History Of Cheap New Cars
Toyota Motor Company© revolutionized the modern approach to creating cheap new cars when it hit the American market in the late 1970s. American consumers struggled to pay for gasoline during the energy crisis of the 1970s and looked for small vehicles with improved gas mileage. America’s Big Three automakers overlooked entry-level cars in favor of sedans and trucks because of the low profitability of the small car market. Toyota’s© team-oriented approach to design, manufacturing, and distribution allowed the company to sell millions of cheap cars like the Corolla to the American market. The Toyota Corolla® remains a cost-efficient car as we head into 2010.
Automakers around the world have responded positively to Toyota’s© model in the past 20 years. South Korean automaker Kia© is known as a value leader in the entry-level car market with models like the Rio® and the Spectra®. The Toyota Yaris® and the Honda Fit® are sales leaders because of their low prices, fuel efficiency, and sleek styling. Ford Motor Company© has jumped into the entry-level vehicle market with its popular Focus® model. Consumers should not simply look at the sticker price in determining the cheapest new cars on the market today.
Determining True Cost To Own
The typical consumer has to think beyond initial purchasing price when figuring out which vehicle is right for his needs. In addition to the MSRP price, a driver has to pay for maintenance, emergency repairs, and upgrades over the life of the vehicle. Edmunds.com™ assists consumers with its True Cost to Own® feature for new and used cars. The True Cost to Own® feature is perfect for owners comparing the cheapest new cars on the market.
The True Cost to Own® addresses the total costs of ownership over the first five years for a new vehicle. This measurement takes into account everything from fuel and maintenance to insurance and state taxes on new vehicles. Edmunds.com™ also provides the Total Cash Price on new vehicles to encompass upfront costs left out of MSRP prices including options, destination charges, and taxes. The Average Cost per Mile measurement within the True Cost to Own® divides the overall cost by 75,000 miles.
Edmunds.com™ offers great insight into the cheapest new cars through True Cost to Own®. The 2010 Scion tC® coupe features a True Cost to Own® of $32,812, a Total Cash Price of $19,545, and an Average Cost per Mile of $0.44. The 2010 Toyota Corolla® is one of the most affordable by the True Cost to Own® measurement with a rating of $29,846 and an Average Cost per Mile of $0.40. By contrast, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis® coupe is not a great value because of its $39,676 True Cost to Own® and $26,259 Total Cash Price.
Cheapest New Cars From America
Chrysler©, General Motors©, and Ford Motor Company© have struggled to keep up with foreign automakers in the entry-level vehicle market. America’s Big Three have focused on power over affordability with their pickup trucks, SUVs, and large sedans. Chrysler© and General Motors© continue to struggle with entry-level vehicles though new models should emerge as the economic downturn subsides. Ford Motor Company© is the leader among the Big Three among budget-priced cars with the 2010 Ford Focus® (http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focussedan/).
The 2010 Ford Focus® is priced from $15,995 MSRP and comes available in four trim levels. The Ford Focus® has bulked up considerably in the past few model years, but remains a great entry-level option for new buyers. The vehicle’s 35 miles per gallon rating from the EPA competes with the best offerings from Toyota©, Honda©, and Nissan©. The model’s five passenger seats and 93 cubic feet of storage space make it versatile enough for families. Ford’s© 2.0-liter Duratec 16-valve engine facilitates the high MPG rating as well as the automaker’s signature power.
Cheapest New Cars From Asia
The auto industries of China, Japan, South Korea, and India started slowly after World War II, but have since overtaken America’s Big Three in terms of market share. Automakers like Toyota, First Auto Works, and Kia have streamlined production processes to keep their vehicle prices low. As time has passed, Asian automakers have increased safety features and performance levels while keeping prices down to compete with long-established American automakers. The 2010 auto market is filled with cheap new cars from Asian automakers available around the world.
Indian automaker Tata© released the Nano® recently to provide an affordable vehicle option for millions of Indian consumers. The Tata Nano® (http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/) is a four-seat coupe priced from $2,497 USD available in multiple colors. The Nano’s® price, diminutive size, and miserly fuel performance are perfect for the fast-growing Indian auto market. As the Tata Nano® proves successful in India, the automaker plans to sell its entry-level model worldwide.
China’s booming economy in the 21st century has helped the state-owned auto industry succeed in Asia. The Chery QQ® (http://www.cheryinternational.com/qq3-overview) is priced under $5,000 USD and comes available in eight colors. The QQ® features an electronic automatic transmission to reduce needless gearshifts and improve fuel mileage. The Chery QQ’s® anti-theft lock system automatically locks doors and shuts windows when keyholders get outside sensing range.
Cheapest New Cars From Europe
The cheapest new cars coming from Europe may be priced higher than American and Asian competitors, but they come from the continent’s leading automakers. American consumers often think of Volkswagen©, BMW©, and Volvo© when thinking of the European auto market. Consumers familiar with the European auto industry know that the cheapest new cars come from Fiat© and Renault©. The cheapest new cars in 2010 blend 21st century styling with the reliability of past models.
The 2010 Fiat Palio® (http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/showroom/showroom.jsp?categoryOID=-1073763006) is priced from $9,242 USD and hits dealerships in Eastern and Southern Europe. The Fiat Palio Mark III® is available in multiple engine types ranging from the 1.0-liter economy engine to the 1.8-liter power engine. French-based Renault© produces the Logan® model for European, Latin American, and African consumers looking for inexpensive vehicles. The Renault-Dacia Logan® is priced from $9,477 and achieves 34 miles per gallon, thanks to a 105-horsepower engine.
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