Best New Cars and SUVs for Under $30,000

These top performers cost less than the average new car

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated December 5, 2024

It’s easier to go to a new car dealer and drive home the same day in a new vehicle of your choice than just a few years ago. But prices are still high, mostly because automakers continue to build more expensive (that is, profitable) vehicles at the expense of cheaper ones. According to Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and technology company, the average transaction price of a new car was $48,397 in September 2024.

In this article

Cars Under $30,000: Compact Cars Midsized Cars Compact SUVs

But there are many excellent vehicles that sell for far less than that. To assist bargain hunters, we’ve assembled a list of the best new cars and SUVs under $30,000 based on their Overall Score, factoring in road-test performance, owner satisfaction, predicted reliability, and safety.

Consumer Reports members can also search our Used Car Marketplace for vehicles for sale in their area, sorting by the factors that matter most.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.