superlatives (least expensive Automobiles)

[PacoMartin]

The 2021 Chevrolet Spark/MSRP: From $13,600 Horsepower: 98 hp (1.4 L 4-cylinder) looks like the least expensive car in America.

The 2021 Nissan Versa/MSRP From $14,980 Horsepower: 122 hp (1.6 L 4-cylinder) seems to be the least expensive car in America that is over 100 horsepower.

Pricing for the 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan starts at $18,795. The hatchback costs $19,295. Horsepower 152 hp. It certainly is the least expensive all-wheel drive car, but is it the least expensive car with over 150 horsepower?

[Hemlock140]

I would guess that the Impreza may be the cheapest. The closest I could find was the 2021 Hyundai Veloster 2.0 manual, $19,905, with 147 horsepower (2.0 Manual Transmission).

I only remember buying cheap once, in 1980 when we had recently bought a house, and were expecting our first child. We bought a 1980 Datsun 210 4-door, about $6,000. Since then price has been less important than other features.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

I only remember buying cheap once, in 1980 when we had recently bought a house, and were expecting our first child. We bought a 1980 Datsun 210 4-door, about $6,000. Since then price has been less important than other features.

Economy cars are a very small percentage of total sales. The Civic, Corolla, Jetta and Forte all have trim levels that are considerably more expensive than the base model.

% 2020 sales
5.4% Ford F-Series
4.0% Chevrolet Silverado
3.8% Ram Pickup

1.8% Honda Civic highest trim ~$30,000
1.6% Toyota Corolla highest trim ~$26,000
0.6% Volkswagen Jetta highest trim ~$28,000

0.58% Kia Forte highest trim ~$22,700
0.33% Nissan Versa highest trim ~$18,400
0.30% Subaru Impreza highest trim ~$26,400
0.23% Chevrolet Spark highest trim ~$17,000