Sticker prices keep climbing, yet a handful of 2025 and 2026 models still start below a $24,000 base price. The list runs from a compact crossover at the bottom of the range to sedans that nudge right up against the ceiling. Here are eleven new vehicles that still qualify, each with the figure behind its spot.
1. Hyundai Venue: Lowest Entry Price
The Venue is the cheapest car in this group, with a base SE trim listed at an MSRP of $20,550 in SlashGear pricing roundup. That figure makes it the lowest-priced 2026 model on the list, undercutting every other entry here.
Shoppers who want a brand-new warranty without a four-figure monthly stretch get the clearest example of a bargain that still exists. The caveat is that this price covers the base trim only, so added equipment pushes the total upward.
2. Kia Soul: Boxy Value Holdout
The 2025 Soul starts at $20,490 for the LX trim, according to the SlashGear price list. That puts the quirky hatchback just below the Venue’s $20,550 starting figure.
The number is attached to a 2025 model, so owners-to-be should confirm current pricing before treating it as a 2026 quote. Even so, it shows how few new vehicles still begin near the $20,000 line. Comparing that LX price against the other entries here is the quickest way to judge whether the Soul’s shape is worth any compromise in equipment.
3. Chevrolet Trailblazer: Subcompact SUV Under Budget
The 2026 Trailblazer starts at $23,300, a figure carried in the SlashGear cheapest list. That keeps the Chevrolet crossover under the $24,000 ceiling with a few hundred dollars to spare.
For buyers who need SUV ride height and cargo flexibility, it ranks among the few ways to get there without crossing into the mid-$20,000s. The margin is thin, so a couple of options could erase it. Anyone cross-shopping should compare it against the other crossovers on this list before settling, since several sit within a few hundred dollars of each other.
4. Chevrolet Trax: Edmunds Cheapest Five
Edmunds lists the 2026 Trax at a starting price of $23,495, including destination, as reported in its least-expensive cars ranking. Counting the delivery charge makes that number closer to the true sticker than a bare MSRP.
A destination-inclusive price is the figure a buyer actually faces at signing, which makes this one comparatively honest. It still sits within about $500 of the $24,000 cutoff. Reading the fine print on whether a quoted price includes delivery is the simplest habit for avoiding sticker shock when comparing this entry against rivals.
5. Kia K4: Sedan Price Sweet Spot
Edmunds puts the 2026 K4 sedan at a starting price of $23,535, including destination, in its five cheapest cars list. The K4 appears on that short Edmunds ranking despite being a recent arrival.
The pricing suggests a compact sedan can still be had new under $24,000 even after delivery fees. Buyers should expect that starting number to apply only to the entry trim. Weighing the K4 against the Sentra and Elantra, which sit within a few hundred dollars of it, comes down to styling and equipment rather than raw price.
6. Nissan Sentra: Sedan Staying Affordable
The 2026 Sentra carries an Edmunds starting price of $23,845, including destination, per the Edmunds cheapest-car roundup. That is only $155 shy of the $24,000 mark.
The slim cushion means the Sentra is cheap on paper but easy to push over budget with any upgrade. Shoppers comparing it against cheaper entries should price a realistic trim, not just the base. Weighing the Sentra against its close neighbors on the list is largely a matter of trim and feature preference, since the pricing gaps are small.
7. Hyundai Elantra: Near the Ceiling
Edmunds lists the 2026 Elantra at a starting price of $23,870, including destination, according to its cheapest new cars report. It is the priciest of the five Edmunds picks in this gallery, just $130 under $24,000.
That makes the Elantra the car most likely to slip past the budget line once an option box is checked. It remains a legitimate under-$24,000 sedan, but only barely. Anyone choosing it should set a firm out-the-door budget in advance, because small additions would quickly erase the margin shown here.
8. Nissan Kicks: Price Creep Example
The 2026 Kicks has a base MSRP of $22,430, and Jalopnik reports that it used to cost less than $20,000. That gap illustrates how quickly entry prices have climbed.
The Kicks is still a sub-$24,000 crossover, but its history is a warning for anyone assuming cheap trims stay cheap. Owners-in-waiting may find the pricing ladder moving again. Locking in a price quickly may therefore matter more here than waiting for a discount that the recent history does not suggest is coming.
9. Toyota Corolla: Seventh-Cheapest New Car
The 2026 Corolla has a base MSRP of $22,925, which Jalopnik ranks as the seventh-cheapest new car. Its position in that ranking shows how crowded the budget end of the market is.
A seventh-place finish at under $23,000 means several rivals still undercut it. For buyers prioritizing resale and reliability reputation, the extra cost over cheaper entries is modest. That ranking is a useful reminder that being cheap and being cheapest are different things, and that the budget field remains genuinely competitive.
10. Kia Seltos: Compact Crossover Bargain
The 2026 Seltos has a base MSRP of $23,790, according to Jalopnik pricing. That lands it only $210 below the $24,000 line.
The Seltos offers a bigger crossover footprint than some cheaper rivals, with little room left for add-ons. Shoppers should treat the base price as a floor rather than a typical transaction. Comparing that figure with the other crossovers in this gallery helps show where the Seltos sits on equipment for the money.
11. Volkswagen Jetta: Just Under the Line
The 2026 Jetta S has an MSRP that starts at just under the $24,000 mark, as noted in the SlashGear roundup. That makes it the last stop on a list that ends right at the budget threshold.
Its pricing is a reminder that the cutoff is razor thin for this one. A buyer wanting anything beyond the S trim would likely leave the under-$24,000 club. Careful shoppers should price a realistic configuration first, then decide whether the Jetta still belongs on the shortlist.
More from Morning Overview
- Ford is recalling 223,472 F-150 pickups because the fuel tank can leak or detach
- Hybrids have 15% fewer problems than gas cars, while EVs and plug-in hybrids have about 80% more, Consumer Reports finds
- Regulators cleared the first U.S. small modular reactor, 4 months early
- Lake Powell sank to a record 3,517 feet, nearing the level that stops Glen Canyon Dam’s turbines
