The DMV Blog
Top Five Cars Under $20,000
By Kirsten Rincon · Wednesday, July 25 2018

Usually, cars are among the most expensive purchases in many people’s lives. Buying a new car is a serious investment, with most of them costing well over $20,000, which is a price that many consumers can not afford. But, nowadays there are lots of good cars that can be purchased for less than $20,000, which is usually considered to be somewhat of a magic number when it comes to new vehicle prices. Here is a list of the top five cars for under $20,000, which includes everything from compact cars, sedans, all the way to SUVs.
Ford Focus
Starting with one of the world’s best-selling cars in recent years, the Ford Focus is an excellent family car, but also a very popular choice for young drivers looking for a reliable and affordable car that also offers great handling and is fun to drive.
The 2015 Focus is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, and gets a great gas mileage of 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The base version comes with a price tag of $17,170.
Mazda 3
Powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the 2016 Mazda 3 is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact sedan segment, with fuel economy rated at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
It also features dynamic handling and high-quality interior materials, and it’s equipped with some of the latest safety and infotainment technologies. It can be purchased for as low as $17,845.
Jeep Patriot
Finding a good, well equipped SUV under $20,000 is no easy task. But, the 2016 Jeep Patriot is a good example that SUVs that offer great performances and have a wide array of advanced safety features don’t have to be very expensive.
Starting at $17,295, the Patriot comes with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, delivering 158 horsepower and 141 lb-ft of torque, and up to 30 mpg gas mileage on the highway.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is arguably one of the best vehicles overall that can be bought for less than $20,000. It’s one of the most reliable cars on the market, with top safety ratings and impressive fuel economy rated at 31 mpg/city and up to 41 mpg/highway. Starting at just $18,290, the 2015 Civic comes with a very wide range of standard features, including Pandora Internet radio, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as cruise control and back-up camera.
Toyota Prius C
In order to own a hybrid , car buyers usually have to pay a substantial premium, but it can be said that the 2015 Toyota Prius C is an exception. This popular hybrid is reasonably priced at $19,540, so it’s not much more expensive than its gasoline-powered counterparts.
Obviously, this is a great choice for consumers looking for an affordable, eco-friendly, and fuel-efficient car, getting 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.
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