Are you on the market for a cheap car and your want to learn what is the cheapest car in the world? If that is the case, then you are at the right place because we are going to cover everything when it comes to getting you the proper information about the cheapest car in the world.
Getting yourself properly informed about what is out there on the market for a good deal is key if you want to save some money. Getting a proper deal could save you thousands of dollars. Money that you could spend on something more fulfilling and something that will seem like a better investment for your money.
Even if you are here for some giggles, we don’t blame you. Every once in a while everyone wants to read a relaxing topic like this where you can learn more about what is offered out there around the world and see some interesting engineering. Which personally, I’m a big fan of. I really like how some things are done differently across the world and what people can make from what they have.
That’s why in this article, we are going to learn what is a cheap car and why you should get one. Then we are going to cover our cheapest car in the world list for you to have a better idea of what is there for the lowest buck. So, without further ado, let’s get into the article.
What Is A Cheap Car?
A cheap car simply is a car that is built from cheap materials and the amount of engineering that went into this product is also on the cheap side as well. But this shouldn’t mean that these cars are terrible by any means.
It could only mean that to reach the target MSRP, they, the company, had to make some exceptions and cut some corners here and there. These are usually some items that are considered to be items for the bourgeoisie as would the French say.
For example, no soft-touch materials anywhere in the car, only hard plastic that will hurt your arm when you touch it. Basic seats that are not comfortable by any means. As well as they fall apart after 50,000 miles because of the cheap material that went into building them.
And this doesn’t just end here, it moves into the engine bay where some expenses were cut as well, namely choosing an engine that is underpowered for that chassis and doesn’t deliver a good performance at all.
Not to mention the build quality of the vehicle, doors shut like the car was made in 1968 instead of 2021. Most of these things are unacceptable by today’s standards. But some companies are still using these tactics to bring the price down and have some marginal profit from the vehicle.
So, that is the cheapest car in the world explained in simple words. A big definition. But it will be quite handy for you if you are on the market for a car and you go and see a vehicle that meets these requirements that we mentioned above. But should you get one? Let’s see in the next chapter.
Why Get One Of The Cheapest Cars In The World?
Getting a cheap car will be the perfect thing for you if you want to get something really affordable that car takes you anywhere on the cheap.
These cars are not only cheap when it comes to purchasing them, but they are also quite cheap when it comes to getting gas. They come equipped with small-displacement engines that are not that thirsty for gas. So, they deliver a good fuel economy. More precisely, you will probably get somewhere around 30 mpg to 40 mpg on average with most of these cars.
Just be aware to get the smallest engine that you can get which is a SOHC design. This design with a single overhead camshaft is known to save a ton of money on fuel. That’s why if you want to save money, this is your best bet. Even though SOHC engines are pretty rare in 2021. There are still some hidden gems out there.
Another aspect why you should get the cheapest car in the world is because these cars are quite cheap to maintain as well. Maintaining them would be a breeze. They have small engines and everything is perfectly placed in reach.
These cheap cars are the dream of every mechanic who wants to get his work done. And it is done pretty fast. Instead of clocking dozens of hours, most of the work can be done in 2 to 3 hours max. Even engine replacement is a breeze in these cars. The engine will just pop out in a half an hour. Only an experienced mechanic and you will not have to worry about anything. That’s why the cheapest car in the world gets my recommendation.
But what are the cheapest cars in the world? Let’s see in the following chapters.
Cheapest Car In The World – Our Top 10 List
Now let’s get to business and start discussing the cheapest car in the world. Which are the cheapest cars out there? In the following chapters, we are going to cover all of the models that are out there and can be considered as cheap.
First, we will start from the most expensive ones and then we will narrow our list to the cheapest one that you can get. So, buckle up because it is going to be a long list.
1. Mitsubishi Mirage
The first car that we are going to cover in our cheapest car in the world list is the Mitsubishi Mirage. The Mirage is the cheapest offering by Mitsubishi at the moment and it only costs about $15,000 overall. Making one of the cheapest car in the world as well.
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact car that comes in two variants. A hatchback and a sedan. It is very small and almost claustrophobic, to be honest. Also, many people have bashed the Mirage for its build quality. But this model sells pretty well in the Asian market. Even though, it is also available in the US as well.
The US model comes with a 1.2L three-cylinder engine that makes 77hp and a CVT automatic transmission. Which is plenty to offer you a comfortable and smooth ride on the highway.
When it comes to safety, the Mirage offers average safety. Since it is so small, even if it comes equipped with all the safety features, it will still not be able to deliver safety like the bigger cars that are out there.
It also sells quite well and averages about 20,000 units sold in the US per year. Which is not that bad considering that this model is so small. People still love to buy the Mirage.
