We’ll be straight with you: $20,000 is a lot of money, but not when you’re buying a new car. Factoring in the mandatory destination charges, the Big Three combined sell only one new car within that budget, and it’s the 98-horsepower Chevy Spark.
You can purchase a quality car for $20,000, but you’ll have to make sacrifices. You’re foregoing trucks and crossovers for the wonderful, undervalued world of sedans. You’re not going to get that slick new hybrid, or the more powerful engine. And at this price point, you really should consider getting a bit more value in a gently used car coming off a lease.
That said, here are some great new and (slightly) used car options within a $20,000 budget.
The Best Cars (New and Used Alike) You Can Buy for Less Than $20,000
$20K isn’t a lot to spend, but you can still find some decent values — especially if you’re willing to consider a sedan.
VW
New: 2021 Subaru Impreza
You can get in on that Subie-life for under $20,000 with the Impreza, which starts at $18,795 in four-door form. The Impreza comes with Subaru’s excellent all-wheel-drive system standard and the Subaru Eyesight active safety suite. It also offers a manual transmission.
Subaru
New: 2021 Volkswagen Jetta
The Jetta is no longer almost literally the sedan version of the Golf. But it’s a sharp-looking, torque-laden, German-engineered, manual transmission sedan with a bit of caché —that you can get for less than $20,000.
VW
New: 2021 Kia Forte
The Forte is a classic Hyundai/Kia/Genesis value play. It looks good, the driving dynamics are solid enough, and the starting MSRP is $17,980. So even after the destination charge, you can live it up a little and get some floormats.
Kia
These Are the 16 Best Cars to Buy in 2021
Kelley Blue Book has released their best cars to buy awards for 2021. The results may surprise you.
Ford
Volkswagen-Sportwagen-Review-gear-patrol-slide-4
VW
Toyota Camry
Average Price 2019: $17,107Average Price 2023: $25,537Percent Change: 49.3%David Dewhurst Photography
Used: 2018 Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 sedan is one of the vehicles that depreciate the most over three years. That can push base trim versions from 2018 under $20,000 coming off a lease. It’s the last model year of the old generation S60, but it’s still a safe, reliable, efficient 240-hp Volvo. And it’s also a quasi-premium marque.
Volvo
The Best Used 4x4s We’d Buy for $10,000 Right Now
Need a four-wheel-drive SUV or truck, but don’t have a lot of money to spend?
Pilimas LLC/Flickr