Best New Cars and SUVs for Under $30,000

All come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), unless noted. If they’re optional or only on specific trims, they don’t push the price above $30,000 before adding in the destination charge, taxes, and fees. That’s why a few models, such as the Honda Accord and most compact SUVs, aren’t on this list. Others, such as the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, have been redesigned for 2025 and haven’t been tested yet.

Some of these models have our Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions.

All of the vehicles below have met the stringent performance, reliability, and safety requirements necessary to earn CR’s recommendation.