Every new car under $25k recommended by Consumer Reports (2025)

Table of Contents

What is Consumer Reports & how does it evaluate vehicles? The best new cars (2025) for under $25,000 according to Consumer Reports Buick Envista Chevrolet TrailBlazer Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Kona Hyundai Venue Kia Seltos Kia Soul Mazda 3 Mazda CX-30 Nissan Sentra Nissan Versa Subaru Impreza Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla Cross Toyota Corolla Hybrid References

Business

By Jeremy Salvucci TheStreet

Updated April 24, 2025 7:57 PM

Fast facts:

Only sixteen 2025 vehicles that start at less than $25k come recommended by the renowned auto experts at Consumer Reports.
Toyota and Hyundai tied for most models on the list with three each.
Only one 2025 hybrid car recommended by CR costs under $25k - the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, which also has the best average fuel economy of any car on this list at 48 MPG.
The cheapest model on this list by far is the Nissan Versa, which starts at just $17,190.

Anyone who has been thinking about purchasing a new vehicle lately has likely begun to tighten their timeline, given the looming impact of recently imposed tariffs on imported vehicles and vehicle parts.

And while the tariff situation does seem prone to frequent changes, it remains likely that the cost of most new cars will rise more quickly than it has in the past due to the ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and other nations.

For those looking to buy a reliable and relatively affordable new car before prices potentially skyrocket, options can be limited. After all, the average price of a new car was already an astounding $48,641 in March 2025, according to Car Edge.

And while $50k for a new car is out of reach for many, there are still new cars out there whose base models cost less than half that much.

What is Consumer Reports & how does it evaluate vehicles?

Consumer Reports, founded in 1936, is a member-funded non-profit organization that purchases and tests vehicles and other big-ticket consumer products (like refrigerators, washing machines, and other expensive appliances). The org shares its findings with the public, providing unbiased information about product performance, safety, and reliability via its website.

CR maintains the unbiased nature of its reporting by buying each of the products it tests anonymously and at full price, just like any other consumer, and securing its funding only through membership fees, grants, and affiliate links on its website.

In addition to testing vehicles at its private automotive course in Connecticut, CR also surveys its millions of members annually about their experiences with their own vehicles, asking about any problems they encountered and any maintenance and repair costs they incurred.

Between its own testing and the information it gets from its members, CR assigns each model year of every vehicle an overall quality score that is only available to members. Some vehicles also receive a "CR Recommended" badge, indicating that, overall, the organization deems the car a good choice based on its high standards.

The best new cars (2025) for under $25,000 according to Consumer Reports

The vehicles listed below are 2025 models that start at less than $25,000 and come recommended by Consumer Reports, making them excellent choices for budget-oriented new car shoppers in the market for a solid new vehicle.