On average, a new vehicle can cost nearly $50k, which isn’t a small amount of money. If you’re on a budget, here are the best cars under $25k.
2025 has been quite a year for the automotive industry, be it manufacturers or consumers. Vehicle prices have increased year-on-year, with Cox Automotive research showing an average transaction price of $49,077 in August 2025, alongside an average MSRP of $51,099. Observers and news outlets tend to attribute this to the Trump administration’s tariffs, but no matter where you stand on the matter, one thing’s for certain: Buying cars isn’t quite as affordable as it used to be.
While this hasn’t had as direct an impact on vehicle sales as one might expect, it’s definitely become more and more important to find bargains, especially if you’re on a tighter budget. Buying used is a valid option, as long as you know what to look out for when buying used, but not everyone wants to go down that path. Thankfully, there are still quite a few solid new car options under the $25,000 mark, and the ever-helpful Consumer Reports (CR) has come to the aid of budget-conscious shoppers everywhere by assembling a list of nine such vehicles.
One quick caveat before we start, though: CR’s mid-2025 list refers to a car’s base MSRP, without taking mandatory destination charges into account. Thus, there are a few cars that will cost more than $25,000 once you add said charge. We’ll let you decide whether those cars are really « under $25,000 » as you go through the list. With that out of the way, though, let’s get started.Buick Envista
The Buick name may seem as all-American as GM’s other brands, but the automaker has long since abandoned its traditional American stomping grounds for the greener pastures of China, where sales peaked at an impressive 1.23 million in 2016. The Envista is another example of these realigned priorities; this premium crossover first debuted in China in 2022, getting a full year of production under its belt before coming to the U.S. in 2024.
We reviewed the 2024 Buick Envista when it hit American shores and thought it was a great crossover, with its modern design and great value being particular highlights. And it’s that pricing that earns the Envista a place on CR’s list, although the reality in September 2025 isn’t quite as rosy as it was when CR assembled its list in June. Back then, the most affordable Envista cost $23,800 before destination fees, which was a good deal. However, at the point we’re writing this, the 2026 Envista now starts at $24,600; still under the $25,000 limit, but much closer than it was. It also means that you’ll end up paying $25,995 once you add Buick’s $1,395 destination fee.
In the Envista’s defense, it’s still a decent option given its combination of premium looks, solid interior, and decent factory features. On the base Envista Preferred, these include remote start, a teen driver mode, a tire pressure monitoring system, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist, among others.Mazda3 sedan
The Mazda3 has been an undeniable success since it debuted for the 2004 model year, with the entry-level compact car selling more than 100,000 units yearly for most of the 2010s in the U.S. alone. Now in its fourth generation, the Mazda3 is currently available in sedan and hatchback body styles. We tested the 2025 Mazda3 hatchback and appreciated its driver-focused design, but it’s the sedan variant that CR has nominated as a great new car buy under $25,000.
Consumer Reports appreciated the standard 2.5-liter engine’s performance and the Mazda3’s handling and suspension tuning, which tallies with our own experience of the hatchback. It also has a solidly put-together interior, which is a big plus at this price point. Sure, it’s a bit dated, having debuted in 2018 and not received many changes since, but that doesn’t make the Mazda3 a bad car. It’s still a strong option even in 2025.
The only variant of the Mazda3 sedan available for under $25,000 is the 2.5 S, which starts at $24,550. And no, that doesn’t include the destination charge; that comes in at $1,235, bringing the total closer to $26,000. There are, however, several things you should be aware of before you buy a Mazda3 — not least the availability of rivals like the 2026 Honda Civic, which starts at $24,595 in its base LX trim.Toyota Corolla Hybrid
If you’re trying to keep your carbon footprint in check, a cheap hybrid is probably an appealing proposition. CR has one in mind, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. The Corolla Hybrid, which is still in its 2025 model year as of this writing, has a starting MSRP of $23,825 (plus $1,195 destination) for the lowest-end LE trim.
