Toyota, a global automotive giant, has a strong presence in the United States. Its extensive lineup, both past and present, is a testament to its quality and reputation. Notably, Toyota offers a range of affordable models, making it a top choice for budget-conscious car buyers.
You can also buy a Toyota for good money, sometimes as low as $25,000 or even lower. A used or new Toyota model is a realistic purchase, even for those on a budget.
2024 Toyota Corolla
For those seeking a brand-new Toyota sedan under $25,000, the 2024 Corolla is a compelling option. Priced at a competitive $22,050, this model offers excellent value for money, a rare find in North America.
That doesn’t mean Toyota has spared any significant features, either. The standard Corolla still has Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Apple and Android compatibility, and the power tilt/slide moonroof. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty for any daily driver.
2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
If you don’t mind splashing out more cash on something with more style, you only need to look at the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. The hatchback retails for $23,505, just a couple of grand more than the standard version of the Corolla. With that, you get a few extra features, such as paddle shifters and new 16-inch alloy wheels.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine remains under the hood. If you upgrade to the hatchback’s SE trim, you can add some new colors to the car, but it will cost around $1,000 per color. That still means the overall cost of the car is below the $25,000 mark.
2024 Toyota GR86
We have run out of superlatives to describe just how good the current Toyota GR86 is. The GR86 is the second generation of the GT86, co-developed with Subaru, which created its version with the BRZ. It is a breath of fresh air in a world that seems to be losing its appetite for performance cars, but Toyota’s sports car offering also comes at a great price.
The 2024 GR86 starts at just $29,300, a phenomenal base price for an excellent sports car. Powering it is a 2.4-liter flat-four Boxer engine, producing 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in the base GR86. That is plenty of power for a car that is also very light, and the GR86 remains one of Toyota’s latest offerings.
Toyota Camry
For those looking to pick something up on the used car market, you would do no wrong in buying an old Toyota Camry. Models from around 2011 can sell for as little as $8,000, although the higher the mileage, the more wear and tear you might encounter, so always check records and make sure the car is in as good mechanical condition as possible.
Toyota used a variety of engines in the Camry, with the 2011 Camry 3.5 SE having a 3.5-liter V6 under the hood that produced 268 hp. They aren’t the most exciting Toyota ever made, but their performance is excellent. Like many of Toyota’s other products, the Camry is a reliable car for daily use.
Seventh-Generation Toyota Celica
If you are hunting for a used Toyota and something a bit different, then the seventh-generation Toyota Celica could be the one for you. Thanks to earlier generations of the sports car, the Supra and the MR2, the final Celica is often forgotten even though it was a great performer and had some of the best styling of any late 1990s Toyota.
Under the hood, you would find two versions of Toyota’s 1.8-liter inline-four engine, the 1ZZ-FED and the 2ZZ-GE, developed jointly with Yamaha. The 1ZZ-FE was the more economical engine with 140 hp, while the 2ZZ-GE, available in Europe and Japan, was more potent with 192 hp. The stylish and agile seventh-gen Celica was a great way for the car to bow out, and it’s an excellent bargain sports car on the used market.
Toyota MR2
It has been some time since Toyota last produced the MR2, which debuted in the 1980s. It didn’t take long for it to become one of the best and most enjoyable sports cars on the market, and it is a car that wouldn’t break the bank either. Toyota gave the MR2 a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated or supercharged engine, which was then upgraded to a 2.0-liter powertrain for the second generation.
Many lament the passing of the MR2, but it might not be gone for much longer. In May 2024, British publication Autocar suggested that the MR2 will return as a pure internal combustion power car rivaling the Mazda Miata MX-5. This would be a welcome return, and it would fit in below the GR86 and the new Toyota Supra as the perfect entry-level sports car.
Toyota Yaris
According to a study by iSeeCars, the cheapest Toyota on sale in 2024 is the Toyota Yaris. The Yaris has been around for a long time, evolving through various generations and forms to become one of the best entry-level cars on the market. iSeeCars says that the average MSRP for the Yaris currently stands at $15,650.
