Only 1 New American Car Costs Under $15,000 — but It Will Go Away Soon
New cars are more expensive than ever before. This rise in prices makes it difficult to find a vehicle that doesn’t make a serious dent in your bank account. The most budget-friendly cars are dominated by Japanese and South Korean vehicles. Only one new American car costs less than $15,000: the 2022 Chevy Spark subcompact hatchback. However, the Chevy Spark will go away soon, for it will be discontinued after the 2022 model year.
2022 Chevy Spark: The only new American car under $15,000, and also the cheapest new car in the US
Not only is the 2022 Chevy Spark the only new American car that costs less than $15,000, but it’s also the cheapest new car currently available in the United States. It has a starting price of only $13,600 MSRP. This low price undercuts the next cheapest car, the 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage ($14,645 MSRP), by over $1,000.
After the Spark and Mirage, the next most affordable cars are the 2022 Nissan Versa ($15,180 MSRP) and 2022 Kia Rio ($16,250 MSRP). Following that, the next two are the 2022 Hyundai Accent ($16,645 MSRP) and the 2022 Subaru Impreza ($18,795).
The second-cheapest new American car available in the U.S. is the Ford Maverick compact pickup truck. Earlier this year, the Maverick was the only pickup truck that cost less than $20,000, with a starting price of $19,995 MSRP. However, Ford raised the starting price of the 2022 Maverick to $20,995 MSRP.
The Maverick is an immense success, with very high sales. You can credit this to the Maverick’s efficient standard hybrid powertrain and high-level utility — and of course, its affordable price.
Please note: The prices and ordering of these affordable cars are subject to change, as many automakers are increasing the price of cars with the high inflation costs.
Despite its low cost, the Chevy Spark isn’t a low-quality car
When seeing the low price of the Chevy Spark, one might think that it is a low-quality car. However, this is not the case, for the Spark is a better car than its price suggests. While the Spark’s cabin is certainly not luxurious, it features higher quality materials than some other subcompact cars, such as the Mitsubishi Mirage.
Also, the Spark offers much value with standard features. This includes an infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Furthermore, while the Spark doesn’t have a very powerful engine, its nimbleness in traffic makes it a good choice for a city car.
Chevy Spark will be discontinued in August 2022
If you want to buy a new Chevy Spark, then you’ll have to act soon. The cheapest available car will be discontinued after the 2022 model year. Production of the Spark will end in August 2022, marking the end of a 10-year run in the U.S. Like many other automakers, especially in America, Chevrolet plans to focus more on SUVs. As a result, cars such as the Spark suffer the fate of discontinuation.
For car buyers that want a reasonably-priced Chevrolet vehicle, the next most affordable option is the 2022 Trax subcompact SUV. It has a starting price of $21,400 MSRP. After the Trax, the next cheapest Chevrolet model is the 2022 Trailblazer subcompact SUV, which has a starting price of $21,800 MSRP.
This article was updated on 7/17/2022.
