I'm really loving the low-cost reviews these days. We really need more of these value structured vehicles and more attention on them. You're doing an exceptional job of keeping these cars in the light, thanks for that!
it’s CORRECT to think that this bear has a VERY SMOOTH HEAD. You must be thinking, “does he use Head And Shoulders Shine Plus?” That would be incorrect. The answer is a bear TRADE secret. ... PACK YOUR BAGS AT ONCE!!!!! WHEREAS this bear needs one more ingredient to get such a SMOOTH HEAD. if you are guessing it’s a quality conditioner with TRUE PLANT EXTRACTS you are correct.
I got a 2019 Kia Forte used with 12k miles on for 16k back in 2021, i know have 68k miles on it and it’s been an amazing first car. Would i like a more refined and more features in a car of course but with my budget I feel like I made the best choice.
My first car was a 1973 VW Superbeetle, made in Germany, which I drove as a college freshman in 1988. Owned it for several decades and reliable and well built as heck. Now I drive a Maybach but my Beetle will always hold a special place in my heart. Interesting that not a single volkswagen model made it on this list
It actually did start about $12k when it launched in america in 2013, obviously inflation over the years took a toll on that, though you can find used ones for around that price point.
Having driven the Kia and the Trax, they’re not even close. The trax is surprisingly nice for the money. People would be better served to save a bit more for it over the others. Definitely more practical too.
I'd love to see you do a comparison like this for the passenger haulers. I'm quite interested in a side by side price comparison of the vehicles with 6+ seats all in one video.
My first car was a 1973 VW Superbeetle, made in Germany, which I drove as a college freshman in 1988. Owned it for several decades and reliable and well built as heck. Now I drive a Maybach but my Beetle will always hold a special place in my heart. Interesting that not a single volkswagen model made it on this list.
I think any Trax you get would end up being ~$25K or so and over 20% more than a well-spec'd Rio. My vote is high-spec Rio 5-door to prove that it's possible to get adaptive cruise, decent mileage, Carplay/Android Auto, and good utility for around $20K.
I would agree if passenger room wasn't an issue. The Trax has a ton in the backseat and obviously the cargo area. The Rio is hard to beat (aside from that) especially considering warranty.
Another vote for the Chevrolet Trax. It would be interesting to see how it holds up with use, and if it continues to be endearing. There's also the question of whether that shorter warranty could be a negative in the end.
You goofed on the Mirage, its the best car in its category! It weighs less than either of its competitors so engine power can be less, giving it 45 to 50mpg on the hi way. I own one and while it is challenging on steep hills, it will still get atop them. In town it has nimble handling and at these lower speeds its acceleration is good enough while getting up to 65mph takes alittle longer then cruise control takes over and you get that 50 plus mpg, while you have a 10yr/100,000 mile warranty to fall back on. Plus they are stone reliable, many go past 200K miles but the champ for long distance is 414,000 miles on a 2014 Mirage. So with its mileage, warranty, affordability, reliability you rate this car lower than the other 2 with a lessor warranty, worse gas mileage, higher prices and only average reliability (Did you know Mitsubishi had to advise Nissan on how to get their CVT's to in the Versa and Sentra? They would detonate in short order and the recalls were horrendous.) Have you even driven a Mirage?
My vote is for the absolute base model of the Kia Rio, no options. I would be against the Versa MT because most Americans prefer an automatic transmission over the manual.
Alex, Six of the seven cars on this list would be better suited to leasing rather than purchasing. In regard to a purchase for the Auto Buyers Guide, a swapping of the Outlander for an AWD Corolla Hybrid would surely drum up the most interest. 🤩🤩
For my money, I would get a base Mazda CX-30. Brand New one cost $23K. Still uses a nice 2.5L engine and 6 speed auto. But the Trax is a nice alternative.
Excellent info, Alex. Thanks. I think you should do a long-term review of the Chevy Trax. With it being an all-new model and such a compelling package, I think a lot of people are curious about what it's like to live with and how it holds up long-term. Since the Mirage and Rio will likely be discontinued in the next year or so, and something like 90% of new car shoppers opts for an automatic, I don't think it would make much sense to do a long-term review of the Mirage, Rio, or Versa manual.
The long term cost of ownership table is interesting. I like to keep cars for a long time so maybe the Corolla would be best for me. I'd vote for Alex to get a Versa or a Trax for testing though.
My son bought a new 2022 Chevy Malibu for $20,000 back in November 2022. Dealer was straight up advertising $5000 off MSRP. No markups no addons. Not including tax tag title though.