Sadly, 2020 was the final model year for the Toyota Yaris in the United States. This means that the current cheapest in Toyota’s range is the Corollas, which cost up to $10,000 more than the Yaris. The demise of the Toyota Yaris leaves few cars on the market for around $15,000 or less, with the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa two of the other very cheap vehicles in the USA.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
For those looking to enter the world of hybrid motoring, the current Toyota Prius might seem like the best base option. While it starts at a respectable $27,950, there is an even cheaper hybrid on offer in the form of the current Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
The current MSRP for the Corolla Hybrid is $23,050, which puts it in the same ballpark as the Corolla hatchback. Under the hood is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 138 hp, but the bonus of hybrid power should dramatically increase the car’s fuel economy. The Corolla hybrid has normal and eco-driving modes, a 4.2-inch multi-information display for the driver, the Toyota smart key system, and a push-button start.
2024 Toyota Prius
It might be more expensive than the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, but the manufacturer’s hybrid flagship, the Prius, will still not cost you more than $30,000. The MSRP for the 2024 Prius is $27,950 with the LE trim level. Under the hood of the Prius sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which provides the best fuel economy figures across the whole Prius range.
Toyota says you will get 57, 56, and 57 MPG across the city, the highway, and combined values. The base model has plenty of power at 194 hp, while adding four-wheel drive provides a slight bump to 196 hp. If you opt for the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, you will see a power increase to 220 hp. The new Prius is also the best looking yet, with a sleek, sharp, and refreshing exterior design, bringing the Toyota model up to date.
Toyota bZ4x
An SUV might not be for everyone, but Toyota is one of the best manufacturers of these giants. Plus, it’s beginning to invest more resources into electric power, which brings the Toyota bZ4X into the equation. This all-electric SUV retails for $43,070, which is definitely on the lower end of the EV price point.
The bZ4X is certainly a bold-looking car, thanks to the large front and rear wheel arches, the sleek but huge grille area, and the bulky stance of the bZ4x. Toyota has not been afraid to go down its direction with the SUV’s styling. The base model provides at least 252 miles of EPA-estimated range, while power comes from a 71.4 kWh battery with a voltage of 355. The single electric motor in the base model provides up to 201 hp, meaning this large SUV certainly doesn’t feel sluggish.
Toyota Sienna
Before SUVs exploded onto the market and took over, minivans or MPVs were the way many manufacturers were going. MPVs are practical, spacious, and great for families. One of the best was the Toyota Sienna, a minivan that once ruled the roost, and it is still available with the 2024 model at $37,685.
Yet you don’t have to buy a new Sienna to get a good one. There are plenty of used options on the market, with Seinna’s selling for at least $20,000 and, in some cases, much less. It is not unheard of for an older Toyota Sienna to sell for as little as $5,000. As they were built to take a beating, the interior of the Sienna is exceptionally durable, and it is one of Toyota’s most reliable products.
Toyota RAV4
It is another SUV, but one that again has proven itself with solid durability and reliability. Toyota currently sells the 2024 RAV4 for $28,675, but according to iSeeCars, you can pick used ones up for as little as $22,440. The website rates it as #1 out of 39 SUVs with three rows in terms of resale value, and it is also voted #1 of 21 best SUVs with three rows for the money.
Toyota currently offers three trims of the RAV4: the Hybrid Woodland Edition, the TRD Off-Road, and the Hybrid XSE. All of them are solid choices. If you opt for the hybrid version, you will get the 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine that produces 219 hp. Thanks to the hybrid element, the RAV4 Hybrid can travel 42 miles on electric power and has a combined fuel mileage rating of 38 MPG.
Toyota C-HR
While it is now discontinued in the United States, the Toyota C-HR represents an excellent choice for those seeking a mid-size SUV at a competitive price. When it was on the market, the C-HR last retailed in 2022 at around the $24,280 mark, and used prices are even better. iSeeCars says you could pick up a C-HR for as little as $17,950.
The base 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain didn’t provide that much power, but the best powertrain came in the C-HR PHEV. This 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with the bigger electric motor and battery pack produced 223 hp and a good amount of torque to make this version of the C-HR a very nippy model.
