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2025 Honda Civic Hatchback | Manufacturer image
It seems downright quaint to think that the average price of a new car in 2012 exceeded $30,000 for the first time considering the average price of a new car is now around $50,000. The good news: That’s just an average, factoring in cars of all sizes, body styles and levels of luxuriousness, and driven largely by Americans’ insatiable appetite for SUVs. Although it may seem sad to celebrate still being able to pick up a new ride for a price that represented the highest-ever average 13 years ago, save yourself 20 grand and shop our compilation of best new cars for $30,000 or less — one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past week.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Kia EV9, Lucid Air Pull Plug on Nissan Versa, Toyota Corolla
Spanning multiple body styles, including hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs, and starting from $19,964 up to $29,531, models on our under-30 list were culled from average pricing in Cars.com’s national database of new cars for sale. They include the 2025 Nissan Versa (subcompact car), 2026 Honda Civic (compact car), 2025 Kia Soul (compact hatchback), 2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid (compact hybrid), 2025 Hyundai Sonata (mid-size sedan), 2026 Hyundai Kona (subcompact SUV) and 2026 Chevrolet Equinox (compact SUV).
For the full list of the best new cars under $30,000 — including starting price range, eligible trim levels and a breakdown of why each model made the cut — follow the link below to the No. 2 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
In other well-read news … y’know how sometimes you hit “install now” on one of those seemingly constant smartphone updates and it makes your pulldown menus harder to use, changes the look of your icons so that they’re difficult to find or just generally makes things worse? Well, that appears to have happened to an unknown population of Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid SUV owners when the brand initiated an Oct. 10 over-the-air update that, according to reports, triggered glitches that resulted in dashboard error messages, sudden power losses and inoperable vehicles. Occurring on a Friday headed into the weekend, Jeep issued a second update, undoing the changes initiated by the first as engineers searched for answers.
For full details on the ill-fated over-the-air update for the Wrangler 4xe — including how owners were instructed to ensure the interim fix worked — follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the week.
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Toyota Corolla Cross, Acura RDX, Lexus GX 550, Subaru Impreza and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. What’s the Best Mid-Size Off-Road Truck for 2025?
2. Best New Cars for $30,000 or Less
3. Jeep Software Update Causes Major Powertrain Glitches in Wrangler 4xe SUVs
4. Nearly 325,000 Evenflo Child-Safety Seats Recalled for Choking Risk
5. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
6. 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review: Modest Changes, Modest Results
7. How Much Is the 2026 Acura RDX?
8. How Much Is the 2026 Lexus GX 550?
9. Cars.com’s Top Pickup Truck Picks of 2026
10. 2025 Subaru Impreza RS Review: Sporty Looks, Squishy Soul
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Assistant Managing Editor-News
Matt Schmitz
Former Assistant Managing Editor-News Matt Schmitz is a veteran Chicago journalist indulging his curiosity for all things auto while helping to inform car shoppers.
Best New Cars for $30,000 or Less
If you haven’t shopped for a new car in a while, you’re in for sticker shock. With the average price of a new car hovering around $50,000 for some time now, it may seem like that new-car smell is out of reach. But you can still find good new cars that are priced tens of thousands of dollars less than that. Our expert car reviewers looked at national car listing prices and voted for their favorite models in seven different vehicle classes.
9 Additional Vehicles Earn IIHS Crash-Test Accolades
In a recent round of crash-testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated a sampling of mainstream and luxury SUVs of various sizes and powertrains — as well as one luxury sedan and one compact pickup truck. The model-year 2025 Audi A5 and Q6 Sportback e-Tron, model-year 2025-26 BMW X3 and Ford Explorer, and model-year 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia Sportage came away with Top Safety Pick+ awards, IIHS’ highest honor. Additionally, the model-year 2025-26 Toyota Corolla Cross and model-year 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Nissan Rogue earned second-tier Top Safety Pick laurels.
