Mazda2 - cheapest new car

Base price: $14,720

Fuel economy: 29 City, 35 Hwy

The Mazda2's another little car that's great around town but I wouldn't want to take it on a long road trip. It's noisy and jittery and the interior's not as nice to look at as the stylish exterior. Not a bad car, really, but you could do better for a little less. (These fuel economy figures reflect recent adjustments made to Kia and Hyundai's EPA estimates.)

Hyundai Accent - cheapest new car

Base price: $14,545

Fuel economy: 28 City, 37 Hwy

Watch: Hyundai's Accent: Efficiency and power
The Accent's a really decent little car, especially around town. It's also a good looking car with a nicely put together interior. On the highway, though, its engine sound begins to drone in a truly irritating fashion. A good car, but not Hyundai's best work.

Kia Soul - new car cheapest

Base price: $14,400

Fuel economy: 25 City, 30 Hwy

The Soul wins big with its combination of practicality, price and design. It may not be the most fun to drive but it's also not the worst by a long shot, either. It's a great cross between the tiny city cars and a bigger crossovers -- with dash of style thrown in.

Toyota Yaris - new car cheapest

Base price: $14,370

Fuel economy: 30 City, 37 Hwy

Here's one where a major redesign went the right way. In just about every respect, the old Toyota Yaris was about as unattractive as its awkward name. The new Yaris is much better to look at, to drive, and to be in. It's still not the top of the heap in its class, but at least it lands somewhere higher up in that heap.

Chevrolet Sonic - cheap new car

Base price: $14,185

Fuel economy: 26 City, 35 Hwy

Another win for the Detroit team, the Chevy Sonic, a size larger than the Spark, is a really good little car. With a smooth shifting transmission, well-tuned suspension and a surprisingly nice-sounding engine the Sonic is a pleasure to pilot. Its spunky design looks best in the hatchback version.

Kia Rio - cheap new car

Base price: $13,600

Fuel economy: 29 City, 39 Hwy

Kia makes plenty of cars that are both good looking and good to drive. This isn't one of 'em. Sure, the Rio looks pretty sharp, at least on the outside, but, with squishy suspension and numb steering, the Rio feels all wrong on the road. Basically, it's a cheap car that drives like one. You can get cheaper cars that don't.

Ford Fiesta - cheap new car

Base price: $13,200

Fuel economy: 29 City, 39 Hwy

It's not awesomely powerful but Ford's little Fiesta is a fun, responsive little car. Based on a European design, its interior controls are rather baffling, but they pack in some serious available technology. While the Fiesta doesn't feel as roomy inside as some others in this market segment, it makes up for it in personality.

Smart ForTwo - cheapest new car

Base price: $12,490

Fuel economy: 34 City, 38 Hwy

Based on functionality, you'd think the Smart car ought to be the cheapest car you can buy but it's not. Not quite, anyway. What you get is two seats, a tiny three-cylinder engine and a rough-shifting transmission all wrapped inside a tall body that pitches forward and aft over bumps. The ForTwo is super-easy to park, infinitely customizable and a sure-fire conversation starter, though.

Chevrolet Spark - cheapest new car

Base price: $12,185

Fuel economy: 32 City, 38 Hwy

Surprising as it might sound, U.S.-based automakers are now turning out some of the best subcompacts on the market. For instance, here's the cute and fun Chevy Spark. Yes, it's really tiny but the front seats, at least, are reasonably spacious and the interior is highly practical. What makes the Spark really charming is that it doesn't pretend to be anything more or less than what it is: small cheap transportation. Other automakers take note. Even at this price, driving a teeny car ought to be fun -- and this one is.

Nissan Versa - cheapest new car

Base price: $11,990

Fuel economy: 27 city, 36 hwy

Sometimes, an automaker redesigns a car and, somehow, it becomes less good. The Nissan Versa is such a case. I've always liked the interior roominess of the Versa and the latest version maintains that. But the look and feel inside seems less nice. The Versa was never loads of fun to drive, but the latest version is duller than a crayon in a kindergarten. It's like the engineers studiously removed whatever excitement there might once have been.
Still, it's the cheapest new car you can buy today. But you can get something better for only a little more. So, for those folks who just can't bring themselves to buy a used car -- although, really, you should get over that -- here are the cheapest new cars you can buy today.