Weather 
LOS ANGELES () — There’s often sticker shock these days when purchasing anything, especially when it comes to new cars.
“When the average price of a new vehicle is right around $50,000, that puts a lot of pressure on the consumer,” said Ed Kim, president and senior analyst at AutoPacific.
But there are bargains for some new models, especially if you can live without an SUV. Nissan’s venerable Sentra has gotten a full redesign for 2026, and it’s not like the Sentra you may have remembered from years ago.
“Nissan’s done a really good job putting a lot of style, putting a sort of premium look and feel into a car that’s not very expensive, and I think they do it really successfully,” noted Kim.
The base model is under $25,000, and even the top trim comes in under $30,000, a price point that is, for better or worse, a new standard for affordability.
Honda made a few revisions to its mainstay Accord this year, and they’ve kept the base LX version under $30,000, including destination. But don’t be put off by the term base model.
“Base no longer really means stripped out anymore, said Kim. “A base car nowadays is really quite different than what they used to be.”
For example, the Accord LX includes a new larger center screen, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both wireless, and wireless phone charging.
And if $30,000 is the top of your budget, and you want an EV, consider the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt.
The Bolt is an interesting story because it was discontinued in 2023, as Chevrolet had more advanced electric models coming into showrooms. But those were also more expensive models.
“It’s coming back at a time when EV affordability is a bigger issue than ever, because of the loss of the federal tax credit that used to exist,” pointed out Kim.
At a base price of $28,995, the Bolt undercuts the Nissan Leaf by a couple thousand, so right now it’s the least expensive EV on the market. This EV drives great, has improved tech, and offers 262 miles of range. Added to the redesign: the ability to use the Tesla charging network.
The most affordable cars right now for many are basically ones in the used market. But if you want something new, for way under what’s now an average price, there are options if you know where to look.
© 2026 Television,
