Best Small Cars for the Money for 2024
The best small cars for the money are ranked based on an analysis of their price and average lifespan, with the top-ranked models offering the longest life at the lowest price.
The best small car for the money is the Mitsubishi Mirage which has the lowest iSeeCars Annual Lifespan Cost. We rank vehicles by how much a vehicle costs to purchase relative to how long the car lasts which we believe is a good determiner of value - the lower the cost, the better the value. The Mitsubishi Mirage has an average new car list price of $18,507 and an average lifespan of 172,784 miles or about 12.8 years, resulting in an annual purchase cost of $1,443. Using this method, the second best small car for the money is Subaru Impreza with an Annual Lifespan Cost of $1,691. In third place is Toyota Corolla which has an iSeeCars Annual Lifespan Cost of $1,840.
The best small car for the money is the Mitsubishi Mirage which has the lowest iSeeCars Annual Lifespan Cost. We rank vehicles by how much a vehicle costs to purchase relative to how long the car lasts which we believe is a good determiner of value - the lower the cost, the better the value. The Mitsubishi Mirage has an average new car list price of $18,507 and an average lifespan of 172,784 miles or about 12.8 years, resulting in an annual purchase cost of $1,443. Using this method, the second best small car for the money is Subaru Impreza with an Annual Lifespan Cost of $1,691. In third place is Toyota Corolla which has an iSeeCars Annual Lifespan Cost of $1,840.
- Annual Lifespan Cost 1443.41
- Avg Lifespan: 172.784015625K Miles (12.82 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 16695
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 7.907337 / 10
- Value Retention 8.522867 / 10
- Safety 8.0 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 1691.24
- Avg Lifespan: 197.56165625K Miles (14.66 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 19795
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 8.563559 / 10
- Value Retention 8.669063 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 1839.88
- Avg Lifespan: 182.13296875K Miles (13.52 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 22050
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 8.685147 / 10
- Value Retention 8.888778 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 1961.97
- Avg Lifespan: 186.824453125K Miles (13.86 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 23950
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 8.774194 / 10
- Value Retention 9.081041 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2055.36
- Avg Lifespan: 184.068765625K Miles (13.66 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 24170
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 8.902518 / 10
- Value Retention 8.448785 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2090.8
- Avg Lifespan: 129.695703125K Miles (9.62 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 16130
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 7.748716 / 10
- Value Retention 8.608774 / 10
- Safety 9.46 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2138.91
- Avg Lifespan: 186.824453125K Miles (13.86 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 24950
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 8.324194 / 10
- Value Retention 9.059253 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2232.03
- Avg Lifespan: 184.068765625K Miles (13.66 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 25690
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 8.902518 / 10
- Value Retention 8.267879 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2308.57
- Avg Lifespan: 148.4095625K Miles (11.01 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 21435
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 8.15447 / 10
- Value Retention 8.205526 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2422.04
- Avg Lifespan: 134.33521875K Miles (9.97 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 20630
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 7.88733 / 10
- Value Retention 8.098694 / 10
- Safety 9.1 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 2692.64
- Avg Lifespan: 126.8631328125K Miles (9.41 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 21625
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 7.82514 / 10
- Value Retention 8.419894 / 10
- Safety 9.28 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost 3430.99
- Avg Lifespan: 76.90934375K Miles (5.71 Years)
- Starting MSRP: 16750
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 7.509378 / 10
- Value Retention 8.753145 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 31765
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 7.3 / 10
- Value Retention 8.297496 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 30605
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 7.0 / 10
- Value Retention 8.578783 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 23505
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 8.726354 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 45455
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 8.422358 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 28085
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 8.242814 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 19790
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 8.481801 / 10
- Safety 8.0 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 25800
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 6.3 / 10
- Value Retention 8.562863 / 10
- Safety 8.0 / 10
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 17795
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 8.160555 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 26800
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 6.7 / 10
- Value Retention 8.519836 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 17690
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 8.808783 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 36500
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 8.724123 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Annual Lifespan Cost Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 32900
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 8.364957 / 10
- Safety Not Available
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How We Rank These Cars
The Best Cars for the Money list ranks cars by their annual cost, which compares the purchase price of the car against how long the car lasts. We believe this is a good determiner of value--the lower the annual cost, the better the value.
iSeeCars analyzed millions of cars to determine how long each car can last. Then we calculated the annual cost over the lifespan for each vehicle. In the event two or more vehicles have the same annual cost, we use iSeeCars proprietary rating of the overall quality of the car (iSeeCars Score) to break the tie.
The overall iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability | 33.3%
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention | 33.3%
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 | 33.3%
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).