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Prices might be rising, and 50 may be the new 30, but there are still some great options for new car buyers on a budget.
Dear Drive… Where we answer reader, viewer, and listener questions. Something on your mind? Call us on the radio show or email us at contactus@drive.com.au.
A caller on 3AW radio asked:
I’m looking to buy a new car, ideally an SUV, for my daughter that will also work as a second family car. We don’t want to spend over $30,000 – what is available?
It’s no secret new car prices have been on the rise in recent times. We’re a long way from four-figure prices gracing advertising starbursts (for what it’s worth, the last time a new car cost less than $10,000 was the Chery J1 in 2013; yours for $9990 drive-away), and even today there are only two options below $20,000.
So what will a budget of $30,000 get you?
Turns out, you’ve got a number of choices in a sedan, hatch, SUV or even a ute, with some pretty impressive vehicles making up our 30-under-30 list.
SUVs
As per our caller’s query, if you are in the market for an SUV, there are 11 brands who can come to your aid, at least in terms of RRP (recommended retail price). Please note all prices are listed as RRP before on-road costs unless noted otherwise.
| Make | Model | Starting price | Spec | Sub $30K price applies to… |
| Suzuki | Ignis | $21,490 | GL manual | All Ignis variants |
| Hyundai | Venue | $21,990 | Venue manual | All Venue variants |
| Kia | Stonic | $22,290 | S manual | Stonic S and Sport manual or auto |
| Mazda | CX-3 | $23,510 | Neo Sport manual | Neo Sport, Maxx Sport manual or auto, Maxx Sport LE auto |
| MG | ZS | $23,990 drive-away | Excite auto | All ZS variants |
| Mitsubishi | ASX | $23,990 | GS manual | GS, ES, MR and LS variants |
| Hyundai | Kona | $26,900 | Kona auto | Also Active auto |
| MG | ZST | $26,990 drive-away | Core auto | Also Vibe auto |
| Toyota | Yaris Cross | $27,840 | GX auto | Also GX Hybrid |
| Nissan | Juke | $28,390 | ST auto | ST only |
| GWM | Haval Jolion | $28,490 drive-away | Premium auto | Premium only |
| Kia | Seltos | $29,500 | S auto | S only |
| Chery | Omoda 5 | $29,900 | BX auto | BX only |
| Suzuki | Vitara | $29,990 | Vitara manual | Vitara manual only |
| Ssangyong | Korando | $30,990 drive-away | EX auto | EX only (listed as only just over $30K drive-away) |
There are a lot of good choices, but our pick would be a Hyundai Kona Active Auto ($28,500 before on-road costs) or the $29,500 Kia Seltos S that has a current drive-away offer price of $31,690.
Sedans and hatchbacks
There are nine brands vying for your thirty gorillas if you want to look at either a sedan or hatchback, as in many cases it doesn’t actually matter as the cars are offered in both body styles.
| Make | Model | Starting price | Spec | Sub $30K price applies to… |
| Kia | Picanto | $16,290 | S manual | All Picanto variants |
| MG | MG 3 | $19,490 drive-away | Core auto | All MG 3 variants |
| Kia | Rio | $21,190 | Sport manual | All Rio variants |
| Mazda | Mazda 2 | $21,390 | G15 Pure manual | All Mazda 2 variants – sedan and hatch |
| Fiat | 500 | $23,100 | Lounge auto | Also Dolcevita auto |
| Suzuki | Swift | $23,490 | GL manual | All Swift variants except Swift Sport auto |
| Hyundai | i30 | $23,720 | i30 manual | Also Active auto – sedan and hatch |
| Toyota | Yaris | $24,640 | Ascent Sport | Also SX petrol only |
| Volkswagen | Polo | $25,750 | Life 70 manual | Also Life 85 auto |
| Kia | Cerato | $26,290 | S auto | Also Sport auto – sedan and hatch |
| Subaru | Impreza | $26,490 | L auto AWD | Also Premium auto AWD – sedan and hatch |
| Mazda | Mazda 3 | $27,160 | G20 Pure manual | Pure, Evolve manual or auto – sedan and hatch |
| Toyota | Corolla | $28,630 | Ascent Sport | Sedan and hatch, petrol only |
Again there are some great options, including the all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza, but our pick would be the 2017 Drive Car of the Year, the Hyundai i30 Active hatch with automatic transmission as it currently has a drive-away offer of $29,990 on the road.
Utes
There’s one clear choice in this list, not just because the alternative is down to stock on the ground and can no longer be ordered, but it’s good to know that if you need one, you can score the 2.7-litre petrol-powered Toyota HiLux as a 4×2 cab-chassis for under $30K.
| Make | Model | Starting price | Spec | Sub $30K price applies to… |
| Toyota | HiLux | $25,375 | Workmate 4×2 cab-chassis | Manual and auto (no tray) |
| Mahindra | Pik-Up | $26,990 drive-away | 4×2 manual | If you can find one… |
Have a question about your next set of wheels or just need some car advice? No query is too big, small or obscure! Call into the radio show (Trent on 2GB Sydney 1:30pm Monday and 9:00pm Wednesday, 5AA South Australia 1:30pm Tuesday, and James on 3AW Melbourne 9:00pm each Thursday), or contact us by email here: contactus@drive.com.au.
The post Dear Drive… Can I still get a good new car under $30,000? appeared first on Drive.
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