2. Smart ForTwo
The Smart ForTwo is another car that makes upon our cheapest car in the world list. This small car is one of the longest-produced cars in its class since the ’90s and is still selling strong across the world. Perfect car if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a vehicle. On average, this Smart costs only about $14,500. Which is a quite good deal, to be honest.
What is good with this model is that you can get a gas-powered Smart, as well as electric-powered Smart.
Also, this car doesn’t try to cut corners like the Mirage but it only offers what is available for that price. And that is a two-seater option that comes with everything available inside. Good option if you want to go for something really well equipped. The safety that it offers is also quite good for its size.
Unfortunately, the sales kept on declining in the US and the production for the US model was stopped in 2019. But you can still find a Smart ForTwo on the second-hand market where this car is still quite popular.
3. Hyundai Accent
The Hyundai Accent is another car that made it on our cheapest car in the world list. This car is sold around the world and also in the US market as well. This means that you can purchase it right away for around $17,500 for the base model that is offered.
Even though the Accent is quite cheap, it delivers quite a bit for what you are paying. Maybe you will not get the best equipment. But still, there is a lot to it. The Accent comes equipped with a 1.6L engine as a standard and is equipped with a CVT transmission.
The safety of this model is also quite good and on par with the more expensive cars out there on the market. The fuel economy is also excellent and the Accent can hit around 41 mpg on the highway. Which is insane for a car of this size.
Overall, the Hyundai Accent offers one of the best value for your money on the market right now. And is really unfortunate if you don’t shortlist your car on the possible options when purchasing a vehicle.
4. Toyota Yaris
When we make the cheapest car in the world list we can not talk about the Toyota Yaris. The Yaris is the most affordable offering by Toyota at the moment and the Yaris definitely delivers quite a lot for what you pay for.
In this car there are no cutting corners, every inch has a purpose and that is to deliver the best performance in a small form factor like nothing else out there on the streets. That’s why we decided to list the Yaris.
The base model of the Yaris which is the sedan, comes at a very low price, more precisely at $16,660. Which is an insane value for what you pay.
With this Yaris, you get a 1.5L straight-4 engine that outputs 106 horsepower. This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that will guarantee that you get the best mpg on the highway. And you can bet that it is good. This Yaris gets 39 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg in the city with 34 mpg combined.
When it comes to safety, the Yaris does not disappoint at all and delivers a good performance. Overall the Yaris is an excellent car that is worth every penny. It might be not the cheapest car in the world but it is one of the cheapest and best values out there.
5. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is another good deal for those who want to get something well-designed. The Soul has a boxy shape that perfectly describes its character. You either love it or hate it. The Soul is one of the best sellers when it comes to the subcompact crossover market. It sells well in the US with about 100,000 units sold each year.
Because it is such a good value for money, we have decided to include it on the cheapest car in the world list. The starting price is about $20,000. And this Kia delivers quite a lot for that amount of money.
The base model is equipped with a 2.0L Straight-4 engine that produces 147hp. This engine is paired with a CVT transmission that is quite good and makes to bring the best out of this engine.
That’s why the fuel economy is excellent with 33 mpg on the highway, 28 mpg in the city, and 30 mpg combined makes the Kia Soul a really good performer.
The safety in the Kia Soul is also quite good, gaining good grades on most of the IIHS tests. Overall, the Kia Soul is an excellent value for your money. You get a small SUV for such a low price of only $20,000.
6. Nissan Versa
When we are talking about the cheapest car in the world, we cannot avoid talking about the Nissan Versa. The Nissan Versa is the budget option if you want to get yourself a Nissan. It comes in the same class as the Hyundai Accent and the Yaris that we discussed above. And it quite delivers for what you pay for.
It starts at $15,990 and it is one of the cheapest car in the world by far. I think Nissan out of all manufacturers manages to get the lowest price out of the bunch.
The Versa comes equipped with a 1.6 straight-4 engine that produces 122hp and this will be enough to make you feel comfortable. It is also equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. If you want to get the automatic, you will have to pay a bit more.
The fuel mileage is also excellent and the Versa delivers 35 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg in the city with a combined fuel economy of 30 mpg.
The safety is quite good on the Versa and delivers average performance. It is not that capable as bigger cars are. But in this segment, it is quite good.
Overall, the Versa is a good deal and will give you a good driving experience. The best advice is to go for an automatic transmission. It might cost a bit more. But it is worth it in my opinion.
7. Chevrolet Spark
Another cheapest car in the world is the Chevy Spark. The Chevy Spark is one of the best sellers in this segment and a clear way to go if you want to get a cheap car for yourself. It was introduced almost 10 years ago and still is one of the best options out there on the market when it comes to being one of the cheapest car in the world.
