10 Cheapest Toyota Cars: Your Guide To Affordable Toyota Ownership

Welcome to a list of 10 cheap Toyota cars. Why look at the 10 cheapest cars the Japanese automaker has to offer? It's pretty simple. Toyotas have a reputation for durability, comfort, good fuel economy, and a long list of standard features. The brand has plenty going for it, but so does Honda. But that's an entirely different list.

That's why most people looking for all the attributes listed above usually find themselves browsing Toyota's website, looking at specs, and checking the MSRP. Mostly, they want the cheapest Toyota they can find for their particular needs, and that's why this list includes cheap Toyota models across multiple applications. If we went on price alone, the Corolla Sedan's trims would take up five spots on a list of affordable Toyota cars.

You'll find the cheapest new Toyota vehicles for adventure, commuting, cold weather, and even style on this list. All of the MSRPs listed do not include destination charges and taxes.

We might as well start with the cheapest car in the Toyota lineup. So what can you expect from the cheapest new Toyota car you can buy in the USA? Well, this particular Corolla Sedan is not the top-spec Hybrid XLE but rather the made-for-Uber SE.

You miss out on some niceties, including alloy wheels, a smart key system, leather upholstery, and heated seats, but the SE trim is perfect for those who just want a car.

The SE comes with a frugal 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine that produces 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, sent to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. It rides on 16-inch steelies with plastic covers and has an eight-inch infotainment screen that's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

Even in entry-level guise, the SE has a lot going for it. It's a handsome sedan, incredibly spacious for its size, and Toyota didn't skimp on standard safety features.

The SE has a starting MSRP of $21,700.

Sedans are so 20 years ago, so if you want something that does everything the Sedan does but with a bit more style, the Corolla Hatchback is the way to go.

The hatch matches the sedan spec-for-spec, so don't expect more power. Instead, you get a slightly more aggressive front and a cheeky, chopped-off rear. It's also more practical than the sedan, offering 23 cubic feet of cargo capacity, nearly 10 ft³ more than the sedan. It also received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.

The SE starts at $23,155, but that will only give you access to three bland colors. We recommend paying an extra $925 for one of the four colors that can be paired with a black roof (white, dark gray, light gray, or red). Blue Crush Metallic with a Midnight Black Roof is even cheaper at $500.

Just as some people will buy the Corolla Hatchback based purely on style, many others will opt for the Corolla Cross simply because it's slightly higher off the ground. Once again, we have a car that is mechanically similar to the two mentioned above, but it can be ordered with an all-wheel-drive system to make it more suited to cold-weather states. It's not one of the best AWD Toyotas ever made, but it gets the job done.

The Corolla Cross is also worth looking at if you want a bit more space without upgrading to one of Toyota's more affordable midsize SUVs. It has a 26.5-ft³ trunk, making it the most practical of the three Corolla variants.

A base Toyota Corolla Cross L costs $23,610.

Starting at $27,970, the Prius LE is not the cheapest hybrid you can buy from Toyota. That title belongs to the Corolla Hybrid, which starts at $23,050. But if you're in the market for a traditional hybrid, you want the highest MPG figure possible. The best the Corolla Hybrid can do is 50 mpg on the combined cycle, while the Prius LE takes it up to 57 MPG. The LE is the most frugal out of all the available trims.

You'll have to do a lot of driving to make up that difference, but take some comfort in knowing that the Prius' gas engine and single electric motor produce 194 hp, which is 56 hp more than the Corolla Hybrid.

Priced at $32,350, the Prius Prime SE is $4,380 more expensive than the cheapest Prius. That may seem like a big jump in MSRP, but it's not bad considering how much you can possibly save over the long term. You have to calculate your fuel spend per month compared to the cost of buying enough electricity to cover the Prime's impressive 44-mile electric-only range. If your daily commute is only 10-20 miles, you could go months without spending a drop on gas.

The Prius Prime can still manage 52 mpg on the combined cycle if the battery is depleted. With the electric motor in play, you're looking at 126 MPGe. If you need something a bit bigger, the RAV4 Prime is one of the best PHEVs on sale.

The Highlander is the cheapest Toyota with eight seats, with a starting price of $36,620. The base L is only available as an eight-seater, while higher-trim models get second-row captain's chairs.

This particular spec doesn't even have a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but you do get hard-wearing plastics and long-lasting fabric seats. Toyota placed passenger comfort above all else, including tri-zone climate control and five USB ports as standard.

If you live in cold-weather states, opt for an all-wheel-drive system and the available heated front seats on higher-spec models.

All models have the new engine, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-pot, replacing the old-school naturally aspirated V6. It's not frugal, but also never feels underpowered thanks to 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.

The XLE is not the cheapest Camry available. It has an MSRP of $31,170 compared to the entry-level LE, which starts at $26,420. The Toyota Camry is a fine car in any specification, but since we're talking luxury, it must be the XLE or higher.

Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine produces an adequate 203 hp, and the eight-speed automatic transmission goes about its business while you enjoy the interior. Overall, the Camry is compliant with low NVH levels and a squishy suspension setup.

Unlike lesser Camry models, the XLE is equipped with a smart key system, SofTex upholstery, wood inserts, wireless charging, and a nine-inch infotainment system. It received a minor facelift for 2024, and a new model is on the way.

This is a bit of cheating because the bZ4X is the only EV in the Toyota USA lineup. Unlike the other cheap Toyota cars on this list, this one isn't particularly good. It has an MSRP of $42,000 and a range of 252 miles. You can get a Tesla Model 3 or even a Model Y for less, and Toyota's first EV comes with a bit of serious recall baggage.

Because it costs nearly twice as much as the cheapest new Toyota, you do get a lot of standard kit, including 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-LED headlights, black-painted overfenders, a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface, a seven-inch digital gauge cluster, and a six-speaker sound system.

Still, we'd rather have an entry-level Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The all-new Tacoma has been introduced to the USA, but pricing will only be confirmed closer to the local launch. For now, we still have the old-school Tacoma. Lovers of the V6 might want to buy one now because the new one will only be available with a turbocharged four-pot. Hopefully, this won't have too much of a negative impact on the price.

The cheapest Tacoma 4x4 available is equipped with the 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and a part-time four-wheel-drive system. We'd rather pay more for a proper 3.5 NA V6 or wait for the new model. The 159-hp 2.7-liter engine was horrible ten years ago, and it's just unbearable now.

The cheapest model with a 4WD system costs $33,170.

It's hard to believe this much fun only carries an MSRP of $28,400. The base model is the best GR86, too. The Premium and 10th Anniversary Special Edition variants just add a bunch of cosmetic items you don't need.

The base 86 package is good enough. It has a 228-hp/184-lb-ft flat-four engine in the front, a six-speed manual in the middle, and rear-wheel drive at the, erm, rear.

The second-generation GR86 is even better than its successor because the new larger engine has more torque, available much lower down than before.

The previous model was also built for oversteer. Toyota equipped it with the same low rolling resistance tires as the Prius, so even the most ham-fisted driver could get it sideways.

This time, it has grippy tires, but you can still get it very sideways. A standard Torsen limited-slip differential is also there to help you out even more.