I understand your view with the mirage, but I don't understand the US price! In Canada, in Canadian dollars it's for 14300$. ( converter tells 10900$us) at that price I would think that you could make an argument for it. And for second row and the hatch, yes it's tight. But for the front row,I'm 6foot 2 and I insane plenty of space.
If you're considering buying a Nissan or GM product? Just don't - lease one if you absolutely have to have something. Get the Hyundai/Kia if you can find one that isn't marked up or at a lousy dealership, otherwise go straight to the Corolla and call it a day.
I think you should really evaluate the midrange Trax with all the safety features, and see if it lives up to its promise. Also, how is the dealer experience, reliability, etc - all the things that make us shy away from Chevy small cars traditionally.
I think if you are considering a Hyundai Venue because of its size, then you may be better served by the Rio hatchback. They are very similar vehicles, but the Rio is considerably cheaper. Or, for the price of the Venue, consider the Nissan Kicks! It's a bit roomier and seems a much better value.
This is great! Thank you for the in depth analysis of the value of this category of cars. Your notes on the value added packages like adaptive cruise control or lane keep assist is exactly what I like to know.
3:55 - I fundamentally disagree that any automatic transmission, particularly CVTs, are going to be better long-term than a manual transmission. Perhaps if you cannot drive manual, sure, or just don’t want to. Manuals may not get the same MPG but it will take a long time to make up the cost difference, and cost to maintain the automatic could further widen that gap.
@JakeRoot Bingo...but Alex is doing what the industry wants him to....trying to marginalize the great value and reliability and cost to service the manual transmission equipped cars. Usually they are more fun to drive, and give you far more control in slipper weather conditions too.
Most Americans hate manuals and prefer automatic. We proudly don’t know how to drive manual and don’t want to learn. Accept that manuals, like old racists, are dying out.
Keep in mind, not all CVTs are developed nor improved equally. Nissan had recently improved theirs from 2020 lineup and beyond. CVT pairs best with a RELIABLE+ LOW+stress+LOW mass engine. The engine from the Mirage is not a problem as it has 76 HP with a 20 year reliability.
I drove a Forte and was surprised by how well it handled and accelerated. Also rented a Hyundai Santa Fe and was super surprised by how buttery smooth it was, how it accelerated and handled. Lastly, rented an Armada; gas guzzling but phenomenal V8 power and sweet engine note.
Alex - I think the Chevy Trax should be the next purchase. I think it would be the car people would most likely buy and watch video content about. I doubt you would get many views or interest in a little stick shift sedan.
Looking at the more expensive group price range. With standard AWD my money would be on a Impreza base or sport . But I do hope you get the base rio or the base versa .
Trax or Envista is the big question for me. The styling is better in the Buick version of the GM Korean twins, but is it worth an extra $2-3,000? After all, the Trax is not bad looking either… PS - As to Alex’s question at the end of the video, I say get both! Let Brian buy the Trax as his personal vehicle, and then Alex can indulge his cheap side and buy the Versa 5-speed without hesitation!
12:08 Why is trax data based on the 2022 spark? Shouldn’t it be based on the 2022 Trax or better yet the 2023 Trailblazer since it has a more similar engine? I doubt the trax will be as reliable or cheap to own as the Spark which was NA and had no turbo and a tiny engine
Because it's closer in form to the Spark,. No AWD is offered, etc and it doesn't use the same transmissions as the Trailblazer (also, no AWD which affects operational costs)
@markaruski Why? It's an HONEST economy car, and proven to be reliable too. The price is way too high.. Sell it for about $11k with an AC and automatic and they would be selling like hotcakes, sell another value leader model with a manual transmission for $9k where you can add an AC for about $750 dollars and they would also sell VERY well, the market is out there, but NOBODY is filling it. I'd buy the value manual transmission car with the AC for $9750 in a heartbeat.
@@pooh4519 You can pay top dollar with market adjustments for the over rated Corolla and Civic, and when their warranty runs out you'll have more issues then you would have hoped for in your 25-30k economy car after 3yr/36k mile warranty, the fact is these modern Civics and Corollas are NOT the bulletproof cars they were back in the 1980s and 1990s. Now I would buy a new identical one of those today if they made them.
Corollo and Forte would be my two favorites; Venue also would good. This video is very important; too many people are buying cars they can't afford or are buying used cars which I used to do also, however it really is much safer and more reliable to buy a new car, especially if Japanese or Korean.
