You might not think about it at first, stepping into the new cars under 15k price segment, but vehicles priced around $15000 are one of the more fought over strips of real estate in the war between auto makers. Millions are spent annually marketing these cheap new cars to get your attention in hopes of up-selling you to one of their more advanced pricing tiers.
In fact a quick look at the list of cars under 15k below probably brings up a whole host of familiarly household names. Fiesta, Soul, Civic, Elantra, and Patriot. Priced just above the new cars under 12k segment, automakers try to reel you in with these entry level platforms in hopes they can get you thinking about all the upgrades available. The top ten to look out for?
Top Ten Cars Under 15000 by Price
2012 Hyundai Accent - $12,445 - 30/40 MPG
2012 Ford Fiesta - $13,200 - 29/40 MPG
2012 Kia Rio - $13,400 - 30/40 MPG
2012 Chevrolet Sonic - $13,735 - 29/40 MPG
2012 Kia Soul - $13,900 - 29/36 MPG
2012 Toyota Yaris - $14,140 - 30/38 MPG
2012 Honda Fit - $15,175 - 28/35 MPG
2012 Mazda Mazda3 - $15,200 - 28/40 MPG
2012 Kia Forte - $15,200 - 27/37 MPG
2012 Hyunadi Elantra - $15,345 - 29/40 MPG
Of course you could throw the 2012 Hyundai Accent out since it's also included in the cars under 12k list, but it helps round out the list so let's keep it in. What you see is there are two price breaks, those around $13k and those cars around 15k. Most of them have very sliding scales for upgrades, most of which top out easily over $20,000 for a fully loaded model, many of which include hatchback options for that fifth door configuration.
Top 10 MPG Cars Under 15k
2012 Hyundai Accent - $12,445 - 30/40 MPG
2012 Kia Rio - $13,400 - 30/40 MPG
2012 Honda Civic - $15,805 - 29/41 MPG
2012 Ford Fiesta - $13,200 - 29/40 MPG
2012 Chevrolet Sonic - $13,735 - 29/40 MPG
2012 Hyunadi Elantra - $15,345 - 29/40 MPG
2012 Toyota Yaris - $15,175 - 30/38 MPG
2012 Fiat 500 - $15,500 - 30/38 MPG
2012 Mazda Mazda3 - $15,200 - 28/40 MPG
2012 Kia Soul - $13,900 - 29/36 MPG
It used to be if you could make it offering 30 MPG cars but in today's world of soon to be $5 gasoline 40 mpg cars are the new reality. For most of these models, the definition of 30 mpg cars is what they do in the city, not how they perform at highway speeds. And in fact models like the Honda Fit look weak when stacked next to these top ten cheap new cars that get better city and better highway mileage for thousands less.
In fact for a cost to own standpoint, 40 MPG cars like the Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta, and Chevy Sonic look great when you consider that not only is there the price to buy the vehicle, but to operate it when gas is between $4 and $5 a gallon. It might be a top ten list, but it has a much shorter cutoff point then that when it comes time to actually pay your tab at the pump.