Finding a car under $25,000 isn’t a difficult task, but choosing the best car for your needs could have you browsing car websites for days. The cars in this list have the safety scores, reliability ratings and price tags to make our list of the best cars under $25,000.
The Hyundai Elantra is a budget-friendly sedan that offers plenty to like. It’s powered by a 2-litre, 147 hp engine in standard trim, while inside you’ll find handy features such as heated front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay plus Android Auto. You also get Hyundai’s SmartSense safety tech, which includes Forward Collision Avoidance Assist along with Adaptive Cruise Control.
Price: $21,999 (MSRP)
The Elantra is a fuel-efficient performer, delivering a combined economy figure of 6.5 L/100km. It’s safe too, with a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. It’s loaded with standard features as well, and you get all that for an MSRP that’s very friendly to your bank balance. That’s why we think the Elantra is the best sedan car under $25,000.
The Nissan Versa is a small sedan with plenty to offer to first car buyers. This stylish subcompact features a 122 hp engine, an Xtronic CVT transmission and a spacious interior. It’s also fitted with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety tech, which includes Intelligent Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning. Best of all, it comes with a price tag to suit a first-time buyer on a budget.
Price: $22,905 (MSRP)
The Versa was named the Best Subcompact Car in the 2024 Car and Driver Editors’ Choice List. It also gets a five-star NHTSA safety rating, and delivers impressive combined fuel economy of 6.7 L/100km. That’s why it’s one of the best cars under $25,000 in Canada.
The Toyota Camry needs no introduction. This ever-popular sedan is powered by a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine in standard trim, with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Its interior is well fitted out with active safety tech, such as lane departure warning and automatic emergency front braking, and it’s practical and comfortable to drive too.
Price: $22,250 – $25,650 (wholesale price from AutoTrader’s Valuations tool for a 2021 Camry with 60,000km on the clock)
In the J.D. Power 2024 US Vehicle Dependability Study, the 2021 Camry was named the Most Dependable Midsize Car. Toyota was also the highest-ranked mass market brand for dependability, while ConsumerReports listed the Japanese manufacturer among the top three most reliable new car brands. To top it off, the 2021 Camry also has a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
If you’re in the market for a sub-$25k family car that provides plenty of bang for your buck, look no further than the Chevrolet Trax. This entry-level SUV features a 1.2-litre turbo engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, and it’s available in a choice of 5 trims. On the inside you’ll find up to 1,531 litres of cargo space, wireless phone integration, an 11-inch touchscreen and Chevrolet Safety Assist tech such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert.
Price: $21,699 (MSRP)
The Chevrolet Trax is loaded with tech features, even in its standard trim. It featured in Car and Driver’s 2024 10 Best Trucks and SUVs list, and it also won Cars.com’s Best Car of 2024 award. That’s why it should definitely be on your shortlist if you’re shopping for a family car with a maximum budget of $25,000.
The Chevy Trax featured in the category above is a top contender in the value-for-money stakes as well, but so too is the Kia Soul. This subcompact SUV features a 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 147 hp. Its interior is loaded with features such as an 8-inch display, 6-speaker sound system, heated front seats and plenty of active safety tech. Add in a whole lot of cargo space for a vehicle of this size and the Soul is an impressive all-round package.
Price: $22,795 (MSRP)
The Soul boasts a long list of standard features, a versatile interior and ample cargo space. It was named the Best Subcompact SUV in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cars for the Money awards for 2024, while it finished second in Cars.com’s 2024 Best Value New Cars rankings. And with the Soul scoring an 87/100 rating for Quality and Reliability in J.D. Power’s consumer ratings, it’s got a lot to offer for value-hungry buyers.
If you’re in the market for a stylish and sporty hatch, the Mazda3 Sport is well worth a test drive. It comes with an automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels and a 191 hp, 2.5-litre engine as standard. Interior highlights include heated front seats, an 8.8-inch-wide screen, and Mazda’s i-Activsense safety tech.
Price: $24,950 (MSRP)
The Mazda3 Sport has come in for plenty of praise from motoring journalists for its refined handling dynamics and premium cabin feel. It also gets a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, and Top Safety Pick+ status from the IIHS. With good fuel economy figures as well, there’s a lot to like about this impressive hatch.
The Mazda3 sedan is a small car that’s big on features. Powered by a 191 hp, 2.5-litre engine in standard trim, it delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 7.5 L/100km. Step inside and you’ll find an 8-speaker sound system, an 8.8-inch-wide colour display, heated front seats and Apple CarPlay along with Android Auto.
Price: $24,200 (MSRP)
The Mazda3 gets a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, and it also earned Top Safety Pick+ status from the IIHS. It includes Mazda’s i-Activsense safety features, such as Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring (ABSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). This model also picked up an Editor’s Choice Award from Car and Driver in the compact category, so it’s got plenty more to offer than just a safe drive.
The pint-sized Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact hatchback with a budget-friendly price tag. It pairs a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine with Mitsubishi’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) and includes safety tech like forward collision mitigation. It also comes with a 10-year / 160,000km powertrain limited warranty for added peace of mind.
Price: $16,998 (MSRP)
The Mirage’s fuel economy figures are seriously impressive: 6.6 L/100km in the city, 5.6 L/100km on the highway and a combined figure of 6.2 L/100km. Combine that with a starting price that isn’t going to break the bank and it’s easy to see why the Mirage is a top choice for budget-conscious buyers.
The Toyota Corolla has long been a favourite among Canadian drivers. Powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine, the Corolla features keyless entry, an 8-inch multimedia screen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It also comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Price: $23,490 (MSRP)
The Toyota Corolla was the top-selling car (excluding SUVs and pickup trucks) in Canada in 2023, and with good reason. It has a five-star NHTSA safety rating, returns impressive combined fuel economy of 6.7 L/100km, and ConsumerReports lists the Japanese manufacturer among the top three most reliable new car brands. If you’re shopping in this price bracket, it’s hard to go past the Corolla.
We chose the best cars under $25,000 on this page based on vehicles available in Canada. These vehicles are not representative of the entire market. When choosing our picks for the best under-$25k cars, we considered price, safety, unique features, awards, ratings and sales volume. No single car will be the best choice for everyone, so compare your options to find the best fit for your situation.
There are plenty of top-quality options to choose from if you’re searching for the best cars under $25,000. Consider what you want in your next car — safety, comfort, fuel economy, reliability or a combination of all of these features — then test drive several models back-to-back to find your next set of wheels.
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