What is the best car to buy on a budget?

With a reputation for dependability, the Corolla is budget friendly in a number of ways, from its low base price to good longevity and excellent economy. The Mazda3 offers a chic exterior and an interior that feels noticeably upscale, especially for one of the most Affordable cars currently available. The Mazda3 offers a chic exterior and an interior that feels noticeably upscale, especially for one of the most affordable cars currently available. The only name with the same staying power as Civic, Corollas have shown that affordable cars can be great for decades.

The current generation of Civic is noticeably more mature than its predecessor in terms of styling, and in general has the feel of a larger and more upmarket car. This especially true of the infotainment technology in general, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto do come standard.

What is the best car to buy on a budget?

The Elantra's base price is substantially cheaper than other cars in its class, but this affordable machine offers plenty of interior room, super-modern styling, and seriously impressive fuel economy. The 157-hp, four-cylinder engine is no powerhouse, but it provides enough juice to get going, merge, and climb hills even when carrying a full load. While the cabin and underlying bones of the vehicle haven't been updated in a while, this carries the positive side effect of the Impreza keeping some older features that many other compacts have dropped, like the manual transmission option.