In the summer of 2021, the average sale price of a new car in the U.S. crossed the $40,000 threshold for the first time ... and kept climbing.
By January 2024, it had reached $47,401. If you’re in the market for a new car, price increases like those can be discouraging, but don’t lose hope. There are still plenty of quality new cars available for less, and in some cases, a lot less.
This is a list of the top 10 vehicles featured in the 2024 AAA Car Guide under $40,000, tested by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center. They’re listed in rank order and represent almost every vehicle category: several small and midsize cars, a strong showing of SUVs and hybrids, and even a pickup. And best of all, their as-tested prices all came in under $40,000.