@@Mario_FieldsCorolla base is 23k with destination included and with the mandatory dealer markup plus taxes and fees, you’ll end up paying over 30k for a base Corolla. Honda is bringing back the base Civic LX which brings Civic price down to 24k with destination.
I worry about the reliability of US designed vehicles, which would eliminate the Trax from my list. I like the peace of mind of a 5 year warranty, which elevates the Hyundai and Kia for me. I like the superb fuel economy of Hybrid vehicles; the option pays for itself over 5 years, and significantly lowers vehicle cost over vehicle lifespan. I love my Hyundai Elantra Hybrid!
Thank you for covering all of these Alex! I have been considering all of these cars for some time. I currently have a 17 Mazda 3 that is falling apart after 100,000 mi. So I'm weary to buy the less expensive vehicles. I'm really curious about the Chevy Trax! I test drove one and it was really fun. But I think I'm leaning towards a Corolla hatchback. I just need that Toyota reliability. 🤞
Even now the Nissan versa has a $5000 markup at the dealership I went to, to see it. Dealers are out of control, that’s over 25% markup!? that rate I’ll just buy something from another company in the next up price range. It defeats the purpose to buy a cheap sub $20k car if it’s not sub $20k.
Please actually review the Mirage, your bullet points of "it's boring, slow, and small" are silly. It's supposed to be boring, slow, and small. It's a super budget economy car. My 22 5MT is averaging 43 MPG highway and 35 city. It's extremely easy to work on it if you have to and the 3A92 engines are remarkably sturdy compared to the crap Nissan and especially Kia are dumping out nowadays. Sure you can get a Kia Rio....but you're still getting a Kia and everything that comes with that. If you know you know.
i'm def a little bias since i have a mirage but i hate that the versa makes you have to go 2 options up for basic features like an automatic and apple carplay. so really it's more like 19k for a "base" model after you get the carplay and automatic.
@@naveenthemachine def subjective topic for sure, for me i have no problem with any of that. drove many cars and the mirage still my favorite, i am 5'4 this car has plenty of room for me, no it's not fast and will have problems with power once you start loading up the car or using the ac. I do all the maintenance in my apartment parking lot which saves a lot of money, really simple to work on. i could go on forever on why i love this car but it's most definitely not for everyone.
@@garrettw99 can take this as you wish but the mirage is my first car, i've driven many other types of cars even fully electric cars. other cars might be faster, quieter, more comfortable but less is more to me, the mirage checks off everything i need in a car and im very happy to have it. def keep in mind my family used this as our main car for years before it was mine, so im pretty attached to it and it has grown on me a lot. there's a pretty good ish size community online that loves these cars too.
@@OrganicFoxes Be happy with your purchase, the current Mirage is actually the ONLY "honest" economy car you can buy today in the USA with a manual transmission to boot. It's simple, reliable, and very inexpensive to maintain and repair. Most people forget about those things.
A man could afford alot of bacon *and* microwaves with the savings from these budget picks!!! I vote for either the dead cheapest Versa, and you enter it in track races, rallies, demo derby's, etc until it craps out. Or, the Trax option, as I'm more likely to purchase that.
Vehicles are to expensive in my opinion so more cheaply priced vehicles look more attractive and insurance all has increased in cost. Of your list Alex I pick the Chevy Trax or Carolla
Corolla is overpriced when including mandatory dealer markup. All Corollas here in Dallas have markup. Toyota is purposely keeping Corolla production low.
I say get a Trax. I always worry about GM reliability so putting some real mileage / usage on one would be interesting. Def. no Mirage. No one watching youtube car stuff is going to buy one anyway.
Immediate disqualification for the Trax because of the Turbo. Easy does it especially in this segment. Plus i do not trust the long term reliability of anything that comes from GM.
Own 2023 Kia Forte paid 26000 out the door in April 4/2023 got 14000 miles on it getting 46 mpg driving normally happy Toyota had three thousand mark up back in April 2023 I shopped kIA did me better than Toyota an Mazda
Thank you for reviewing affordable new cars Alex unlike your friend Sofyan who is a snob who thinks it’s beneath him to review cheap cars like the Versa, Rio, and Mirage. Sofyan thinks all his viewers are rich!
If you want cheap, that’s what you will get. You have to factor long term reliability and safety. Sometime better to get a couple of model years older certified Corolla , Civic or Mazda 3 with low mikes to get to specific price point. Cheap does not equate to value.
