The Top 10 Cheapest New Cars of 2010
I’m not an advocate for buying new vehicles versus used. However, there is some merit in buying an extremely cheap new car and driving it until it’s time to take it behind the woodshed and put it out of its misery.
That being said, below is a list of the 10 cheapest vehicles of 2010 (from most to least expensive), based on MSRP. If you only buy used, go out and get one of these models in 3 years as their resale values are typically only about half of MSRP.
Foreign Automakers Dominate The List of Cheapest Vehicles
You’ll find that foreign automakers swept the list: Nissan (2), Scion (2), Toyota (1), Hyundai (1), Kia (3), and Honda (1). At these prices, the 2011 Ford Fiesta would jump in at the #5 spot next year at a price of $15,065 for the automatic s sedan model. It would also be the most fuel efficient with 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
I decided to include only the automatic transmission versions of the models to compare apples to apples (sorry stick shift lovers). All associated costs are included. Sources include Vincentric, kbb.com, Edmunds.com, fueleconomy.gov, and each automaker’s website.
My Picks for Best Cheapest Vehicle of 2010
Based on price, aesthetics, and reputation, my money is on the Kia Soul, Nissan Versa, or Honda Fit. I’d stay away from Toyota and any of their brands, including Scion, at the moment. Next year, I’d put my money on the Fiesta. I’ve really been impressed with the quality of vehicles that Ford has been putting out lately.
10. Nissan Cube S 4dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $16,750
Dealer cost: $16,181
New Car Blue Book Value: $NA
5-year maintenance cost: $2,210
5-year repair cost: $916
Total 5-year service cost: $3,126
1-year insurance cost: $931
3-year resale value: NA%
5-year resale value: NA%
City MPG: 28
Highway MPG: 30
1-year fuel cost: $1,480
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
9. Scion xB 4dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $16,420
Dealer cost: $15,632
New Car Blue Book Value: $16,420
5-year maintenance cost: $2,134
5-year repair cost: $924
Total 5-year service cost: $3,058
1-year insurance cost: $961
3-year resale value: 60%
5-year resale value: 42%
City MPG: 22
Highway MPG: 28
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
1-year fuel cost: $1,755
8. Honda Fit 4dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $16,410
Dealer cost: $15,858
New Car Blue Book Value: $16,410
5-year maintenance cost: $1,638
5-year repair cost: $916
Total 5-year service cost: $2,554
1-year insurance cost: $941
3-year resale value: 59%
5-year resale value: 40%
City MPG: 28
Highway MPG: 35
1-year fuel cost: $1,389
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
7. Scion xD 4dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $16,270
Dealer cost: $15,490
New Car Blue Book Value: $NA
5-year maintenance cost: $2,055
5-year repair cost: $916
Total 5-year service cost: $2,971
1-year insurance cost: $941
3-year resale value: 56%
5-year resale value: 40%
City MPG: 27
Highway MPG: 33
1-year fuel cost: $1,453
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
6. Kia Rio LX 4dr
Suggested retail price: $15,390
Dealer cost: $14,895
New Car Blue Book Value: $NA
5-year maintenance cost: $2,147
5-year repair cost: $770
Total 5-year service cost: $2,917
1-year insurance cost: $899
3-year resale value: NA%
5-year resale value: NA%
City MPG: 27
Highway MPG: 36
1-year fuel cost: $1,405
Powertrain warranty: 10 years, 100,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
5. Kia Forte LX 4dr
Suggested retail price: $15,390
Dealer cost: $15,105
New Car Blue Book Value: $15,390
5-year maintenance cost: $2,300
5-year repair cost: $965
Total 5-year service cost: $3,265
1-year insurance cost: $938
3-year resale value: 45%
5-year resale value: 28%
City MPG: 25
Highway MPG: 34
1-year fuel cost: $1,506
Powertrain warranty: 10 years, 100,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
4. Kia Soul 4dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $13,995
Dealer cost: $13,450
New Car Blue Book Value: $13,995
5-year maintenance cost: $2,361
5-year repair cost: $965
Total 5-year service cost: $3,326
1-year insurance cost: $929
3-year resale value: 54%
5-year resale value: 37%
City MPG: 26
Highway MPG: 31
1-year fuel cost: $1,524
Powertrain warranty: 10 years, 100,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
3. Toyota Yaris 2dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $13,905
Dealer cost: $13,247
New Car Blue Book Value: $13,905
5-year maintenance cost: $2,231
5-year repair cost: $916
Total 5-year service cost: $3,147
1-year insurance cost: $914
3-year resale value: 54%
5-year resale value: 37%
City MPG: 29
Highway MPG: 35
1-year fuel cost: $1,360
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
2. Hyundai Accent GS 2dr hatch
Suggested retail price: $13,715
Dealer cost: $13,380
New Car Blue Book Value: $13,715
5-year maintenance cost: $NA
5-year repair cost: $NA
Total 5-year service cost: $NA
1-year insurance cost: $NA
3-year resale value: 41%
5-year resale value: 24%
City MPG: 27
Highway MPG: 36
1-year fuel cost: $1,405
Powertrain warranty: 10 years, 100,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
1. Nissan Versa 4 Door
Suggested retail price: $12,710
Dealer cost: $12,423
New Car Blue Book Value: $12,710
5-year maintenance cost: $2,222
5-year repair cost: $1146
Total 5-year service cost: $3,368
1-year insurance cost: $883
3-year resale value: 53%
5-year resale value: 31%
City MPG: 26
Highway MPG: 33
1-year fuel cost: $1,487
Powertrain warranty: 5 years, 60,000 miles
Limited basic warranty: 3 years, 36,000 miles
Cheap Car Discussion:
- Do you own any of these vehicles? If so, would you recommend it or not?
