If you’re shopping on a budget, these are the rock-bottom prices for cars, SUVs, trucks, and minivans
Everything’s getting more expensive, and that includes automobiles. Hard to believe, but the average cost of a new vehicle in Canada is around $67,000, and that’s a serious chunk of change. So we’ll try to provide a bit of relief by listing the least-expensive vehicles for 2025 in each segment.
We use the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and for the rock-bottom trim level, which doesn’t include dealer fees, taxes, or freight/delivery – we break that last one out separately. We also don’t include any applicable incentives or rebates. If you notice a different price on the automaker’s website, that’s likely because all those items are factored in. You may have to scroll deep down to find the MSRP.
Cheapest Car in Canada: Nissan Versa, $20,798
The Versa comes in three trims. All use a 1.6L four-cylinder that makes 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque, with an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) which Nissan calls Xtronic, and with front-wheel drive (FWD). A manual transmission available in the U.S. isn’t offered here. The entry S trim includes 15-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, cloth seats, power locks and windows, cruise control, seven-inch touchscreen, emergency front and rear braking, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlamps, and mandatory rearview camera. You have to move up to at least the SV to get blind-spot monitoring, as well as heated front seats and an eight-inch touchscreen capable of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Canadian MSRP: $20,798 + $1,850 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 7.5 city / 5.9 highway / 6.8 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 3 years / 60,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Safety: The 2025 Versa gets 5/5 stars from NHTSA. It received the top “Good” ratings in the IIHS’ original front and side tests, but hasn’t undergone the updated versions.
Cheapest Crossover in Canada: Hyundai Venue, $21,299
It uses a 1.6L four-cylinder making 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque, with a CVT and FWD. The base Essential trim includes 15-inch wheels, cruise control, eight-inch touchscreen with CarPlay/Android, two USB charging ports, dual-level cargo floor, heated seats, emergency front braking, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlamps. Blind-spot monitoring, pushbutton start, and a heated steering wheel start with the next-step-up Preferred at $23,299.
- Canadian MSRP: $21,299 + $2,000 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 7.9 city / 6.9 highway / 7.5 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Safety: The 2025 Venue gets 4/5 stars from NHTSA. It received the highest “Good” in tests at IIHS, but hasn’t been crashed in the updated front or side tests.
Cheapest SUV in Canada: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, $29,398
- Canadian MSRP: $29,398 + $2,050 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 9.6 city / 8.9 highway / 9.3 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 10 years / 160,000 km
- Safety: NHTSA gives the Eclipse Cross 5 out of 5 stars, but the IIHS is far less generous. While it rated the top “Good” on the original moderate front overlap test, it was “Poor” on the updated version; and “Poor” in the updated side test.
Cheapest Compact Pickup in Canada: Ford Maverick, $34,500
The Maverick comes with a 2.0L turbocharged “EcoBoost” engine making 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque; or a hybrid system with 2.5L engine and net 191 horsepower, and for 2025 that’s the default engine, with the gas choice optional on the lower three trims and standard on the Tremor and Lobo. The gas engine is AWD only, but new for 2025, the hybrid comes in front- or all-wheel drive. Features on the base XL include 17-inch steel wheels, 13.2-inch touchscreen (also new for 2025) with CarPlay/Android, cruise control, emergency front braking, LED headlamps, cloth seats, and under-seat storage.
- Canadian MSRP: $34,500 + $2,195 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 5.6 city / 6.5 highway / 6.0 combined (Hybrid FWD)
- Comprehensive warranty: 3 years / 60,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Hybrid components: 8 years / 160,000 km
- Safety: The 2025 Maverick gets 4/5 stars from NHTSA. The IIHS hasn’t fully crash-tested it, but in those done, it received the highest “Good” in the updated side test, but only “Marginal” in the updated front crash test.
Cheapest Midsize Pickup in Canada: Chevrolet Colorado, $38,999
The Colorado comes as a crew cab with 5-foot-2 bed, powered by a turbocharged 2.7L four-cylinder engine that makes 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, and with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A lower-powered version of that engine has been dropped for 2025. Other new features this year – on trims above the WT, mind you – include an improved wireless charger, and blind-spot monitoring with steering assist that includes the length of a trailer. Features on the WT include emergency front braking, 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In and wireless CarPlay/Android, lane-keep assist, cloth seats, and a trailer hitch view in its backup camera.
- Canadian MSRP: $38,999 + $2,200 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 12.4 city / 10.3 highway / 11.5 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 3 years / 60,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Safety: The 2025 Colorado gets 4/5 stars from NHTSA. It hasn’t yet been rated by IIHS.
Cheapest Full-Size Pickup in Canada: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, $46,999
Our least-expensive Chevy comes only in WT (Work Truck) trim with eight-foot bed and strictly with the entry-level 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Other engine choices in the Silverado lineup are 5.3L and 6.2L V8s, along with a 3.0L inline-six turbodiesel. For 2025, the WT now gets standard cruise control; other features include a seven-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay/Android, emergency front braking and lane-keep assist, three-passenger front split-bench seat, and vinyl upholstery and flooring. In this configuration, towing is a maximum of 9,500 lbs.
- Canadian MSRP: $46,999 + $2,400 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 13.4 city / 11.2 highway / 12.5 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 3 years / 60,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Safety: The Silverado in regular cab gets 5/5 stars from NHTSA. The IIHS hasn’t crash-tested the regular cab, but the crew cab received mixed results. It got “Good” in the original moderate overlap but “Poor” in the updated test; “Good” in the original side test but “Acceptable” in the updated test; and “Marginal” in the small front overlap crash.
Cheapest Minivan in Canada: Kia Carnival, $40,495
Our non-hybrid Kia winner gets a styling refresh and some new features for 2025. It carries a 3.5L V6 making 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. That price gets you the LX but it’s pretty basic; moving up to the LX+ with its heated front seats and steering wheel, power-sliding doors and liftgate, and power driver’s seat is $43,995, and still less than our alternatives below.
- Canadian MSRP: $40,495 + $2,100 destination charge
- Fuel economy, L/100 km: 12.9 city / 8.8 highway / 11.1 combined
- Comprehensive warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Safety: NHTSA hasn’t fully crash-tested the Carnival, but it gets 4/5 stars for frontal crash. At the IIHS, it got the top “Good” in legacy tests, but next-step-down “Acceptable” on the updated side test; and “Marginal” on the updated front moderate overlap.
Cheapest EV in Canada: Nissan Leaf, $41,748
The Leaf comes with two battery sizes, and that price gets you the SV with 40-kWh model and an electric motor that drives the front wheels with 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The next-step SV Plus has a 60-kWh battery and 214-horsepower motor, and is $47,498. Despite being an entry model, the SV is very well-equipped with 17-inch wheels, power driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, eight-inch touchscreen with navigation, auto-dimming mirror, and full suite of driver-assist technologies, including emergency front braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.
- Canadian MSRP: $41,748 + $2,095 destination charge
- Range: 240 kilometres (SV trim)
- Comprehensive warranty: 3 years / 60,000 km
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years / 100,000 km
- Battery warranty: 8 years / 160,000 km
- Safety: NHTSA gives the 2025 Leaf a 5/5-star rating. The IIHS hasn’t fully tested it, but gave it the top “Good” in the original front and side crash tests, and next-step-down “Acceptable” in the updated side crash.
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