The Mirage should be free it’s so bad. Only car on sale today that I genuinely feel unsafe to drive. I would never buy a Nissan because of the horrible Jatco CVT so the Rio is the clear winner in my mind
In Mexico (where it is produced) they are already testing the next generation of the Kia Rio sedan, here it is one of the best-selling models in general, so due to its proximity to the USA, I think it is very likely that the next generation will be sold. in the USA
Why would car manufacturers start using CVT transmissions??? I keep hearing how they fail at 100,000 miles and are more incredibly expensive to fix than automatics?
I'm really loving the low-cost reviews these days. We really need more of these value structured vehicles and more attention on them. You're doing an exceptional job of keeping these cars in the light, thanks for that!
it’s CORRECT to think that this bear has a VERY SMOOTH HEAD. You must be thinking, “does he use Head And Shoulders Shine Plus?” That would be incorrect. The answer is a bear TRADE secret. ... PACK YOUR BAGS AT ONCE!!!!! WHEREAS this bear needs one more ingredient to get such a SMOOTH HEAD. if you are guessing it’s a quality conditioner with TRUE PLANT EXTRACTS you are correct.
I got a 2019 Kia Forte used with 12k miles on for 16k back in 2021, i know have 68k miles on it and it’s been an amazing first car. Would i like a more refined and more features in a car of course but with my budget I feel like I made the best choice.
My first car was a 1973 VW Superbeetle, made in Germany, which I drove as a college freshman in 1988. Owned it for several decades and reliable and well built as heck. Now I drive a Maybach but my Beetle will always hold a special place in my heart. Interesting that not a single volkswagen model made it on this list
The Mirage should be $12k
Former mirage owner even $12,000 is too much lol
@tomdrummy4984
Actually it should be about $10k or so.
10,000 rupees
It actually did start about $12k when it launched in america in 2013, obviously inflation over the years took a toll on that, though you can find used ones for around that price point.
Why not also the Nissan Sentra to kinda cheap? Base starts at $21k in my area and loaded with standard features like the Versa
Out of the cheapest 3, I would choose the Rio.
From what you described, the Chevy Trax sounds like the most bang for the buck. It would be a good long term test vehicle.
Having driven the Kia and the Trax, they’re not even close. The trax is surprisingly nice for the money. People would be better served to save a bit more for it over the others. Definitely more practical too.
It's a bang for your buck allright -- as in the engine will probably explode the day after it's out of warranty.
Chevy, turbo, long term. Can you find the one that doesn't belong?
I'd love to see you do a comparison like this for the passenger haulers. I'm quite interested in a side by side price comparison of the vehicles with 6+ seats all in one video.
My first car was a 1973 VW Superbeetle, made in Germany, which I drove as a college freshman in 1988. Owned it for several decades and reliable and well built as heck. Now I drive a Maybach but my Beetle will always hold a special place in my heart. Interesting that not a single volkswagen model made it on this list.
I think any Trax you get would end up being ~$25K or so and over 20% more than a well-spec'd Rio. My vote is high-spec Rio 5-door to prove that it's possible to get adaptive cruise, decent mileage, Carplay/Android Auto, and good utility for around $20K.
I would agree if passenger room wasn't an issue. The Trax has a ton in the backseat and obviously the cargo area. The Rio is hard to beat (aside from that) especially considering warranty.
20 grand for a Kia Rio? Hellllll NO. Maybe $13,000. Base.
Another vote for the Chevrolet Trax. It would be interesting to see how it holds up with use, and if it continues to be endearing. There's also the question of whether that shorter warranty could be a negative in the end.
You forgot the Volkswagen Jetta. It starts around 21,000 with his manual speed transmission. Although oddly enough it comes with a timing belt. 🤦♂️
You can’t be serious?!! Wow. That’s a no-no
Auto is only $22,550 + tax. Good mpg and decent power
I recall new ones base for $16000 after discounts in 2020. $21k is a lot to start!
You goofed on the Mirage, its the best car in its category! It weighs less than either of its competitors so engine power can be less, giving it 45 to 50mpg on the hi way. I own one and while it is challenging on steep hills, it will still get atop them. In town it has nimble handling and at these lower speeds its acceleration is good enough while getting up to 65mph takes alittle longer then cruise control takes over and you get that 50 plus mpg, while you have a 10yr/100,000 mile warranty to fall back on. Plus they are stone reliable, many go past 200K miles but the champ for long distance is 414,000 miles on a 2014 Mirage. So with its mileage, warranty, affordability, reliability you rate this car lower than the other 2 with a lessor warranty, worse gas mileage, higher prices and only average reliability (Did you know Mitsubishi had to advise Nissan on how to get their CVT's to in the Versa and Sentra? They would detonate in short order and the recalls were horrendous.) Have you even driven a Mirage?
