Cheapest Economy Cars

Nissan Versa is the best bargain

The entry-level Nissan Versa (*Est. $9,990 to $16,330) is one of the lowest-priced cars available in the United States, thanks to the new Versa 1.6 Base sedan (*Est. $9,990), which has a 1.6-liter, 107-horsepower four-cylinder engine and lacks such features as air conditioning, stereo or power windows. Despite its compact exterior dimensions, its roomy cabin allows it to be classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a midsize car. The step-up engine is a 122-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder available in either the sedan or a five-door hatchback, the latter of which gets 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway when hitched to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Some reviewers criticize the Versa for its stodgy styling, but call it high-value basic transportation with plenty of utility, especially in the hatchback configuration. It gets top recommendations from several sources, including Cars.com, KBB.com and MSN Autos. Editors at ConsumerGuide.com name it a Best Buy, saying, "Versa is priced like a subcompact, but its blend of room, comfort, and refinement are an easy match for any number of more-expensive compact cars." Standard safety features include six airbags and front-seat active head restraints, but antilock brakes are a $250 option. The Versa hatchback's rear seat folds, but it doesn't go completely flat as it does in the Honda Fit and some other cars, reviews mention. Edmunds.com states that the Honda Fit is a better car overall.

If price is your overriding concern, reviews indicate that the inexpensive 2009 Toyota Yaris (*Est. $12,205 to $15,880) is another satisfactory choice. The Yaris is offered as a subcompact sedan or hatchback, and first-year reliability has been exemplary, according to reports. Although its performance and handling aren't noteworthy, fuel efficiency is certainly a key asset according to both official estimates and a number of real-world tests. Interior volume is acceptable and even surprisingly good with the rear seats folded down, reviewers say. Most writers are critical of the Yaris' centrally-mounted instrument cluster, however.

The larger Kia Spectra (*Est. $13,550 to $17,695) is offered as an affordable compact sedan or five-door hatchback (called the Spectra5). Reviews say there are many better alternatives, but most of them cost a bit more money. Kia has a good recipe for providing many standard features and a long warranty, but the Spectra's crash-test results are unimpressive, and fuel economy is below average for the economy class.