Best Cars Under $30K

The Honda Civic has been one of America's best-selling vehicles for years. It checks all the important boxes — economy, reliability, comfort, safety — that buyers want in a compact car. And the special sauce is the Civic's fun-to-drive nature. From the bottom of the lineup on up, the Civic can put a smile on your face simply by the way it drives. And that's a claim few others in the segment can make.

For years compact sedans and hatchbacks have been getting bigger, but the new-for-2022 Civic doesn't stretch the envelope much. It's less than 2 inches longer than the previous generation and it is exactly the same height. Those seem to be the right dimensions because most compact cars mimic them almost exactly. Key competitors in the segment include the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Hyundai Elantra. The Asian brands have been so successful, they now have no domestic competitors and only one from Europe: the Volkswagen Jetta. Like its challengers, the Civic will seat five adults but is more comfortable with just four on board. It is currently available as a sedan only, but hatchback and performance models are expected.

Volkswagen announced that it will discontinue production of the midsize Volkswagen Passat sedan in the U.S. to make room to produce the Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover SUV. Thus, the compact Jetta has become the sole remaining sedan in the German automaker's lineup. Even with the rapid rise in SUV sales, the Jetta has been the best-selling Volkswagen sedan for years.

The current version of the Jetta was introduced for the 2019 model year. It doesn't possess the evocative styling of the Hyundai Elantra, the uplevel interior materials and all-wheel-drive content of the Mazda3, or the Toyota Prius-like fuel economy of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. However, it offers a uniquely European-flavored driving experience in a roomy-on-the-inside, tidy-on-the-outside front-wheel-drive sedan. Its small size also makes it easy to park and maneuver in congested urban settings.

It's also easy to purchase. In base trim, it's the least expensive Volkswagen you can buy as well as the least expensive offering in the compact-sedan segment. Higher trims offer up-to-date infotainment and driver-assistive technology. And the GLI versions are some of the most fun-to-drive entries among compact sport sedans that include the Honda Civic Si, Elantra N Line, and Subaru WRX.

The Mazda Mazda3 is one of the most engaging compacts on the market. It's available as a sedan or sleekly styled hatchback with three responsive engines from which to choose. There's also front-wheel or all-wheel drive for those who need extra traction in colder climates. Thanks to the Mazda3's wide range of configurations, it's easy to find one that suits your preferences. But this car is designed for people who like to drive. Its sporty handling makes it fun to take winding country roads. While incredibly fun to drive with a smooth ride and a luxurious interior, its infotainment system is challenging. Instead of a touchscreen, there's a rotary controller on the center console that takes time to master.

The Honda Civic offers a smaller range of trims but with an equally engaging drive at a lower price. The Toyota Corolla has nine trims, including a hybrid and lower overall pricing. The Subaru Impreza has four trims with lower pricing but with a rougher ride and less attractive interior.

Even though crossovers have been on a long-running hot streak with those seeking family-friendly transportation, there are many parents out there who would rather drive home in a tried-and-true midsize sedan. These cars have a smaller footprint than the typical family crossover, and that can be a plus when navigating congested city streets. If there's a midsize sedan in your future, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat merits consideration.

The five-passenger Passat is perhaps best described as the European entry in the family-sedan class. It has an exterior design that's clean, classic, and brimming with Germanic refinement. The VW isn't as modern-looking as the Toyota Camry, and it lacks the bold visual punch of the Hyundai Sonata. But the Passat's quietly stylish sheet metal will resonate with car shoppers who value understated elegance.

Volkswagen's Passat trails its rivals in certain respects. It's less fuel-efficient than the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. And the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry have more upscale cabins. Still, with its spacious interior, abundant cargo space, and comfortable ride, the Passat boasts qualities that shoppers in this segment treasure.

The Kia Forte is a solid-if-unremarkable sedan that drives with assured confidence and competence. It does everything well at a price that undercuts many of its competitors. The standard engine is one of its few weak spots as it delivers average performance at best, but the optional engine in the GT trim goes a long way toward making the Forte feel fun to drive. A no-nonsense interior design and quality materials make the cabin a pleasant environment, while the infotainment system is one of the best in the class. There's even a spacious trunk.

This segment has a number of appealing competitors. At the top is the unmatched excellence of the Honda Civic, followed by the quality-durability-reliability of the Toyota Corolla, upscale interior of the Mazda 3, intriguingly styled Hyundai Elantra, standard all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza, value-packaged Nissan Sentra, and Germanic elegance of the Volkswagen Jetta.

The Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that offers a wide range of trims, a choice of two engines, and a long list of standard features. All Legacy models come with all-wheel drive, making them a favorite among drivers who live in snowy climates. The ride is impressively smooth and quiet, but this isn't a sporty car. Acceleration is modest, especially with the base four-cylinder engine. Still, the Legacy provides the comfort, features, and composed ride that families and commuters will appreciate.

Comparatively, the Honda Accord has a roomy interior, more trim levels, and a hybrid model, but no all-wheel drive. The Hyundai Sonata also has more trims but is available only with front-wheel drive. The Kia K5 is an all-new model with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive and sportier handling.

Formerly known as the [Kia Optima], the newly rebranded Kia K5 competes against popular sedans, such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Unlike those familiar names, the K5 stands out in the segment with bold styling that assures it won't be mistaken for anything else in the class. The Kia also offers all-wheel drive as an option along with a fun-to-drive performance model at the top of the range. Complementing the K5's aggressive exterior is a nicely trimmed cabin that borders on luxurious in the higher trim levels. And like most Kias, the K5 has an easy-to-use driver interface that makes its standard features all the more accessible.

The midsize sedan slots into the Kia lineup above the compact Kia Forte and below the Kia Stinger sport sedan. The K5 is an inch longer than the Camry and about 3 inches shorter than the Accord.