My vote is for the absolute base model of the Kia Rio, no options. I would be against the Versa MT because most Americans prefer an automatic transmission over the manual.
Alex, Six of the seven cars on this list would be better suited to leasing rather than purchasing. In regard to a purchase for the Auto Buyers Guide, a swapping of the Outlander for an AWD Corolla Hybrid would surely drum up the most interest. 🤩🤩
Imo Trax is the best new vehicle. Spacious for 4 adults, big on cargo that will fit a 65" tv.
For my money, I would get a base Mazda CX-30. Brand New one cost $23K. Still uses a nice 2.5L engine and 6 speed auto. But the Trax is a nice alternative.
Lastly, really consider the Versa! My current cars are manual and I sadly think it will be my last one. But I really had fun in the Versa MT.
Excellent info, Alex. Thanks. I think you should do a long-term review of the Chevy Trax. With it being an all-new model and such a compelling package, I think a lot of people are curious about what it's like to live with and how it holds up long-term. Since the Mirage and Rio will likely be discontinued in the next year or so, and something like 90% of new car shoppers opts for an automatic, I don't think it would make much sense to do a long-term review of the Mirage, Rio, or Versa manual.
I like all these cars but all these depreciate like a mad man except the corolla. That is the clear winner.
The long term cost of ownership table is interesting. I like to keep cars for a long time so maybe the Corolla would be best for me. I'd vote for Alex to get a Versa or a Trax for testing though.
My son bought a new 2022 Chevy Malibu for $20,000 back in November 2022. Dealer was straight up advertising $5000 off MSRP. No markups no addons. Not including tax tag title though.
I understand your view with the mirage, but I don't understand the US price! In Canada, in Canadian dollars it's for 14300$. ( converter tells 10900$us) at that price I would think that you could make an argument for it.
And for second row and the hatch, yes it's tight. But for the front row,I'm 6foot 2 and I insane plenty of space.
Cars are much cheaper in Canada so you can't do the conversion
If you're considering buying a Nissan or GM product? Just don't - lease one if you absolutely have to have something. Get the Hyundai/Kia if you can find one that isn't marked up or at a lousy dealership, otherwise go straight to the Corolla and call it a day.
I think you should really evaluate the midrange Trax with all the safety features, and see if it lives up to its promise. Also, how is the dealer experience, reliability, etc - all the things that make us shy away from Chevy small cars traditionally.
Alex is a journalist so he will get special treatment. He would have to not make it obvious that he’s well known in the entire Bay Area
Historically, the Trax has been very unreliable.
just buy a 1990s Lexus Es 300 or ls400 over any cheap car. The ride is much more substantial. Those cars are time warriors.
I think if you are considering a Hyundai Venue because of its size, then you may be better served by the Rio hatchback. They are very similar vehicles, but the Rio is considerably cheaper. Or, for the price of the Venue, consider the Nissan Kicks! It's a bit roomier and seems a much better value.
How about the Kia Soul?
For $20k plus the cost of the gas/maint/tires/insurance/parking over 10 years (say $40k), how many years can you ride buses and take uber?
Dreamer!
This is great! Thank you for the in depth analysis of the value of this category of cars. Your notes on the value added packages like adaptive cruise control or lane keep assist is exactly what I like to know.
3:12 "to send someone off to Collagen" 😅 great coverage, it's interesting to see where the baseline for new cars lies with each year.
Please go for an LT Chevy Trax, best value in America! Just curious how it holds up
3:55 - I fundamentally disagree that any automatic transmission, particularly CVTs, are going to be better long-term than a manual transmission. Perhaps if you cannot drive manual, sure, or just don’t want to. Manuals may not get the same MPG but it will take a long time to make up the cost difference, and cost to maintain the automatic could further widen that gap.
@JakeRoot
Bingo...but Alex is doing what the industry wants him to....trying to marginalize the great value and reliability and cost to service the manual transmission equipped cars. Usually they are more fun to drive, and give you far more control in slipper weather conditions too.
Most Americans hate manuals and prefer automatic. We proudly don’t know how to drive manual and don’t want to learn. Accept that manuals, like old racists, are dying out.
Keep in mind, not all CVTs are developed nor improved equally.
