Buckle up, we’re about to speak about sticker shock. It is a well-worn phrase that almost all Individuals are intimately aware of. The premise is straightforward: In case you solely purchase a brand new automotive as soon as each 10 years or so — the common age of all automobiles on roads in the US presently sits at 12.5 years, the oldest in historical past — you are going to be stunned, shocked even, once you have a look at the window sticker of your meant substitute car.
Factor is, the sticker shock phenomenon is extra actual right this moment than ever earlier than. The common new-car transaction worth in America is over $45,000 in 2024. That is really down from the place it sat a yr in the past and is basically pushed by hefty costs on wildly common full-size pickups, however consumers of all autos are nonetheless being compelled to take care of larger costs and excessive rates of interest. Which in flip result in automotive loans unfold over an extended interval.
However that does not imply there are not any reasonably priced choices for automotive consumers in America. The Toyota Corolla — the best-selling international nameplate of all time, for what it is price — begins round $23,000 in 2024. It is a good, dependable alternative. We fortunately suggest the Corolla to consumers who do not actually care an excessive amount of in regards to the driving expertise, focusing their vehicular wishlist extra within the route of effectivity, affordability and reliability. There’s nothing incorrect with shopping for a Toyota Corolla for these causes. There are additionally Corolla Hybrids aimed toward consumers who worth effectivity above all else, and sporty-looking SE and XSE fashions that feel and look a bit much less mundane than the bottom LE mannequin.
However what in the event you’re unimpressed by the Corolla or any of its new compact sedan opponents? They definitely aren’t your solely possibility for secure, dependable, environment friendly and even sporty transport. That is what the used market is for. Right here is quite a lot of choices for a similar worth which are extra fascinating, sportier and/or luxurious than a wonderfully acceptable financial system automotive.
This is not meant to be a complete listing of used automobiles accessible for the price of primary, however brand-new, transportation. Somewhat, it is a demonstration {that a} used-car search is usually a viable possibility for consumers who want a brand new set of wheels however cannot or do not need to lose an arm and a leg within the course of.
Choice 1: 2019-2021 Lexus UX 250h
As of the day this was printed, there have been effectively over 300 Lexus UX 250h hybrids accessible for lower than $30,000 and greater than 100 of these priced lower than the $28,345 asking worth (together with obligatory vacation spot) that Toyota asks for a 2024 Corolla Hybrid XLE. A few of these UX fashions embrace the F Sport package deal, as seen above. The UX shouldn’t be the sportiest or roomiest subcompact crossover on the market in America, and it is Lexus’ smallest mannequin. But it surely’s stuffed with attractive expertise, easy, snug, extraordinarily gas environment friendly and backed by Lexus’ fame for a premium possession expertise and robust anticipated long-term reliability. The UX 250h hybrid will get 43/41/42 with FWD and 41/38/39 with AWD, which is a bit in need of the Corolla Hybrid that ekes out 50-plus miles per gallon, however nonetheless superb.
Here is what we stated about it in our evaluation:
“The Lexus UX is a boldly-styled small crossover with impressively smooth and quiet road manners though it’s low on power compared with other crossovers, and rear-seat and cargo space is a bit tight. The hybrid offers more power and impressive fuel economy.”
Choice 2: 2020-2023 Hyundai Sonata
If the Lexus UX is not sufficiently big to your driving wants, contemplate the Hyundai Sonata, which, as a big midsize sedan, is considerably bigger than our compact Toyota Corolla instance. In our evaluation of the 2022 Sonata, we stated it ‘presents plentiful passenger and cargo area, tons of well-executed expertise, and a lineup of environment friendly engines.’
Now, the Sonata’s styling definitely is not for everybody, which we addressed in our evaluation. “Maybe it’ll be too out-there for some, but we’ll take bold over anonymous any day. The interior isn’t quite as unusual, but it’s sleek and modern while still providing usable storage, sensible controls and easy-to-use tech. In short, the Sonata delivers function and fashion, and we consider it one of the best cars under $30,000.”
Now that it is a few years outdated, a low-mileage Sonata lined by Hyundai’s factory-backed licensed pre-owned guarantee prices precisely the identical quantity as a brand new Corolla recent off the lot. It is a compelling possibility.
