estimated EV Range
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid embarks on an all-new generation, with greater electric range, extra power, fresh technology, and more style than ever before.
SUV
$25,200
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.0
Consumer
23 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Kia Telluride is our 3-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2023. It earned the same title last year (and the two years before that) but then got even better for 2023 with a variety of meaningful enhancements.
SUV
$25,200
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
3.6
Consumer
29 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The totally redesigned Honda CR-V is our Compact SUV Best Buy for 2023. It sports fresh designs and tech while retaining the qualities that made the previous five generations best-sellers and class leaders. It’s good in so many ways, now at even higher levels. And it’s enjoyable to drive.
SUV
$28,100
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
3.7
Consumer
40 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The redesigned Honda CR-V is our Compact SUV Best Buy for 2023. It’s strong in every area that matters and should be at the top of any buyer’s must-see list. The CR-V Hybrid is especially attractive, delivering more power and even better fuel economy.
Convertible
$28,800
Starting Price
4.8
Expert
4.7
Consumer
29 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the little sports car with the capacity for big fun. It has a perfect blend of handling, power, and affordability.
SUV
$19,250
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
3.9
Consumer
26 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The affordable and well-equipped Kia Sorento is a great choice if you’re looking for a lot of bang for the buck in a midsize 3-row SUV.
SUV
$20,300
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.4
Consumer
26 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Hyundai Sante Fe is our 2-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy for 2023. It’s feature-rich, a great value, and looks good inside and out.
Sedan
$21,000
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
3.7
Consumer
33 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Honda Civic is our Compact Car Best Buy for 2023. It’s feature-rich, comfortable, looks good, drives well and is built on an established track record of resale value and reliability.
SUV
$21,800
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.0
Consumer
28 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Honda HR-V marks a new generation of this subcompact SUV, and it’s shaping up to continue the impressive ways of its predecessor.
SUV
$21,900
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.1
Consumer
303 Miles
Estimated EV Range
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is our Electric Vehicle Best Buy of 2023. An excellent all-electric compact SUV capable of running for up to 303 miles on a single battery charge, it also has plenty of tech, lots of standard equipment, and great warranties — making EV ownership an attractive proposition.
SUV
$22,300
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.2
Consumer
34 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
Spacious and well-equipped, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 2-row midsize SUV amps up both fuel efficiency and power levels over its combustion-only counterpart.
Pickup
$22,700
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.2
Consumer
21 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Ford F-150 is our Full-Size Truck Best Buy of 2023. It’s a perennial best-seller and award-winner for good reasons. The wide variety in its model range means there’s a truck for everyone in the F-150 model range, from work trucks to luxury vehicles to off-roaders.
SUV
$23,400
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.2
Consumer
31 Miles
Estimated EV Range
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid midsize SUV can travel up to 31 miles on electricity alone, adding to the many excellent qualities of the Santa Fe lineup in general.
Pickup
$24,900
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.2
Consumer
22 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Ford F-150 is our Full-Size Truck Best Buy of 2023. It’s a perennial best-seller and award-winner for good reasons. The wide variety in its model range means there’s a truck for everyone in the F-150 model range, from work trucks to luxury vehicles to off-roaders.
SUV
$25,000
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
3.9
Consumer
37 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The safe and fuel-efficient 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid delivers interior comfort and modern technology in a stylish midsize 3-row SUV.
Pickup
$27,100
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.2
Consumer
22 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The Ford F-150 is our Full-Size Truck Best Buy of 2023. It’s a perennial best-seller and award-winner for good reasons. The wide variety in its model range means there’s a truck for everyone in the F-150 model range, from work trucks to luxury vehicles to off-roaders.
SUV
$27,800
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
4.3
Consumer
28 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The totally redesigned BMW X1 is our Subcompact Luxury SUV Best Buy of 2023. The new model improves with a roomier interior, bolder style, a more potent engine, standard all-wheel drive, plus more and better tech.
SUV
$29,400
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
3.9
Consumer
32 Miles
Estimated EV Range
The Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is an efficient SUV with 3-row seating, great safety ratings, and modern tech features, but it’s expensive.
SUV
$29,900
Starting Price
4.7
Expert
3.9
Consumer
21 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
Totally redesigned for 2023, the impressive new Honda Pilot is among the 3-row midsize SUV segment’s roomiest, most flexible, and tech-savviest entries.
Sedan
$16,550
Starting Price
4.6
Expert
4.0
Consumer
37 MPG
Combined Fuel Economy
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra is proof that the compact sedan class is vibrant and evolving. Yet it still delivers what most buyers want.