The Chevy Spark starts low as $14,499 and this makes it one of the best deals out there right now when it comes to good value for your money. If you have a limited budget, it is a no-brainer to get the Spark, to be honest.
The base model comes equipped with a naturally aspirated straight-4 engine that has 1.4L in displacement. It produces a 98hp which for the Chevy Spark is plenty. It also comes equipped with a manual transmission with 5 gears. If you want to go for an automatic you will have to pay a little extra.
The fuel economy is also quite good. The Spark gets 38 mpg on the highway, 29 mpg in the city, and 33 mpg combined, which makes the spark one of the top performers in our cheapest car in the world list.
Overall, the Chevy Spark is one of the best deals out there when it comes to cheap cars and steals a lot of sales from competitors in this segment worldwide.
8. Dacia Logan
When it comes to rock bottom prices the Dacia Logan is one of the best cars out there right now. But unfortunately, this model is not imported into the US. Dacia is a Romanian car manufacturer that is owned by Renault. And the cars they build are completely spartan and extremely basic.
But when it comes to pricing, they are the kings in the market. The base price in the UK starts at 8,500 pounds, which is $11,227. The Logan is quite a performer when it comes to practicality and usability. If you need a workhorse but in a car form, then this might be the deal for you.
The base model comes with a 1.0L petrol engine that is producing 60 hp, which is quite small, to be honest. But you can get a 1.6L engine in the more expensive models. The standard transmission is a 5-speed manual, but you can also get the Logan with a 5-speed automatic or a CVT.
But the cheapness also makes a good number when it comes to sales. The Logan sells pretty well. Overall, good car if you don’t mind the cheap interior.
9. Hyundai I10 – Cheapest Car In The UK
Another car on our cheapest car in the world list is the Hyundai i10. This cute little Hyundai is one of Hyundai’s bestsellers on the Asian and European markets. Unfortunately, it is not sold in the US. The base price in the UK comes at 13,000 pounds.
The i10 is equipped with a 1.0L straight-3 engine that is producing 66hp. The i10 is paired with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automated manual. It only weighs 2,000 lbs making it one of the lightest cars on our list.
But what is bad when it comes to the i10 is its safety score. Which is not particularly good, to be honest. It only got 3 stars on the Euro NCAP tests.
Overall, the i10 is a good car, it’s quite popular in the Asian and European markets as we mentioned. Still, if you are concerned about safety, this isn’t the deal for you.
10. Tata Nano – Cheapest Car In The Whole World
The Tata Nano is probably the cheapest car ever to be produced in our history. It was produced up until 2018. This car basically has the tiniest wheels ever put on a road vehicle. It is ridiculed by many because of its design and looks in general. But the price is what this car makes. It was sold new for about $3,500. Making it one of the best out there when it came to price.
The idea with this car was that Tata Motors wanted to sell this car to the scooter drivers. They hoped that this product would make them switch to a 4-wheeled vehicle. And here the Nano shined.
It was equipped with a 624cc straight-2 engine that produced 38hp and came equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission.
When it comes to safety, we let you judge it by yourself. Because it is not safe by any means. Overall, for that price point, the Nano was a good product. But in general, maybe the better option would have been to go after a second-hand car than a Nano.
Cheapest Cars in the World Facts
- Purchasing a car is an expensive affair, making affordability a key factor when looking to buy a new car.
- The Tata Nano was the cheapest car in the world until it was discontinued, but it is still popular in the used car market in India.
- The Chevrolet Spark is the cheapest car in the world, coming with a 1.4L engine that produces 98 horsepower, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- The Mitsubishi Mirage is perfect for gas-conscious buyers who want a five-seater car with cargo space.
- The Nissan Versa is a tech-laden car that comes with a 1.6L engine that produces 122 horsepower.
- The Kia Rio is spacious and comes loaded with many features such as lane keeping and high beam assists, and pedestrian detection.
- The Hyundai Accent is equivalent to the Rio but only comes in a sedan version.
- The cheapest electric car in the world is the Fiat 500 Electric, and the Nissan Leaf is another affordable electric option.
- It’s important to consider the reliability, safety and other costs that come with a car before deciding whether to buy the cheapest car on the market.
- Buying the cheapest car is not always the best investment, so it’s essential to balance affordability with other essential factors when buying a car.
Conclusion – Cheapest Car In The World
In this article, we have covered a lot when it comes to the cheapest car in the world. We have learned what is a cheap car, in other words, which characteristics do a car needs to have to be regarded as cheap. Then we gave our thoughts on why you should get a cheap car for yourself.
Then we listed our list of the cheapest cars in the world that you can get right now. We strongly hope that you enjoyed it.
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