- Do you only buy used or new vehicles? Why?
- Any automaker, including Ford, that you’d recommend or urge to stay away from?
- Has the recent series of Toyota recalls changed your views of Toyota?
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I’ve got a 2006 Scion xA, the precursor to the xD, and it’s a great little car. It’s been driven across the U.S. from coast to coast and border to border multiple times and has never had any problems and has never needed any repairs (and the ride is comfortable). If the 2010 xD is as good as its older sibling, I highly recommend it.
I have to say, as a car guy, I am REALLY impressed with all of these vehicles.
They are not the most fun to drive, but they are all fun enough and a few of them give you EXCELLENT space.
I, personally, would recommend the Fit above all. The Accent would come in second, but loosing the set of doors is tough. The Fit will be the most interested to drive, and if you do get a stick will get great gas mileage.
The Fiesta is going to be a real winner for Ford. Interior build quality is outstanding in its class and it is REALLY fun to drive.
Here is a list of the top 20. This list is a little different with Hyundai taking the top spot, but basically the same groupings of cars. List of the Top 20 Cheapest Cars of 2010 with Video Reviews: http://www.cardealerreviews.org/?p=247232
Buying a cheap car is a good thing. But we have to think many times, before buying a new one. The quality of the car should be the first thing to set in mind.
I have drove nothing but Nissans and Hondas all my life. I love my Nissan. It’s used…but the last one I had lasted over 12 years and it had over 100,000 miles on it when I bought it. Even when the transmission went out, someone still bought it from me to fix up.
Nissans are great!
Go try to find these cars at this price. The cheapest I found was a Kia Forte that with tax, license it was 17,900 at the door.
OTD is the bottom line. Just purchased a 2006 Red Ford Mustange Convertable today for 12,500, so the tax will be around 1,300 with license everything and a warranty which I dont have to buy is around 800 for 4 years powertrain. So under 14,000 I have a baddass red mustang convertable with 39,000 miles on it and with some good maintance with the 6 cyclinder it should last around 150,000 and no stupid Korean car and no rubber timing belt, plus it looks HOT!!! Remember thoses prices are for the base model, no ac and roll up windows, my Stang was 32,000 in 2006 and has everything. It is a pain in the ass to look for used cars but buy from a private party and find an old guy that babies his cars. Also look at the house and what area that they are in, for the Stang I wouldnt buy from a 18 year old in a white trash ghetto like Riverside.
@robert: Not all “base models” lack features like AC. The 2010 Scions come with a ton of standard features that would normally cost extra on many other cars, such as AC, power windows, AUX jack for MP3 players, CD player that plays MP3 discs, ABS, tilt wheel, cruise control (a new addition; this used to cost extra on the older Scions), and power mirrors. Most of these features are also standard on the Honda Fit. I can’t speak to the others as when I was shopping for my car I only really looked at the Fit, the Scions, and the Yaris.
Something worth pointing out is that the Yaris *is* dirt cheap because it has no features to speak of, and if you add all of the features to it that come standard on the Scions, the Yaris actually comes out costing more, so a Scion or Honda Fit is a better deal for your money.
Great list! I am a car lover but still do not own it.
I have driven two cars in the above list: hyundai accent and nissan versa 4 door. I found nissan better and it is cheaper as well.
I love hatchback cars more than sedan ones.
I love seeing the new cars that are coming out. There are some great economical options. I tend to buy cars once they are 5-7 years old . So I imagine the used car prices are going to be slowly dropping over the next few years, meaning I can buy a better car with less money! Woo hoo!
I have the Honda Fit and absolutely LOVE it. Great mileage, fun to drive, and I got a deal at $15300! Automatic with car alarm, but the base model.
Wait until the Indian cars enter the American market..then we’re going to have cars under the 8k mark!!
Unfortunately we will not, Kevin. No vehicle could be priced like that and meet our crash requirements.
10k is about the lowest you can get a product to market for in the US and you need LOTS of units to be able to do that.
Wait until the Indian cars enter the american car gallery
Paul, the cheapest car in India sells for $3,000. The company decided to sell units in the US but has to pay extra to meet pollution and safety standards. They estimate a Per Unit retail price of $7,500
I do appreciate Tata’s optimism, but as one that knows a great deal about the American Auto Market, I can say it is nearly impossible for them to be successful in getting it here @ that price point.
As the price goes up to where I think their minimum really can be (9500 or so) they then start competing with vehicles like the Hyundai Accent which can be had for under $10,000.
To bring a car to market here that is competing against an established brand with no discernible advantage is admirable (and great for the auto industry) but I would be
surprisedshocked to see a low cost, Indian built, vehicle in the first half of this decade, if in this decade at all.People now are learning more and more to be wise in their purchases of items such as cars. I have a few friends who have drastically changed their views on these matters. (Although age must have also something to do with it). Value for your money is really the way to go these days.
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