Top 10 Best New Cars for 2012: Under $20,000, Over 30 MPG

Updated December 7, 2012

2013 Top 15 Best New Cars Under $20,000, Over 30 MPG

If you’re like a lot of Americans in need of a new car or a new-to-you used car, the quest for something affordable, fuel efficient, and larger than a Matchbox can be daunting. Times are tough, so controlling expenses as much as possible is a definite priority—which is why we’ve happily determined the top 10 best new cars for 2012 under $20,000, with over 30 mpg.

But what about a used car, you ask? It’s true that buying a used car means not having to take the new-car depreciation hit, but it’s hard to find a good low-mileage used car deal these days. Because of the current used-car market shortage, many late model used cars with low mileage actually cost nearly as much as a brand new car. Anything too old usually means unknown breakdowns and unexpected repair bills.

Add unpredictable gas prices into the equation and an affordable, fuel-efficient new car with a warranty and a set monthly payment seems the logical way to go. But what 2012 new cars offer the most amenities and miles per gallon at an affordable price?

The list is long, so we reviewed them all and selected the 10 that offer the most proverbial bang for your buck—those new cars with the best safety and convenience features, modern but not polarizing styling, a cool interior, that all-important fun-to-drive factor, an EPA-rated 30 mpg (city/highway combined), and a starting price under $20,000.

FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Kia Soul Don’t let the hip-hop hamsters fool you—the 2012 Kia Soul crossover is all business when it comes to delivering value for your dollar. Technically a five-seater, although more comfortably fitting four, the Kia Soul is available five ways, from Base, with a six-speed manual starting at $13,900, to the top-of-the-line Soul ! (yes, that’s an exclamation mark; even the trim designations are fun), with a six-speed automatic starting at $19,600. For 2012, new, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines—a 1.6-liter 135-hp four-cylinder and a 2.0-liter 164-hp four-cylinder—help the Soul deliver 27/35/30 (city/hwy/combined) and 26/34/29, respectively. Standard features on the Base Soul include Bluetooth hands-free cell phone use, USB/auxiliary ports, A/C, power windows/doors/locks, remote keyless entry, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, tile/telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seats, airbags all around, ABS with Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and more.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Nissan Sentra A long-time favorite of the budget-minded masses, all but two 2012 Nissan Sentra models start under $20,000. The Sentra 2.0, 2.0S, 2.0 SR, and 2.0 SL models are each powered by a 2.0-liter 140-hp four-cylinder engine and either a six-speed manual transmission or Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), but it’s the CVT setup that nets 27/34/30 mpg city/hwy/combined. We like the downsized Nissan Altima styling cues and the comfortable interior and quiet ride. The back seat is spacious, with plenty of headroom for taller folks. The Nissan Sentra 2.0 SR CVT starts at $17,990 and includes tilt steering, power windows/locks, A/C, and a 160-watt stereo. For 2012, Sentra 2.0 SR models are offered with an optional $1,000 Special Edition Package, which includes Bluetooth, navigation, power-sliding moonroof, and Special Edition alloy wheels. The 2012 Nissan Sentra is also offered in 177-hp SE-R and 200-hp SE-R Spec V versions, which start at $20,120 and $20,620, respectively.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Hyundai Veloster Unlike the mullet that still unfashionably lurks, the coupe-on-one-side and two-door-on-the-other-side all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster makes a modern and functional style statement. If that looks good to you, consider the 40 miles per gallon you’ll get on the highway from its gasoline-direct-injection 1.6-liter, 138-hp four-cylinder engine (six-speed manual). Fitted with solid safety technologies like Vehicle Stability Management and Electronic Stability Control, the Veloster is exceptionally lightweight yet grounded by standard 215/45HR17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels or optional 215/40VR18 tires on a choice of two 18-inch wheel designs. Four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, as well as six airbags, are standard. The Hyundai Veloster also includes a standard seven-inch, multi-function touchscreen display with Pandora Internet radio capability, Gracenote music management system with voice recognition, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for starting prices of $17,300 (manual) and $18,550 (six-speed automatic).
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Hyundai Accent Completely redesigned and, dare we say, reinvented, the 2012 Hyundai Accent is offered on three trims: GLS sedan and GS and SE five-door hatchbacks. Hyundai claims best-in-class fuel economy (30 mpg city/40 mpg highway), best-in-class horsepower (138 hp), and best-in-class five-door cargo volume. The Hyundai Accent 5-Door is the most striking of the two body styles, but all Accents are powered by Hyundai’s all-new 1.6-liter GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine, with the Accent being the first subcompact to use GDI. The Accent GLS with a six-speed manual transmission starts at $12,445 and includes front, side and head curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Management with Electronic Stability Control, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, six-way adjustable driver’s seat with height adjustment, and tilt steering. The top-of-the-line $15,795 SE 5-Door adds cruise control, sport-tuned steering, Bluetooth with voice recognition, 16-inch wheels, fog lights, and a rear spoiler.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Honda Fit While the 2012 Honda Fit doesn’t hit the 40-mpg highway mileage mark like the similarly subcompact Hyundai Accent, the Fit—with its combined mileage rating of 31 mpg—is super fun to drive, with excellent visibility and ample cargo room. It’s small, mighty and easy to live with. Powered by a 1.5-liter 117-horsepower four-cylinder engine, base 2012 Honda Fit starts at $15,175—but it’s so worth stepping up to the Fit Sport, priced at $16,910, gets you 16-inch alloy wheels, a Sport body kit, chrome exhaust tips, foglights, rear spoiler, Bluetooth audio and cell phone connectivity, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, two extra speakers, and the option to add navigation. The Honda Fit’s interior is super-spacious and adaptable, with an aptly named “magic seat” that folds flat without having to remove the headrests. Safety features include front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Ford Focus Previous generations of the Ford Focus were popular sellers but, except for the SVT version, were a little banal, with quality issues. Then somewhere along the company line, Ford decided to really focus on the Focus, and they did so with great clarity. The new 2012 Ford Focus is visually impressive, fuel efficient, fun to drive, and loaded with features you might be surprised to learn are included on a small, under $20,000 car—like a rearview camera, Automated Parking Assist, SYNC hands-free mobile phone and media system, MyFord Touch touchscreen and voice command system, and MyKey parental controls for limiting speed and audio volume. For 2012, the Focus Coupe is gone, but in its place are a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. An all-new direct-injection, 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine creates an enticing driving experience, with precise handling and control.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Chevrolet Cruze All-new for 2011, the Chevrolet Cruze continues to be a compact segment leader, almost seeming to be a midsize sedan both inside and out, comfortably seating four adults and able to carry considerable cargo in its very large trunk. Starting at $16,720, the base 2012 Chevy Cruze is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Interestingly, the next-up (1LT) trim gets a 1.4-liter turbocharged four and is priced starting at $18,475. The fuel-efficient darling of the five-member Cruze family is the Cruze ECO, featuring a highway mileage rating of 42 mpg from the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which spares fuel by way of vehicle weight reduction and improved aerodynamics. The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is comfortable and quiet, and includes premium-class safety equipment, Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connectivity, and remote start.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Hyundai Elantra With a combined EPA-rated 33 mpg from both GLS and Limited trims, the award-winning 2012 Hyundai Elantra is fitted with a new ActiveECO System for improved engine and transmission performance and a seven-percent increase in fuel economy. Also for 2012, Hyundai has improved the Elantra’s steering calibration, and added fog lights and a passenger-side sun visor extension to the GLS Preferred Package. Powered by a 148-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, the 2012 Elantra gets an all-new six-speed automatic or an all-new six-speed manual. The Hyundai Elantra’s interior is spacious and comfortable, with dash lighting that’s easy on the eyes and an overall design that seems a lot more expensive than the Elantra’s price indicates. ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) recently awarded the Hyundai Elantra its second consecutive honor for highest resale value prediction. Elantra pricing starts at $15,195 for a GLS model with the six-speed manual, and $17,445 for a GLS with the six-speed Shiftronic automatic.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Honda Civic The all-new 2012 Honda Civic does its duty in 13 different ways. Contributing editor Gary Witzenburg summed it up best in his test drive review: “You want a fairly fuel-efficient small family car? It’s the Civic sedan in DX, LX, EX or EX-L (luxury) trims. You want sedan practicality with still better fuel efficiency? Try the Civic HF. You want to step up to gas-electric-hybrid fuel economy? It’s the Civic Hybrid. You want small-car style? The sexy Civic Coupe (same trim levels as the sedan). You want sporty performance with style, or practicality? Check the 201-hp Si coupe, or sedan. You want to run on compressed natural gas and refill at home? There will even be a new Civic for that.” Most Civic models meet the under $20,000/over 30 mpg test, but the 2012 Honda Civic HF sedan does it best with its combined 33 mpg and $19,455 MSRP, while Civic DX and LX sedans and Civic DX, LX and EX coupes also qualify. A 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine powers the Civic Sedan, Coupe and Civic HF, producing 140 horsepower.
FIND LOCAL CLEARANCE PRICING AND KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICING	2012 Mazda MAZDA3 with SKYACTIV Even before its complete redesign for the 2010 model year, the Mazda3 has been a total package standout, with good looks, lots of excellent features and amenities, and a fun-to-drive personality. Mazda fine-tuned the 3 even further for 2012 with the addition of their new SKYACTIV powertrain—a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a new six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission—that delivers class-leading power and up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway for under $20,000. While you can load up a Mazda3, either in sedan or hatchback form, for about $23,400, a 2012 Mazda Mazda3 i Touring model features a base price of $18,950, Bluetooth, MP3, side and side-curtain airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, 16-inch wheels, tire-pressure monitoring, and 155 horsepower.