Monday, February 25, 2013

Least Expensive Cars of 2013


1. Nissan Versa 1.6 S      $12,780 (including destination charge)
Nissan Versa front view
Good value? Yes
You might expect America's least expensive car to be rather dismal, but the Nissan Versa is a surprisingly capable family car, offering as much space as most mid-size sedans for a little more than half the price of a base-model Toyota Camry. The styling is homely and the interior is rather drab, but the Versa does come with air conditioning and a CD stereo as standard equipment, and the options are reasonably priced -- a top-of-the-line Versa with power windows and locks, an automatic transmission, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and navigation -- navigation, for goodness sake! -- still costs less than a stripped-down Honda Civic.
Read more: Nissan Versa review
2. Chevrolet Spark LS      $12,995
Chevrolet Spark
Good value? Yes, definitely!
The Spark is a brand-new entry on this list, but boy, what a welcome addition! This mini-car features cheeky styling, bold paint colors, and a tiny-but-eager engine, and its $13 grand price tag includes air conditioning, power windows, alloy wheels, and a whopping ten airbags -- and for those who don't want to drive a stick-shift, an automatic transmission priced at a reasonable $925. The Spark's small size makes it easy to park and a lot of fun to thread through crowded city streets, but it also feels solid and stable out on the open road, though you'll feel some of the cost-cutting in the way the suspension crashes over bumps. Still, it's a very likable car, one that epitomizes the concept of cheap-n-cheerful.
3. Smart For Two Pure: $13,240
Smart ForTwo Pure

Good value? Cheapest automatic car, but other than that... meh
Though few Americans seem to take the two-seat Smart seriously, it actually does make a decent entry-level car. Though sparsely equipped compared to the Nissan Versa and Chevy Spark -- crank-down windows, no stereo, and no air conditioning (the latter is available as a $740 option) -- the ForTwo Pure does come with an automatic transmission, roomy seating for two and a surprisingly spacious trunk. And the novelty factor is unbeatable! The herky-jerky transmission turns some drivers off (it's essentially a manual transmission that does all the clutching and shifting for you), but if you can get used to that, the Smart Fortwo is actually rather entertaining to drive -- if for no other reason than the fact that you can park it anywhere.
Read more: Smart Fortwo review
4. Ford Fiesta S: $13,995
Ford Fiesta
Good value? Yes, especially if you love to drive
The Ford Fiesta is one of my favorite inexpensive cars. Its sub-$14k price -- unchanged from last year -- includes air conditioning and an AM/FM radio with an auxiliary input jack, although the color palette is limited (white, black, gray or silver; the red car in the photo is a higher trim level) and you'll still have to crank down your own windows. What sets the Fiesta apart is the fun-to-drive factor, a rarity in such an inexpensive car. Designed in Europe, the Fiesta lives for curvy roads and delivers great fuel economy, even if you spring for the automatic transmission (a high-tech six-speed twin-clutch transmission priced at $1,095). The Fiesta is cute, cheeky and eager, a thoroughly lovable car.
Read more: Ford Fiesta review
5. Kia Rio LX: $14,350
Kia Rio LX
Good value? Yes
One of the problems with cheap cars is that a lot of them look like cheap cars -- and who needs a constant reminder that their income isn't quite up to Mercedes levels? That's why I like the Kia Rio. Its smooth, modern styling belies its $14,350 price tag, and it has the same upscale look and feel on the inside as it does on the outside. And if you prefer a hatchback to a sedan, you'll be pleased to learn that Kia charges only $200 more for the 5-door over the 4-door -- a fraction of the premium that Nissan and Ford charge for the hatchback versions of the Versa and Fiesta. All Rios come with a fuel-efficient engine, air conditioning, and CD stereo with USB input jack as standard, although if you want anything else (besides an automatic transmission) you'll have to buy a more expensive model. Still, the Rio is a very good deal on a very grown-up car.
Read more: Kia Rio review
6. Chevrolet Sonic LS: $14,995
Good value? Yes
For years, Chevy held down a place on this list with the hapless Aveo; now they are the only manufacturer with two cars, the aforementioned Spark and the Aveo's replacement, the Sonic. While the Aveo was cheap and cheesy, the handsome little Sonic is a substantial car, with plenty of power from the base model's 1.8 liter engine and an interior that feels like it was built with parts from GM's more expensive cars. The base-model Sonci includes air conditioning, alloy wheels (a nice change from the plastic wheel covers found on most cheapmobiles) and the protection of ten airbags, more than most high-end luxury cars. The Sonic has a firm ride and a distinctly sporty demeanor, though it lacks the raw fun factor fo the Ford Fiesta. But unlike the Fiesta, which is hecho en Mexico, the Sonic is an American car that is actually built in America -- in fact, it's the only car on this list to wear the "Made in USA" label.
7. Toyota Yaris L 3-door: $15,130
Toyota Yaris
Good value? Not particularly
For years, the Yaris was one of my cheap-car picks, thanks to its cute styling, easy-to-park size, legendary reliability, and excellent value-for-money. Toyota redesigned the Yaris last year, and while the first three attributes remain, the value isn't what it once was. Toyota now charges over 15 grand for a base-model 3-door Yaris, which includes air conditioning, a USB-compatible stereo, and nine airbags -- not bad, until you consider that the Chevrolet Spark gives you all that plus alloy wheels, power windows, and an extra airbag and two extra doors for $2,135 less. The Yaris is still a very good car; it's just not the bargain it once was.
Read more: Toyota Yaris review
8. Kia Soul Base: $15,175
Kia Soul
Good value? Only with a manual transmission
The Kia Soul Base is one of my favorite cheap cars, offering cutting-edge style and a lot of standard equipment (air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors, and an iPod-compatible stereo) for just over fifteen grand -- an outstanding bargain. But there's a catch: The optional automatic transmission is priced at a whopping $1,800, roughly double the going rate. (That said, it's still $1,600 cheaper than an automatic Nissan Cube.) Even with the overpriced automatic, the Soul still gives you a lot of car -- and a lot of style -- for the money.
Read more: Kia Soul review
9. Hyundai Accent GLS: $15,320
Hyundai Accent sedan
Good value? Not compared to other cars on this list
For 2013, Hyundai has eliminated the "phantom" $13,000 Accent (a stripped-down model with no A/C or stereo that was all but impossible to find); the cheapest Accent now has air conditioni ng and a CD player, with an automatic transmission priced $1,000 higher. The Accent is a good enough car, with handsome styling and a back seat that offers generous legroom (but is a bit stingy on headroom). But at $15,000, it's just not a great bargain -- theChevrolet SonicKia Rio, and Nissan Versa all offer similar or more equipment for less money.
10. Mazda2 Sport: $15,515
Mazda2
Good value? Not really
The Mazda2 is a distant relative of the fourth-place Ford Fiesta, but the two cars couldn't be more different in character. Cute as it is on the outside, the Mazda2 has a surprisingly grown-up feel on the inside, thanks to the quality of its interior materials (significantly better than most cheap cars, even the Kia Rio) and a smooth, quiet ride -- so smooth and quiet that it's easy to forget you're driving Mazda's entry-level car. The Two's small size makes it easy to park but not much good for hauling passengers. The long standard equipment list includes power windows, mirrors and locks and air conditioning, but at well over $15k, it's rather pricey for such a small car.
Read more: Mazda2 review

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