Best Small Cars Under $20k for 2024
The best small cars under $20k based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
The best small car under $20,000 is the Honda Fit based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The Honda Fit has a starting MSRP of $16,190 with an overall iSeeCars score of 9.2. Coming in at number 2 is the Toyota Yaris with a starting MSRP of $15,650 and iSeeCars score of 9.2. Ranked #3 is the Subaru Impreza at $19,795 and 8.9 iSeeCars’ best car rating. iSeeCars analyzed vehicles with starting MSRP below $20,000 for this list.
The best small car under $20,000 is the Honda Fit based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The Honda Fit has a starting MSRP of $16,190 with an overall iSeeCars score of 9.2. Coming in at number 2 is the Toyota Yaris with a starting MSRP of $15,650 and iSeeCars score of 9.2. Ranked #3 is the Subaru Impreza at $19,795 and 8.9 iSeeCars’ best car rating. iSeeCars analyzed vehicles with starting MSRP below $20,000 for this list.
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.3
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
2. Toyota Yaris
-
iSeeCars Score:
9.2
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $15,650
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.0
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $19,795
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
4. Hyundai VELOSTER
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.8
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $18,900
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.8
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
5. Chevrolet Sonic
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.7
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,720
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
6. Chevrolet Sonic (hatchback)
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.7
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $17,220
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.6
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,680
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
9.5
/ 10
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.5
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $17,690
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
10. Ford Fiesta
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.2
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $14,260
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
11. Ford Fiesta (hatchback)
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.2
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $14,560
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
13. Hyundai ACCENT
-
iSeeCars Score:
8.1
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,645
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
iSeeCars Score:
7.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,695
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
16. Chevrolet Spark
-
iSeeCars Score:
7.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $13,600
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
iSeeCars Score:
7.6
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $17,795
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Toyota Yaris Hatchback
-
iSeeCars Score:
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $17,750
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
9.1
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
Nissan Versa Note
-
iSeeCars Score:
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $15,650
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
Chevrolet Cruze
-
iSeeCars Score:
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $17,995
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
Chevrolet Cruze (hatchback)
-
iSeeCars Score:
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $19,620
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
9.4
/ 10
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Cars Under $20k Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).