So, you only have $15,000 to spend on a car? In most cases, that wouldn’t be enough to get you what you want, but if you’re looking for a no-frills ride that you can maximize with your spending limit, this list of cars gives you lots of options to choose from. Do you want a subcompact car that boasts impressive interior space? How about one that packs more power than you thought? What about a car that has everything you need, or at least everything you think you need at the price you’re willing to pay for it. The cars on this list could be the answer you’re looking for.

2018 Nissan Versa

At $12,310, the Nissan Versa is the cheapest car on this list, and it’s the four-wheeled embodiment of getting what you pay for. Jokes aside, the Versa isn’t going to win a lot of “best of” contests, but it has a surprisingly good amount of decent offerings to offset all of its obvious shortcomings.

Chief among them is the amount of interior space the subcompact has. There is ample headroom and legroom inside the car, and that’s even in the rear seats, the general area where subcompact models usually feel cramped. That’s not the case with the Versa, and it also rings true in the trunk, which is more spacious than other models in its class. The Versa has a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces just 109 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque while mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The sedan isn’t a workhorse, but you’re not paying it to be one.

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Read our full review on the 2018 Nissan Versa

2018 Chevy Spark

At first glance, the Chevrolet Spark doesn’t look like a $15,000 car. It doesn’t even look like a $10,000 car. But the Spark will surprise you because of how adept it is in navigating around tight spaces and crowded city streets. It loses some of its spark — no pun intended — once it ventures onto open roads, but there’s still 98 horsepower under that hood. That should be good enough to get you where you need to go.

But one of the best things about the Spark is its tech features, most notably the standard infotainment that includes a seven-inch touchscreen that has the ability to recognize phone gestures. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, and the hatch even has a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Spark may not have the juice to win a sprint to 60 with a semi truck, but it is surprisingly packed for a car that starts at just $13,050. Even better, spend an extra $1,800, and you can get the Spark 1LT trim, which, by the way, comes with features like cruise control, power windows and locks, and keyless entry.

2018 Chevy Spark - specifications

2018 Chevy Spark - safety

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Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Spark

2018 Hyundai Accent

The Hyundai Accent is one of the most surprising subcompacts in the market that you can score for under $15,000. It’s a little bigger than most of its contemporaries and has a bit more power than a lot of them. All that for a car that you can get for just $13,495.

The Accent also doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. Its 130-horsepower engine is surprisingly high, but the base unit comes with a six-speed manual transmission, so if you’re going to maximize that power, you’re going to have to learn how to drive with a stick. It handles well, too, though acceleration feels like a slog, especially if the car isn’t warmed up yet. Space is also a boon for the Accent, though not on the level as you might think. If you are getting this subcompact, you’ll need to come to grips with what it can and can’t do. The good news is that if you buy it, you also get a number of cool features, including a five-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera.

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Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai Accent.

2018 Kia Rio

Arguably one of the best budget subcompact cars in the market, the Kia Rio also benefits from getting a recent facelift. That effort on Kia’s part paid off because the Rio doesn’t look like a $15,000 car. It also has a peppy four-cylinder engine, one that can produce a tidy 130 horsepower. A six-speed manual comes as standard, but there are options to replace it with a six-speed automatic for only around $1,000. Opt to do that on the base LX trim, and you’ll still pay less than $15k for it.

The Rio is also heavy on new features, a welcome addition for a car of its size. Power door locks and air-conditioning are standard, as is a satellite radio and a five-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, though you’ll have to pay more for that. Overall, the Rio has good value. It even handles well and is known to be one of the most reliable cars in its segment that’s out on the market today. The base Rio costs $13,900, a fair price considering what it has to offer.

2018 Kia Rio specifications

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Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Rio.

2018 Ford Fiesta

You would think that the Ford Fiesta is one of the cheapest cars in its segment, but with a starting price of $14,205, it actually sits somewhere in the middle of that list. Still, the Fiesta is known for having one of the best driving dynamics of any car in its class, and the current model doesn’t disappoint.

A 120-horsepower four-cylinder engine sits at its heart, and while you can buy other cars that offer more power, the Fiesta somehow makes those 120 ponies fun to drive with. The car’s steering, for example, is sharper than you’d expect. It also handles remarkably well, and it even fared well in reliability and safety scores. On the side of standard equipment, the Fiesta gets a 4.2-inch display, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera in its base trim. The only drawback to the hatch is the subpar space in the interior. That’s to be expected for a hatchback, but even with those standards, the Fiesta feels extra cramped inside, especially for tall adults. In the end, you take what you get with the Ford Fiesta. The good news is that it has more going for it than it does against it. That’s a battle won in our book.

2018 Ford Fiesta - specifications

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Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Fiesta.

2017 Smart Fortwo

As far being a purpose-built city car is concerned, the smart fortwo is probably the best you can find. It’s even available as a coupe or a convertible, something that no other can on this list can boast of. Tight streets and small parking spaces are no problem for the fortwo. The car can go anywhere it wants to go, even if it takes a while to get there.

That’s the biggest drawback of the fortwo. As fashionably trendy as a nimble as it is, the fortwo’s 0.9-liter three-cylinder engine only has 89 horsepower at its disposal. Put it on a highway, and the fortwo might as well spend all its time sitting idle because it’s not going to overtake any car, even if it squeezes every ounce out of that 89-horsepower engine.

It’s also the only cars on this that only offers two seats. The lack of interior space means that cargo volume is also compromised. But like most cars on this list, you take the fortwo for the good or bad. You might not like what it has to offer, but with a price that starts at just $14,650, there aren’t that many cars in the business that can offer the same bang-for-buck than the fortwo.

2017 Smart Fortwo - specifications

2017 Smart Fortwo - safety

2017 Smart Fortwo - prices

Read our full review on the 2017 Smart Fortwo.

2018 Fiat 500

If you’re after heritage to go with your $15,000, there aren’t a lot of cars today that can match the Fiat 500. Unfortunately for the small Italian hatch, it relies too much on its heritage to get people to buy it. That’s not to say that the 500 is a bad car because, well, it’s on this list for a reason.

It has one of the most unmistakable designs of any car in its segment. It’s fun to drive in the city, too, especially because when you do, you get a lot of glances your way. Its small and tight frame also means that it navigate around narrow city streets without even breaking a sweat. The 500 also has a good amount of features for a car in its price segment. The base Pop trim, for example, comes with power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated mirrors. The 500 even has at the Uconnect infotainment system with a five-inch touchscreen with and Bluetooth. Did you think you can get those goodies on a car priced below $15,000?

That said, the 500 has its share of shortcomings, not the least of which includes a substandard interior design, cramped space inside, cargo room, and a 101-horsepower engine that isn’t as powerful as you might think. There’s always the good and the bad when it comes to cars at this price point. At $14,995, the 500 isn’t immune to that.

2018 Fiat 500 - specifications

2018 Fiat 500 - safety

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