just spent way too long researching cheap brand new cars and honestly found some solid options if you're not trying to drop 25k+ on a vehicle. like, the mitsubishi mirage is literally $18k to start and people sleep on it. yeah it's not the fastest thing ever but the fuel economy is insane and it fits perfectly in the city.

kia forte and nissan sentra are both around 21-22k and actually have decent interiors which surprised me. the forte especially feels way more upscale than the price tag suggests. hyundai elantra is another one—$22,775 and apparently great for first-time car buyers according to reviewers.

if you want something with actual reliability built in, toyota corolla at $23k is the play. it's boring but like, it just works. plus the newer ones have wireless phone integration and led headlights so you're not completely stuck in 2015. volkswagen jetta rounds out the cheap brand new cars list at just under 23k and supposedly the 2025 model is even cheaper than the 2024.

the whole thing is if you're shopping for something reliable that won't destroy your wallet, these six are all solid picks. none of them are flashy but they all seem to do what they're supposed to do without the massive price tag. anyone else been looking at budget cars lately?