Nissan had recently improved theirs from 2020 lineup and beyond.
CVT pairs best with a RELIABLE+ LOW+stress+LOW mass engine. The engine from the Mirage is not a problem as it has 76 HP with a 20 year reliability.
Low end Trax is my vote.
If you have to buy a Nissan the manual tranny is definitely the way to go. Nissan has had all kinds of problems with their CVT.
I drove a Forte and was surprised by how well it handled and accelerated. Also rented a Hyundai Santa Fe and was super surprised by how buttery smooth it was, how it accelerated and handled. Lastly, rented an Armada; gas guzzling but phenomenal V8 power and sweet engine note.
Alex - I think the Chevy Trax should be the next purchase. I think it would be the car people would most likely buy and watch video content about. I doubt you would get many views or interest in a little stick shift sedan.
They have proven to be terrible
how about incluiding the Ford Maverick Hybrid?
The Trax seems like the way to go.
Looking at the more expensive group price range. With standard AWD my money would be on a Impreza base or sport .
But I do hope you get the base rio or the base versa .
Kia forte GT all the way. Best value and performance, not too boring but not too luxuriously expensive.
Kia Soul? I know it’s considered wagon.
Yeah, I don't know why the Soul is being left out of the conversation regarding affordable transportation.
Definitely worthy of consideration- especially the Soul "S" model with the full ADAS suite 😮
Cheapest and best quality/price ratio for truck, cars (named SUV for no reason) and phev/electric model. Good work, 👍😀
Trax or Envista is the big question for me. The styling is better in the Buick version of the GM Korean twins, but is it worth an extra $2-3,000? After all, the Trax is not bad looking either…
PS - As to Alex’s question at the end of the video, I say get both! Let Brian buy the Trax as his personal vehicle, and then Alex can indulge his cheap side and buy the Versa 5-speed without hesitation!
oooo YES! porque no los dos!
Kia Rio hands down!
12:08 Why is trax data based on the 2022 spark? Shouldn’t it be based on the 2022 Trax or better yet the 2023 Trailblazer since it has a more similar engine? I doubt the trax will be as reliable or cheap to own as the Spark which was NA and had no turbo and a tiny engine
Because it's closer in form to the Spark,. No AWD is offered, etc and it doesn't use the same transmissions as the Trailblazer (also, no AWD which affects operational costs)
I'd be willing to spend about $400 for the Mirage.
@markaruski
Why? It's an HONEST economy car, and proven to be reliable too. The price is way too high..
Sell it for about $11k with an AC and automatic and they would be selling like hotcakes, sell another value leader model with a manual transmission for $9k where you can add an AC for about $750 dollars and they would also sell VERY well, the market is out there, but NOBODY is filling it. I'd buy the value manual transmission car with the AC for $9750 in a heartbeat.
$399 when they take the mark up off.
@@pooh4519 You can pay top dollar with market adjustments for the over rated Corolla and Civic, and when their warranty runs out you'll have more issues then you would have hoped for in your 25-30k economy car after 3yr/36k mile warranty, the fact is these modern Civics and Corollas are NOT the bulletproof cars they were back in the 1980s and 1990s.
Now I would buy a new identical one of those today if they made them.
@@watershed44 HaHaHa you sure took the bait there!
@@pooh4519 Not really I knew what you were doing but I wanted some others to read what I had to say...and they probably did.
Corollo and Forte would be my two favorites; Venue also would good. This video is very important; too many people are buying cars they can't afford or are buying used cars which I used to do also, however it really is much safer and more reliable to buy a new car, especially if Japanese or Korean.
The civic also exists too
@@naveenthemachine Yes, I like civics, not sure the cost these days.
@@jazzbeau507 it’s not too far off a corolla
@@naveenthemachine The Civic base price in the United States is over 26k when destination fees are included.
@@Mario_FieldsCorolla base is 23k with destination included and with the mandatory dealer markup plus taxes and fees, you’ll end up paying over 30k for a base Corolla. Honda is bringing back the base Civic LX which brings Civic price down to 24k with destination.
Many observers tend to overlook the VW Jetta. In my humble opinion it's the best in this segment. You literaly have Camry for the price of Corolla.
I worry about the reliability of US designed vehicles, which would eliminate the Trax from my list. I like the peace of mind of a 5 year warranty, which elevates the Hyundai and Kia for me. I like the superb fuel economy of Hybrid vehicles; the option pays for itself over 5 years, and significantly lowers vehicle cost over vehicle lifespan. I love my Hyundai Elantra Hybrid!
