Chevy Spark tops 2020 cheapest car list

Six years ago, a small number of buyers in the United States could still purchase the cheapest car with a sticker price of less than $10,000.

It was a 2014 Chevrolet Spark and considering all available rebates, including a military personnel discount and several other incentives, the base model Spark was available for a high four-figure tally.

With the average price of a new vehicle now steadily advancing toward $40,000, only about a dozen new cars in the country are now available for less than $20,000.

Despite the price increase, the top-10 cheap car list includes a substantially improved standard features list.

Top-10 Cheapest Car List All Less Than 19K

Nearly every car on the list includes air conditioning, stability control, ABS, back-up camera and a touchscreen infotainment system

The 2020 Chevrolet Sport remains the lowest-price new vehicle, priced at $14,095. It features a 1.4-liter, incline four-cylinder engine with 98 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. An automatic transmission is also available.

The standard manual transmission is rated at 33 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving The stick shift averaging one mpg less.

The Spark’s recent refresh gave the cheap little machine a good dose of credibility. It now includes a 7.0-inch infotainment screen (with Android and Apple pairing), integrated daytime running lamps, tire pressure monitoring and 15-inch wheels.

Here’s the list of the country’s top-10 cheapest 2020 new cars (including destination fees) and a brief comment:

1. Chevrolet Spark, (14,095) . . . Impressive standard features, cool styling. Wicked exterior paint colors.

2. Mitsubishi Mirage ($14,990) . . . It’s oh so slow. But the Mirage gets great fast mileage for a gas-only car. Sales up 10 percent in 2019.

3. Nissan Versa Sedan S ($15,655) . . . Terrific tech feature for the price range.

4. Hyundai Accent Sedan SE ($16,250) . . . With an optional continuously variable transmission the Accent gets 41 mpg on the highway.

5. Toyota Yaris Sedan L ($16,605) . . . Lots of technology, including a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity.

6. Kia Rio Sedan LX ($16,815) . . . Available as sedan or hatchback with 1.6-liter, 120 horsepower engine and a 41 mpg rating on the highway.

7. Honda Fit LX ($17,145) . . . It will soon be available in its fourth generation in the U.S. and has been as versatile as a sub-compact with a 1.5-liter engine, 130 horsepower and a standard six-speed manual transmission. The second-row “Magic Seat” maximizes cargo space.

8. Chevrolet Sonic LS Sedan ($17,595) . . . Ten standard airbags, a 60/40 rear folding seat and LED daytime running lamps. OnStar is standard, a 7.0-inch touchscreen featuring Bluetooth and 4G WiFi hotspot capabilities.

9. Hyundai Venue SE ($18,470) . . . New to cheapest car list, the Venue is equipped with a 2-liter, 147 horsepower engine and a continuously variable transmission. It has safety features not available on some far more costly cars.

10. Kia Soul LX, GT, ($18,610) . . . Two models, same prices, both with 1.6-liter four-cylinder, 122 horsepower engines.