Comparison Test: $30,000 Small Cars
Key takeaways
- We test six contenders—Honda Civic, Kia K4, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta—to find out.
- Michael Simari|Car and Driver From the May/June 2026 issue of Car and Driver.
- We would have had no problem finding 10 contenders to compete for the crown of best small car 20 years ago.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Does the perfect car for $30,000 exist? We test six contenders—Honda Civic, Kia K4, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta—to find out.
Michael Simari|Car and Driver From the May/June 2026 issue of Car and Driver.
We would have had no problem finding 10 contenders to compete for the crown of best small car 20 years ago. There surely would have been a Ford and a Chevy. Throw in a Dodge and a Mitsubishi. Maybe even a Saturn, a Scion, and a Suzuki. There are no more small cars here from any of those brands; Saturn and Scion no longer exist, and Suzuki fled the U.S. over a decade ago. This comparison test is smaller than in the past, but it's more relevant than ever, because the average new-car price starts at nearly $50,000. So what's life like at $30,000? We gathered six small cars to find out.