As far as a car.for the dollar like you mentioned, I think the Mirage really is the winner with its higher fuel economy
Nissan Versa FOR THE WIN. Just wish that there was still a Nissan Hatch....it would be such a seller
I like a manual. I'd enjoy seeing a long term review of the cheapest Nissan Versa.
Doesn't Trax require premium gas for turbo? Was it taken into your calculation?
Have 2022 Versa SV CVT the Msrp here Puerto Rico $21,400 not bad at all
Thank for your doing this! I would love to see a best new car value in an electric car that comfortably seats 4
Why not try reviewing a Mitsubishi Mirage? I'd love to see you at least try one out despite it not being your favorite, it might surprise you.
I agree. It has soul! Unlike Corolla.
Thank you my brother from another mother!!!! I'll check out the Trax.
Nissan versa for me please
Thank you for covering all of these Alex! I have been considering all of these cars for some time. I currently have a 17 Mazda 3 that is falling apart after 100,000 mi. So I'm weary to buy the less expensive vehicles. I'm really curious about the Chevy Trax! I test drove one and it was really fun. But I think I'm leaning towards a Corolla hatchback. I just need that Toyota reliability. 🤞
I dont blame you
Speaking as a Trax owner, do yourself a favor and get the Corolla.
@@smokey28779 was it bad?
What's falling apart on the Mazda?
Reading your comment while in my car 2006 corolla here in dubai which has crossed 7,45,000 still going ok
Go for corolla dear
buy the Trax!
What about the Hyundai Accent?
That was discontinued
@@jaggerknife Too bad. That was a nice little car.
@@BanBiofuels Still around in other markets around the world today with a manual transmission too. THink it is called the HB20 or something similar
My favorite topic😅
Could you please make a video about best used cars, how to select one and so on
His channel doesn’t focus on used cars.
@@naveenthemachine I know, but it can be a speaing video like this
Even now the Nissan versa has a $5000 markup at the dealership I went to, to see it. Dealers are out of control, that’s over 25% markup!?
that rate I’ll just buy something from another company in the next up price range.
It defeats the purpose to buy a cheap sub $20k car if it’s not sub $20k.
I think more people now are traveling further to get a better deal like even out of state. Watch out for those high & destination, doc fees.
They should not be a dime over $14500 base. People need to wait. Big corrections on the way.
You missed the funky Nissan Kicks.😊
Get a mid spec tray and see if it’s worth keeping long term
Please actually review the Mirage, your bullet points of "it's boring, slow, and small" are silly. It's supposed to be boring, slow, and small. It's a super budget economy car.
My 22 5MT is averaging 43 MPG highway and 35 city. It's extremely easy to work on it if you have to and the 3A92 engines are remarkably sturdy compared to the crap Nissan and especially Kia are dumping out nowadays. Sure you can get a Kia Rio....but you're still getting a Kia and everything that comes with that. If you know you know.
Excellent damn good job. Thank you.
I think the Corolla would have the best resale.
I know the Corolla would have the best resale.
All the Corollas here in Dallas have markups over msrp so that nullifies any high resale value.
@@johnkonde1975this!!!! Nobody takes that into consideration.
i'm def a little bias since i have a mirage but i hate that the versa makes you have to go 2 options up for basic features like an automatic and apple carplay. so really it's more like 19k for a "base" model after you get the carplay and automatic.
But the mirage is just awful. It’s very slow. It’s cramped. Handles and rides like crap and it’s so loud inside
@@naveenthemachine def subjective topic for sure, for me i have no problem with any of that. drove many cars and the mirage still my favorite, i am 5'4 this car has plenty of room for me, no it's not fast and will have problems with power once you start loading up the car or using the ac. I do all the maintenance in my apartment parking lot which saves a lot of money, really simple to work on. i could go on forever on why i love this car but it's most definitely not for everyone.
@@OrganicFoxesI’m happy that you like your car, but what were your previous cars before the Mirage?
@@garrettw99 can take this as you wish but the mirage is my first car, i've driven many other types of cars even fully electric cars. other cars might be faster, quieter, more comfortable but less is more to me, the mirage checks off everything i need in a car and im very happy to have it. def keep in mind my family used this as our main car for years before it was mine, so im pretty attached to it and it has grown on me a lot. there's a pretty good ish size community online that loves these cars too.
@@OrganicFoxes Be happy with your purchase, the current Mirage is actually the ONLY
"honest" economy car you can buy today in the USA with a manual transmission to boot.
