Cheapest New Cars.net

Car buyers on a budget have a lot of quality models to choose from. There are numerous subcompact 2012 cars under $15,000 with many of them with a surprising amount of advanced technology and safety features included. Those interested in buying a new car at the lowest possible price will be pleased at the selection offered by some of the most prominent auto manufacturers.

2012 Kia Rio Sedan

Kia, which is owned by Hyundai, introduced the Rio as a low-priced, fuel-efficient sedan that would compete favorably in the compact class. Over the years this car has been upgraded in terms of interior conveniences, yet the price for the Rio remains quite low. The Rio starts at around $13,300 for the base trim.

Interior of the 2012 Kia Rio photo: theKCB

The Rio’s engine has been upgraded for 2012 producing 138 horsepower, but the fuel efficiency is excellent. The Rio averages about 40-mpg gallon highway and nearly 30 mpg on city streets. There are eight exterior color options, each of which complements the interior beige or black very nicely.

Standard features include a full set of airbags, child safety components such as tethers and anchors for booster seats, manual air conditioning and cloth seats. The up-level SX will cost just above $15,000 but features a CD player, automatic headlights, audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, delayed courtesy lighting, and keyless entry.

Rio carries an exceptional 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the power train. The car’s resale value is modest, but many owners can keep their Rio for years without any thought of trading up. Drivers on a budget would also be wise to consider the Hyundai Accent.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan

The 2012 Chevy Sonic is one of the best buys for under $15,000. The base trim starts at just under $14,000, with the up-level LTZ going for around $18,600. The Sonic offers drivers over 40-mpg highway fuel efficiency with a 138 horsepower four-cylinder engine.

Standard features on the base trim include a rear window defogger, pass-through rear seat, AM/FM stereo, front reading lamps, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Sonic also comes with a trial subscription to satellite radio, and the safety equipment includes front and side airbags, child safety door locks, and a full OnStar® system.

Driver side interior of the 2012 Chevy Sonic photo: peltierchevy

Automatic headlights and daytime running lights are standard equipment on the bases trim. The Stabilitrak® electronic stability system is also included. The Sonic has become quite popular with the younger crowd, and the resale value is quite good. It also offers excellent safety features, and is among the safest 2012 small cars.

2012 Ford Fiesta

With a starting price of under $13,200, the 2012 Ford Fiesta offers buyers a roomy interior, plenty of cargo space, and a good number of interior conveniences. Although quite compact in size, the Fiesta has a surprising amount of storage area. This sedan is one of the lowest priced automobiles on the market today.

The base trim has a 1.6L engine that delivers a total of 120 horsepower. The car gets about 38-mpg highway regardless of the transmission type selected. The steering wheel is manual tilt, the air conditioning is electronically activated, and the power door locks have an optional auto-lock feature. The 2011 Fiesta was an all-new model for the U.S.

2011 Ford Fiesta photo: Stradablog

Many of the lowest priced cars on the market have very few standard convenience features unless the buyer chooses an up-level trim. These top 3 2012 cars under $15,000 have excellent fuel economy, come with a superior warranty, and will retain their value well comparable to other models. The cheapest new car of 2012, the Nissan Versa sedan, did not make our list.

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We normally talk about compact and subcompact cars on this blog but if you are looking for cargo carrying capacity, pickup trucks can be a necessity. Today, buyers have fewer small pickups to choose from than in years past. The demand for compact and mid-size trucks has dwindles over the years and now the Ford Ranger is not even being sold in the U.S.

However, many of the current compact and mid-size 2012 model pickup trucks are quite affordable, carry an adequate payload, and have a good resale value. Below we look at the 3 cheapest new pickups of 2012 and their starting prices.

2012 Toyota Tacoma

Ever since it was introduced, Toyota’s Tacoma model has been a solid seller in the U.S.. Starting at under $17,000, this pick-up is one of the most affordable on the market and carries with Toyota’s reputation for reliability. The regular cab trim has a surprising number of standard features, with options available that begin to increase the price to some degree.

The exterior of this model includes such standard equipment as halogen headlamps, sheet-molded composite inner bed, a full deck rail system, fixed cargo bed tie-downs, and rear mud flaps. For a few extra dollars consumers will receive dual rear-hinged access doors and power outside mirrors. The base model comes with 15-inch steel wheels, with the up-level trims equipped with 16-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels.

Air conditioning is standard on the base model. The interior of the cab includes a nice AM/FM audio system with CD player. The front bench seat is 4-way adjustable, and the analog instrumentation panel has a LCD display with a clock and trip meter.

The Tacoma comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that gets EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21-mpg city and 25-mpg highway. Step up to a more powerful V6 trim with front-wheel drive and fuel economy drops to 17-mpg city and 21-mpg highway.

Tacoma is equipped advanced stability control, brake assist and smart stop technology. The cab has side-impact door beams, 3-point seatbelts, and front airbags. All in all, Tacoma offers buyers a lot for the money.

2012 Chevrolet Colorado

The Colorado starts at under $18,000 and is loaded with standard features. The Colorado ranks high among the cheap new pickups, with advanced safety equipment, good payload capacity, and rather good fuel economy.

Colorado is available with a 2.9L, 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 185 horsepower. The 4-wheel drive is supported by torsion bar front suspension and multi-leaf rear suspension. Traction control and the Stabilitrak® electronic stability system is standard on both the 1WT and 1LT trims.

The cab is nicely appointed. Cruise control, 60/40 bench seats, and single zone climate control are all standard. The steering wheel is adjustable and has a nice leather wrap.

Head curtain side airbags are located in both front and rear. The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado has a standard anti-theft protection system and an advanced tire pressure-monitoring sensor. This is one of the most fully stocked pickups for the price paid.

2012 GMC Canyon Work Truck

GMC Canyon with a Fancy Grille

The Canyon is the sister model to the Colorado. GMC offers buyers the choice of a modestly priced pickup truck capable of hauling heavy loads. The Canyon Work Truck is the base trim, with the SLE-1 and SLE-2 models costing a bit more. The 2.9L engine delivers 185 horsepower, and the 5-speed manual transmission is standard.

The truck has a maximum payload of 1,429 pounds and can tow well over twice this weight. Cruise control is standard on all trims, and the OnStar® subscription includes the Directions and Connections® plan. Canyon is one of the best cheap new pickups available when all the convenience features of the base model are taken into account.

Making the Decision

The cheapest new pickup trucks do not all perform equally well, nor do they have the highest resale value. The models mentioned above have received favorable customer reviews, but none of them have an extraordinary amount of horsepower. They do get reasonably good gas mileage, have excellent safety features, and are built tough enough to get the job done.

One word of caution with this vehicle category is that prices can bet quickly more expensive as you add features such as all-wheel drive, four-doors, and more options.
Other compact and mid-size pickup trucks to consider include the Nissan Frontier and the Suzuki Equator (built on the Frontier platform). Both of these models start at under $20,00.

If you have a larger budget, the Honda Ridgeline is a good choice. The models starts at a price near $30,000 but does come standard with four-doors and a powerful V6 engine.

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