Choice 3: 2021-2022 Kia Seltos
Sure, we all know. What most Individuals really need is a crossover. The Kia Seltos is an effective one. It is good-looking and reasonably priced. In reality, it is one other car that we highlighted on our listing of the most effective autos beneath $30,000. In our writeup, we stated, “Its price and exterior dimensions fall in between the subcompact and compact SUV segments (we call it the midcompact segment), yet it boasts more interior volume than is expected and an abundance of special design details throughout that successfully counter some of the cheaper bits applied to keep the price down.”
We discovered practically a whole bunch of Seltos fashions inside driving distance of our Midwestern location utilizing Kia’s on-line licensed pre-owned stock seek for round $25,000.
Choice 4: 2015-2018 BMW 3 Collection
Wait a minute. Are we positive that consumers can really get a good BMW 3 Collection — the quintessential sport sedan — for the value of a Toyota Corolla? The reply is sure, however with caveats. And word we’re not really recommending somebody select a used BMW as a substitute of a brand new Toyota… we’re solely saying it is attainable for a similar preliminary buy worth.
The latest BMW 3 Collection debuted within the U.S. as a 2019 mannequin, and by all accounts it’s an enchancment in each conceivable method to the model it changed (identified internally and to BMW aficionados because the F30). The actual query, although, is whether or not the prior-gen 3 Collection is a greater automotive to drive than the Toyota Corolla, which on this case can be both the sportier-looking SE for round $26,000 or the step-up XSE for nearer to $28,000. And the reply to that query is an unequivocal sure.
You have to watch out with the BMW 3 Collection (as is the case with many a premium automotive from Germany). For this train, we might slender the selection right down to a 2015-2018 330i with BMW’s B48 four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It changed a earlier engine in fashions badged 328i that was identified to be troublesome and subsequently finest prevented on the used market. As of this writing, there are effectively over 200 such autos on the market in our personal classifieds for lower than $28,000 and with fewer than 40,000 miles.
If you wish to spend lower than that and nonetheless have a BMW 3 Collection with its rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive chassis dynamics, reducing the value vary to the bottom worth of a Corolla (round $24,000 together with vacation spot) leaves us with a wholesome number of 2015-2018 320i sedans powered by a much less highly effective model of the identical turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Choice 5: 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 Crimson Sport 400
Generally, depreciation works in a savvy purchaser’s favor. That is a type of occasions. There are a number of the explanation why the Infiniti Q50 depreciates at a quick sufficient charge {that a} good instance could be simply situated for Toyota Corolla cash. Just a few price highlighting: First, the Q50 performs in a extremely aggressive section the place being good simply is not ok. Second, Infiniti has let its bread-and-butter sedan wither on the vine with out giving it any updates vital sufficient that it stands out — put merely, new automotive consumers are uninterested in its admittedly good-looking form on the showroom ground. Third … effectively, it isn’t a crossover.
None of these issues make the Q50 a nasty automotive or one not price consideration. We have been truthfully stunned to see that the height of Q50 efficiency, the Crimson Sport 400, had fallen into Toyota Corolla territory. There’s actually no sense in evaluating the 2 autos; all that places them into the identical dialog are worth and the truth that each are four-door sedans. Infiniti’s 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine is far more highly effective than Toyota’s 169-hp four-cylinder. It is quite a bit thirstier, too. Nonetheless, there are presently 24 Crimson Sport 400s priced between $23,000 and $28,000 in our classifieds with fewer than 60,000 miles. And so we figured, why not throw it into the combination?
Do not get us incorrect. The Toyota Corolla is a best-seller as a result of it presents precisely what a large chunk of consumers are searching for: stable reliability, cheap room, quiet competence and a beautiful worth. However that does not imply there aren’t different choices. If we have been searching for an environment friendly small automotive for every day driving, we might quite put 100 thousand miles on a Lexus UX 250h than a Corolla Hybrid. If we have been hoping to draw just a few admiring glances from informal observers, we might quite do it in a BMW 3 Collection than a Corolla XSE. And if we wished to blast down a twisty highway with notions of fury beneath our ft, effectively, the Infiniti Q50 Crimson Sport 400 can be a mighty fantastic possibility.
