Owning a cheap car is great if you like to do lots of things with your vehicle. If you enjoy taking road trips, exploring new routes, or just wanting a comfortable ride without too much hassle, then the budget cars out there can be a good choice.
Many people make the mistake when buying their first car being too influenced by price. You have to compare features between similar vehicles before deciding which one is the best fit for you.
It’s very common to see young drivers purchase a poorly performing vehicle due to it offering a lower price tag. Unfortunately, these poor choices often don’t work well for them in the long run.
Fortunately, there are some incredible value cars available at any given time! Read on to find out more about our top picks for the cheapest cars for New Zealand.
We will also take a look at some expensive cars that are under $20,000 – definitely not something most people would consider, but we feel they deserve special attention as they offer excellent value.
Toyota Corolla
There’s no doubt about it, the Japanese have mastered the art of making reliable cars that retain their value well. A lot of people praise them for this quality but most forget what a cheap car the Toyota Corolla is!
The Corolla has been around since 1976 when it was first launched in Japan as the E10 series model. It then got an international release in 1987 as the GTi which is how we know it today.
Since its launch the Corolla has always been a solid choice with powerful engines and great reliability. Even now over 30 years later it is still one of the best sellers across all trims.
This article will talk you through the different prices of the new Toyota Corolla models in Australia and why they are some of the cheapest cars available.
Hyundai Ioniq
With prices starting at just $21,500, the new 2016 Hyundai Ioniq is one of the cheapest cars you can get in Australia. It’s also quite stylish with its angular shape and funky colour choices!
It’s not too big or small – it feels like a normal car size. And because it's fuel efficient, it will only set you back around $70-$90 per week to run!
And while it may be considered a hatchback, it actually doesn’t have a true ‘hatch’ as such.
Nissan Leaf
With an electric motor, the price comes down to how much electricity you have! Most cities in NZ are fully connected to the power grid, so there is always ample supply of energy.
The cost of running the vehicle depends on two things: how powerful your battery pack is and on what size it is.
A larger battery will give you longer range but will also cost more to run. It really depends on your budget and how far you plan to travel with the car every day!
There are many different types of batteries that can be used to run this system-type engine, like A123 or LG. You get better performance from bigger heavier batteries, but they costlier to buy and run.
Nissan has designed their battery to be very efficient, which helps keep costs low. If you are looking to save some money then look into whether or not there is a discount online or at the dealership.
Subaru Outback
If you are looking to spend less than NZ$25,000 (or £15,000 in England), look no further than the new 2019 Subaru Outback. This car is priced well under its German competition and it does not try to be more expensive like some other cars in this price bracket.
It is very likely that most people will choose to ignore the fancy interior of the Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C300 when they drive this vehicle. They will instead focus on how much fun this car gets them out onto the road.
This car feels solid and stable with good steering response. It is easy to pick up speed quickly as there is not too much resistance from the tyres. There are also many usability features such as touch screen displays which make navigation simple.
Kia Rio
With prices starting at just $15,999, what are you waiting for? The new KIA RIO is one of the cheapest cars in its class!
The KIRAO has all the space needed to fit five people but still feels like it can pack a punch when needed. It also boasts great safety features such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning.
These safety features work by detecting if something is about to happen around you or your car so that you don’t have to. For example, if you need to make a left turn soon then the system will warn you so that you know there’s someone behind you and they won’t be able to pass you until you're both safe.
All of these features help reduce risk while driving and keep you safer which means no more expensive repairs or replacements down the road.
Ford Focus
When it comes to picking your first car, price is an important factor. If you love cars but can’t afford a fancy SUV or premium sedan, then there are some much more affordable options. A lot of people begin looking into getting their own car when they earn enough money to buy one.
A cheap car is not necessarily bad, however. Many experts agree that while a budget vehicle may not be perfect, they will definitely get the job done well. They may even inspire you to start driving yourself!
There are many different types of vehicles in this category with various strengths. To determine which is best for you, consider how much space you need, what features matter to you, and whether having fun is more important than performance would suggest.
Focus
The name says it all – this is a focused vehicle. Itll do one thing really well, and thats why it works so well. Budget cars usually have efficient engines that save gas per mile driven. Because theyre designed to handle well and keep you safe, they tend to be very reliable as well.
If you know what things like these mean, then you should give one a try before buying.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars in the world. It was first released back in 1990, and it still looks modern and sleek to this day.
It is known as a value car due to its affordability and great features. There are many different trim levels of the Civic, so you get more bang for your money.
The base engine option is a 150hp 1.4-litre four cylinder that gets around 17 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway! That’s not too shabby. You can upgrade to a higher performance variant of the same engine which boasts 190 hp and 20 mpg.
These engines are both smooth and powerful, making the Civic fun to drive. In fact, some drivers even choose the automatic over the manual because of this.
Volkswagen Golf
With prices starting at $24,995 for the 1.2 TSI model, the Volkswagen Golf is one of the most affordable cars you can get in this country. It’s also one of the best value for money vehicles that are good to drive.
The base engine option is a 150 hp 1.2 L three-cylinder petrol unit which doesn’t cost too much more than some other similarly sized engines out there.
It gets an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 from drivers who purchase it and was ranked as being fun to drive in our recent comparison test. There’s even a turbocharged variant available if you want extra oomph when needed!
These types of vehicle are great because they don’t break the bank but still offer decent performance, lots of features and excellent reliability. They’re also pretty easy to handle and won’t scare anyone if they take a turn or two on the back roads.