How Much Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Hyundai has added a new SEL Sport Premium trim level to the Elantra for 2026, splitting the difference between the SEL Sport and the Limited. But the brand otherwise made no changes to its compact sedan for the new model year — though it could be argued none were needed.
Married in Dubai, divorced in India: Do you need to attest documents here in UAE?
Question: I got married in Dubai, but my divorce was finalised in an Indian court. Do I need to have the divorce attested in the UAE?Answer: It is assumed that you are a non-Muslim resident; therefore, the provision of the UAE civil procedure code is applicable.A notarised foreign document may be enforced in the UAE in accordance with Article 224 of Federal Decree-Law No. (42) of 2022 Promulgating the Civil Procedure Code, Chapter 4: Execution of Foreign Judgements, Orders and Instruments of the
The UAE's Advancements in the Global Space Sector in 2026
Additionally, the National Space Academy has launched the inaugural edition of the "Arab Youth Space Hackathon," creating a platform for young talents to develop applications in Earth observation and hyperspectral data.
New Year’s Eve 2026 in Dubai: The most extravagant, unique experiences to celebrate NYE
When it comes to New Year’s Eve, Dubai doesn’t do subtle. From dining hundreds of metres above the city to ringing in 2026 with global superstars, Michelin-starred menus and fireworks reflected across the water, celebrations here are designed to be unforgettable. Whether you’re chasing skyline views, world-class entertainment or an intimate yet indulgent night out, these extravagant and one-of-a-kind New Year’s Eve experiences across Dubai and the UAE promise to start the year on a spectacular note.
How Much Is the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
A new Nissan Sentra bowed for the 2026 model year, sporting refined, upscale styling outside and in. There’s more standard equipment now, and the range-topping SL trim returns. While the base price increases $810 from the 2025 model, the Sentra remains among the most affordable new cars available.
2026 Nissan Sentra Review: Long Live the Sedan
Oh, goodness — a new sedan! How lovely. Hey, with the indefatigable popularity of the SUV, any refresh, rework or reiteration of the standard sedan is worth celebrating — especially when it’s as visually sharp as the new 2026 Nissan Sentra, which will have a starting price that’s well under $30,000 when it goes on sale (expect to pay just $23,645 for the cheapest Sentra). Great value, but my cheers are slightly unsettled, as that’s just $280 less than the more versatile Kicks SUV.
10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota RAV4 Electrifies as Nissan Ariya, Ram 1500 REV Short Out
Improving the Toyota RAV4 to make it even more popular (it’s the top-selling vehicle on the U.S. market that doesn’t have a bed in back) almost feels like gilding the lily. Yet here we are, following the trail of flower petals all the way to an all-new model that shoppers are all but certain to fall in love with all over again. The RAV4 returns for the 2026 model year as an all-hybrid-all-the-time offering with evolutionary exterior styling, an updated interior, more power and less thirst for fuel — as you’ll learn in one of our most popular articles of the past week, Cars.com reviewer Conner Golden’s comprehensive critique of the beloved compact SUV’s latest incarnation.
Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks a Good Subcompact SUV? 5 Pros, 2 Cons
With average new-car prices hovering around $50,000, affordable subcompact SUVs like the Nissan Kicks remain an increasingly popular choice. Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the Kicks retains its reasonable pricing but is transformed into an entirely different vehicle with the new generation, growing larger while bringing improved levels of comfort, refinement and features.
UAE NRIs may soon find it easier to carry gold home
For many Indians living in the UAE, carrying gold home has always been a mix of tradition and tension. Jewellery plays a central role in weddings and family celebrations, yet passing through Indian airports with gold often feels more stressful than festive. Current rules are viewed as outdated, unclear, and out of step with the frequent travel patterns between the Gulf and India.Now, hopes are rising. India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has indicated that customs modernisation is her n
UAE: Minimum salary rule to boost Emiratis' pay; focus now on hybrid jobs
Salaries of the UAE citizens grew by six per cent annually in 2025, and many of the private sector entities offer higher salaries than the revised salary of Dh6,000 announced by the government last month.
