But there are many excellent vehicles that sell for far less than that. To assist bargain hunters, we’ve assembled a list of the best new cars and SUVs under $30,000 based on their Overall Score, factoring in road-test performance, owner satisfaction, predicted reliability, and safety.
Unless otherwise noted, all come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW). If they’re optional or only on specific trims, they don’t push the price above $30,000 before adding in the destination charge, taxes, and fees. That’s why a few models, such as the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and most compact SUVs, aren’t on this list.
Some of these models have our Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions.
All of the vehicles below have met the stringent performance, reliability, and safety requirements necessary to earn CR’s recommendation.