It's simple, reliable, and very inexpensive to maintain and repair. Most people forget about those things.
TBH I would LEAN towards a 2023 Hyundai Elantra 😊 Cool 😎 Video 😎
A man could afford alot of bacon *and* microwaves with the savings from these budget picks!!!
I vote for either the dead cheapest Versa, and you enter it in track races, rallies, demo derby's, etc until it craps out.
Or, the Trax option, as I'm more likely to purchase that.
XD
Bring back the small cheap hatchbacks! I would always take a hatchback over a sedan. So much more practicality over a sedan.
You should also cover issues like long-term maintenance costs and durability
What’s the cheapest suv or truck?
Buick “Trax” is right in there imo and much nicer looking
For the price point, I think Kia Soul is a winner. Spacious interior, ok gas mileage and better power than other options in super cheap category.
Vehicles are to expensive in my opinion so more cheaply priced vehicles look more attractive and insurance all has increased in cost. Of your list Alex I pick the Chevy Trax or Carolla
Corolla is overpriced when including mandatory dealer markup. All Corollas here in Dallas have markup. Toyota is purposely keeping Corolla production low.
I would like to see what the 5-speed manual Nissan Versa is like to live with.
Mirage has that heart and soul that the other ones don’t have.
But that heart and soul isn’t going to get you anywhere
@@naveenthemachinehow can you say that when you don’t own one?!
Very true! The Mirage is completely unpretentious! It has quirk and charms. Not perfect car but again no car is perfect.
@@edgaryzen4925 I’ve rented a mirage and it was god slow and really noisy. But I did average 43mpg so not too shabby
@@naveenthemachine It will reach somewhere eventually. 0-60 in days.😂Actually, the Mirage is a great simple little reliable car.
Kia Seltos should be on there. One of the best looking and most practical.
It’s solid but too expensive to be on the list
Would love to see a base base Corolla vs the Kia Rio
Where are the links to the videos?
Good video. Thanks
You should do a long term Trax test
I say get a Trax. I always worry about GM reliability so putting some real mileage / usage on one would be interesting. Def. no Mirage. No one watching youtube car stuff is going to buy one anyway.
I’d love to see the Rio, but a Versa would be good too. Zero interest in the Mitsubishi
I'll vote for cheapest automatic vehicle. Including insurance, incentives, and financing for fair credit with low down payment.
Get long-term TRAX its only car w turbo im curious to see how reliable the car is w a turbo...all others dont have turbo
Immediate disqualification for the Trax because of the Turbo. Easy does it especially in this segment. Plus i do not trust the long term reliability of anything that comes from GM.
If the versa is sticker with the 5 speed ill buy that. My cheapness wins out.
Own 2023 Kia Forte paid 26000 out the door in April 4/2023 got 14000 miles on it getting 46 mpg driving normally happy Toyota had three thousand mark up back in April 2023 I shopped kIA did me better than Toyota an Mazda
Thank you for reviewing affordable new cars Alex unlike your friend Sofyan who is a snob who thinks it’s beneath him to review cheap cars like the Versa, Rio, and Mirage. Sofyan thinks all his viewers are rich!
Yeah he is a car snob. I stopped watching his content and unsubscribed. He wouldn’t care and I do hope viewers would criticize him for being one.
If you want cheap, that’s what you will get. You have to factor long term reliability and safety. Sometime better to get a couple of model years older certified Corolla , Civic or Mazda 3 with low mikes to get to specific price point. Cheap does not equate to value.
I would love to see a Rio hatch tester, but if not, a Rio sedan.
The Mirage should be free it’s so bad. Only car on sale today that I genuinely feel unsafe to drive. I would never buy a Nissan because of the horrible Jatco CVT so the Rio is the clear winner in my mind
In Mexico (where it is produced) they are already testing the next generation of the Kia Rio sedan, here it is one of the best-selling models in general, so due to its proximity to the USA, I think it is very likely that the next generation will be sold. in the USA
I heard the same and is coming on October 24 of this year
But no more hatchbacks
Jose, they've stopped selling Rio in USA. Very sad.
My two cents: buy either the manual Versa and/or Mirage!
I’d get a previous gen Versa S manual instead because it’s imo adorable but also a lot roomier inside
how about jetta and Impreza
YES manual versa
Rio or Trax gets my votes
Why would car manufacturers start using CVT transmissions??? I keep hearing how they fail at 100,000 miles and are more incredibly expensive to fix than automatics?