Mike’s Car Blog

It’s time to buy a new car. But you don’t want to spend a ton of money. You also don’t want to purchase a car that’s the size of a small home. You much prefer motoring down your city’s streets in smaller vehicles.

There is good news: Car makers are offering more financial incentives than ever to encourage buyers to enter their showrooms. With consumers less willing to spend thanks to the dismal national economy, automakers are pulling out all the stops to bring in the business. This includes offering extremely attractive financing and low prices.

Small cars have always been more affordable than their larger cousins. This is especially true today as manufacturers continue to drop the suggested retail prices on their smaller models.

If you’re hunting for an affordable small car, here are some models to consider:

The 2010 Honda Fit can retail anywhere from $14,900 to $19,100. The auto press also ranks it highly as far as both performance and safety. It also features some truly innovative storage areas. If you’re looking for an affordable small car, you could do much worse than the Fit.

Honda must know something about small, affordable cars. Its 2010 Honda Civic also ranks highly among the automotive press for both its affordability and reliability. This car usually retails for around $17,000 or $18,000. It also performs extremely well in crash-test ratings. Owners swear by them, too; that’s because they’re so rarely wasting time driving them to their local auto-repair shop.

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra is another top-seller that gives consumers a big punch for their money. The Elantra costs about $16,000, and comes with the features consumers expect from larger, costlier vehicles. It also boats excellent fuel efficiency and a zippy performance level.

The 2010 Kia Forte has become one of the trendier cars on the market. It’s also an affordable one, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of about $16,000. It’s a vehicle that is also undeniably cool and sporty. This is a nice choice for buyers who don’t want to sacrifice style for affordability.

Finally, give the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta a try. This car is always a cool choice. It doesn’t cost a fortune, either, usually topping out at about $23,000. The Jetta has always been known for its impressive power and well-equipped interior. The 2010 version is no exception.

Buying a car is never cheap. But if you must buy a new one, you can at least do so without draining your savings. Look for one of the many stylish, powerful and zippy, yet affordable, cars on the market.