Abstract
- The Nissan Versa S is an reasonably priced primary sedan with good options, beginning underneath $20K.
- The Hyundai Venue presents a subcompact crossover with commonplace options for comfy city driving.
- The Chevrolet Trax gives a nice subcompact crossover with good worth and sharper seems.
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 might add options at a worth.
Did we just like the Slate because it was cheap and since we may pay for under the options we needed? The average car costs around $48K, however you will 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 primary, 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 value suggests. The unhealthy information is that Nissan will most certainly finish manufacturing of the Versa S this 12 months.
Probably the most reasonably priced Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. There’s a CVT possibility out there, which provides higher gas economic system, however will price about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has first rate luxurious options for its worth, with a number of choices you may add and pay for. Security and driver help know-how are additionally extra complete than I anticipated.
Characteristic highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
7-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Elective |
USB ports |
3 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
5 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
122 hp |
Gas economic system mixed |
30 MPG |
0-60 mph |
9.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
15 cu-ft |
Fundamental 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 commonplace. As a small crossover, the Venue is right for every day city driving, commuting, the college run, and weekly buying. Its small dimension makes it straightforward to park and maneuver in heavy site visitors. Security and driver help know-how are excellent, though it doesn’t rating the utmost on its crash check.
The Venue comes commonplace 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 type of justifies its $3K greater price ticket than the fundamental Nissan Versa.
Characteristic 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 digital camera with parking help |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
121 hp |
Gas eocnomy mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
18.7 cu-ft |
Fundamental 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 seems, and a boxy, upright physique that creates numerous house inside. The Soul is a really sensible and nice city runaround with good options and many driver help and security know-how to maintain everyone secure, though it too doesn’t get the utmost stars in crash assessments.
The Soul comes commonplace with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The essential LX already gives a superb, stable 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.
Characteristic highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure |
USB ports |
Elective |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
2.0L I-4 |
Horsepower |
147 hp |
Gas economic system mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.0 seconds |
Cargo house |
24 cu-ft |
Fundamental 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 seems and a nice, 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 nice automobile to drive within the metropolis, and seems like good worth for cash. Security and driver help are on par with the opposite automobiles on this record.
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 laborious for its horses. The Trax has good house for passengers and cargo.
Characteristic 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 |
Gas economic system mixed |
29 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.8 seconds |
Cargo house |
26 cu-ft |
Fundamental 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, greater than the opposite automobiles on this record, 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 traditional two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear adjustments 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 know-how is nearly 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 |
Gas Economic system mixed |
34 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.9 seconds |
Cargo house |
14 cu-ft |
Fundamental guarantee |
3-year/36,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |

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