Abstract
- The Nissan Versa S is an inexpensive primary sedan with good options, beginning underneath $20K.
- The Hyundai Venue presents a subcompact crossover with normal options for snug city driving.
- The Chevrolet Trax offers a nice subcompact crossover with good worth and sharper seems to be.
We have 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 may add options at a worth.
Did we just like the Slate because it was cheap and since we may pay for less than the options we wished? 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 typically described as primary, sincere 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 dangerous information is that Nissan will almost definitely finish manufacturing of the Versa S this 12 months.
Essentially the most inexpensive Versa is the S trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. There’s a CVT choice out there, which provides higher gasoline financial system, however will price about $1.6K extra. The Versa S has respectable luxurious options for its worth, with a number of choices you’ll be able to add and pay for. Security and driver help know-how are additionally extra complete than I anticipated.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display screen |
7-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Optionally available |
USB ports |
3 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
5 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
122 hp |
Gasoline financial system mixed |
30 MPG |
0-60 mph |
9.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
15 cu-ft |
Primary 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 normal. As a small crossover, the Venue is good for every day city driving, commuting, the varsity run, and weekly procuring. Its small dimension makes it straightforward to park and maneuver in heavy site visitors. Security and driver help know-how are superb, though it doesn’t rating the utmost on its crash take a look at.
The Venue comes normal 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 fundamental Venue has a vibe that kind of justifies its $3K increased price ticket than the fundamental Nissan Versa.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
Ajustable seats |
Sure |
LCD display screen |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure wi-fi |
USB ports |
2 |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Rearview digicam with parking help |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
1.6L I-4 |
Horsepower |
121 hp |
Gasoline eocnomy mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.5 seconds |
Cargo house |
18.7 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
10-year/100,000 miles |

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2025 Kia Soul LX
$20,490
Kia
The Kia Soul is a subcompact five-seat crossover with quirky seems to be, and a boxy, upright physique that creates plenty of 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 checks.
The Soul comes normal with CVT transmission and FWD solely. The fundamental LX already offers a very good, stable automobile, and you’ve got a alternative of many optional features to make your ride better. Just like the Venue, the Kia Soul is extra at dwelling within the metropolis than on the freeway.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display screen |
8-inch |
Bluetooth |
Sure |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Sure |
USB ports |
Optionally available |
Voice instructions |
Sure |
Specification
NHTSA score |
4 stars |
Engine |
2.0L I-4 |
Horsepower |
147 hp |
Gasoline financial system mixed |
31 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.0 seconds |
Cargo house |
24 cu-ft |
Primary 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 to be 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 costlier 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 checklist.
One space the place it stands out is the six-speed automated transmission for many who dislike the sound and really feel of the CVT, though the small turbo engine has to work exhausting for its horses. The Trax has good house for passengers and cargo.
Function highlights
A/C |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display screen |
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 |
Gasoline financial system mixed |
29 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.8 seconds |
Cargo house |
26 cu-ft |
Primary 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 checklist, on par with the costlier Honda Civic or VW Jetta in dimension. Reviewers typically comment on the snug entrance seats and nice inside fittings. It additionally has an honest quantity of trunk house for a sedan.
The Sentra has a standard two liter enigine with a CVT fitted with synthetic gear adjustments like an automated. 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 pretty much as good as any sedan in its class. Just like the smaller Versa, this Nissan additionally will get 5 stars within the NHTSA crash take a look at.
Aircon |
Sure |
Energy home windows |
Sure |
LCD display screen |
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 |
Gasoline Economic system mixed |
34 MPG |
0-60 mph |
8.9 seconds |
Cargo house |
14 cu-ft |
Primary guarantee |
3-year/36,000 miles |
Powertrain guarantee |
5-year/60,000 miles |

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