Even if you’re unaffected by the current economic downturn, you’re probably watching your wallet. With that in mind, here are the least-expensive cars on the market, and the key items they feature or lack.
Chevrolet Aveo5 LS
Base price: $12,625
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter, 106-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 27 / 35 GM’s cheapest car is a five-door hatchback with a tilt wheel and an AM/FM radio. Air conditioning is courtesy of Mother Nature. No ABS.
Smart ForTwo Pure
Base price: $12,635
Drivetrain: 1-liter, 70-h.p. 3-cylinder, CVT
EPA rating (city/
highway): 33 / 41 Yes, it’s cute. And this firm riding two-seater has ABS, an automatic transmission, stability control and side air bags–but no radio or A/C.
Hyundai Accent GS
Base price: $10,665
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter, 110-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 26 / 35 Yes, this is as cheap as it gets in a new set of wheels in 2009. For those of you who won’t miss air conditioning, power windows or a radio, your car has arrived.
Kia Rio
Base price: $12,145
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter, 110-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 27 / 32 Yes, it’s inexpensive, yet has an AM/FM/CD audio system. Features such as air conditioning and ABS aren’t available on the base model.
Kia Spectra LX
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Base price: $14,200
Drivetrain: 2-liter, 138-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 23 / 30 Yes, it has a radio — an AM/FM/CD player. And its crash ratings are good. But options are limited to A/C, automatic transmission and a couple others.
Nissan Versa 1.6
Base price: $10,865
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter, 107-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 26 / 34 Spartan driving at its finest. Want to stay cool? Park in the shade. Want some tunes? Try humming. Want options or more horsepower? It will cost you.
Suzuki SX4
Base price: $13,994
Drivetrain: 2-liter, 143-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 23 / 31 This gas-sipper has a trunk, tilt wheel, anti-lock disc brakes, power windows/locks/mirrors and a powerful engine. Radio and A/C are extra.
Toyota Yaris
Base price: $12,925
Drivetrain: 1.5-liter, 106-h.p. 4-cylinder, five-speed manual
M.P.G. (city/highway): 29 / 35 Toyota’s three-door cheapie has standard A/C. A radio is optional; a tilt wheel is standard, along with six air bags.