You can color us impressed with Slate Auto’s announcement of a $24,950 entry-price for its electric pickup, though it wasn’t something we were holding our breath on, since the changing tides of tariffs surely had a part to play in its higher-than-planned sticker price. After a $1,450 destination fee, the total rings up to $26,400.
The Ford Maverick, the Slate’s only real competitor in the segment, starts at $28,145 before shipping costs are added. The cheapest mid-size pickup, the Nissan Frontier, starts at $32,150. The average price of trucks is rising each year and Slate wants to curb both high truck prices and the price of new vehicles in general. To see what it’s up against, we gathered a list of 10 new cars that cost less than Slate’s new pickup.
Each new car listed is ranked by its manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Destination fees are included in each vehicle’s description.
Hyundai Venue
$20,550
Basic transportation might look a little different in 2026. Automakers did away with their subcompact sedan offerings and replaced them with small crossovers that are no larger than aVolkswagen Golf, yet sit just a little higher. Hyundai’s Venue SE compact crossover earns first place on this list for its $20,550 base MSRP ($22,650 after destination). Its tiny 1.6-liter inline-4 is good for 121 horsepower, and its low curb weight of 2,612 pounds and continuously variable transmission eke out a 31 MPG combined rating.
Chevy Trax
$21,700
It’s no Toyota GR Corolla, but it’s got 3-cylinders. The Chevy Trax’s 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-3 might sound drab, just as its steel wheels won’t turn heads (unless you’re into that sort of thing), but the complete package kicks off at $23,495 after Chevy’s $1,795 destination charge. Available to add to the base LS are 17-inch alloys and heated seats, not to mention a litany of General Motors safety features, but each is a sub-$1,000 option that doesn’t drive the price up any more than adding toppings to a sundae. Keep the list short enough, and there’s a sizable cushion between the Trax and the Slate’s out-the-door price.
Kia K4
$22,290
The first sedan on our list is the Kia K4, the brand’s replacement for the Forte after the nameplate’s retirement in 2024. The LX trim keeps the base model lean, with no options available to jack up the price from its $23,550 (after $1,245 destination fee) MSRP. The 147 horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 plays a supporting role in the K4’s mission to offer the least-dull commuting experience, with more focus on economy than its big brother that offers a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 190 horsepower mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Even in base trim, however, the K4 clears bars the Forte couldn’t reach and doesn’t embarrass itself.
Nissan Sentra
$22,600
The Sentra is soon to be Nissan’s only sedan now that the Altima will be departing after 2027, a decision made by the automaker to make room for new crossovers. It’ll be in charge of serving Nissan’s remaining sedan customers, something we think it’s more than ready to do. Its plush cabin on higher trims and standard features across each trim, including the base S which starts at $22,600, offer a comfortable cabin to rack up miles in. The 149-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 is mated to a CVT, a component Nissan heavily revised in the late 2010s. The $500 optional Cold Weather Package adds heated front seats and heated side-view mirrors, and even with its $1,245 handling fee, the total still sits below Slate’s asking price.
Hyundai Elantra
$22,625
We wouldn’t go as far as to say the current Elantra is getting long in the tooth, but Hyundai thinks it is time for a replacement. Even without knowing what the next Elantra holds, the current one sets a good precedent for what’s to come. Interior quality on all of Hyundai’s latest models shouldn’t be taken for granted; it’s excellent value across the range, but the entry-level SE is value-oriented enough that its $23,870 MSRP (after a $1,245 destination charge) doesn’t feel like it takes more than it gives. The 2.0-liter engine it shares with the Kia K4 can be coaxed to move out of its own way, though its purpose is the same as its cousin with a strong emphasis on fuel economy over passing power.
Nissan Kicks
$22,730
Redesigned for 2025, the Nissan Kicks is good for more than its name implies. Its new exterior looks might have you questioning what brand it hails from, but inside, you’ll find it’s Nissan familiarity at its best. It even wears the 141-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 and CVT combination seen in many of Nissan’s offerings well, returning power and economy figures on-par with the segment and rivaling the aging Hyundai Venue with an eye-catching design and high-tech interior. Even the base FWD S model ($24,275 after destination) comes with large center infotainment and instrument cluster screens that won’t have your passengers thinking you’re behind the times.
Chevy Trailblazer
$23,300
It might not be the Trailblazer you remember, but even in its latest form as a sub-compact crossover, the Trailblazer is competitive against the few others it picks fights with. Its in-brand rival, the Trax, only comes with FWD, whereas the Trailblazer sends power from the same turbo-3 to all four corners. If you want a smidgen of extra power, Chevy will install a 1.3-liter turbo-3 for an extra $395. The Trailblazer, compared to the Trax, is slightly more cramped inside the cabin and cargo area, but offers a taller greenhouse for better visibility. Without any add-ons, you can sneak one out the door for $25,095 after a $1,795 shipping fee. AWD models come standard with the 1.3-liter engine, so that’s unfortunately not in the cards for this list.
Toyota Corolla
$23,125
In base form, the Corolla is far from being likened to a rocket ship. But among those on this list, it’s not far from it. The 169-horsepower inline-4 might send power through a CVT, but the trick up its sleeve is a physical first gear to launch from a stand-still. It relinquishes the rest of the job to the CVT, which creates ratios to keep it within the powerband—something you won’t find anywhere else on this list. Of the other contenders listed, the Corolla is the oldest, and with that comes the premium most vintages command for something so finely aged. The base LE model goes for $24,285 after a $1,160 freight charge. Adding the $1,135 LE Premium Package still keeps the price below our threshold, but higher trims quickly outgrow the budget.
Volkswagen Jetta
$23,995
Though we were saddened by VW’s decision to discontinue cheaper Golf models, we’re happy it at least kept the Jetta in the lineup—especially after the Passat was discontinued for the US market after 2022. The Jetta’s 1.5-liter turbo inline-4 is bearable thanks to an 8-speed automatic, but it’s still a powertrain we’d prefer to row our own gears in. The $25,270 MSRP after accounting for $1,275 in shipping, however, is the cherry on top. As the trims climb higher, the price follows, with less and less separating a top-trim Jetta from an entry-level Audi A3, though the Jetta GLI throws something into the mix to offer some respite and differentiation.
Honda Civic
$24,695
It’s no surprise the Civic is on a list of cheap cars, but since the list is capped by an electric pickup that costs less than $1,000 more after extra fees, it’s an impressive demonstration of how affordable Slate can make its pickup. Honda has been producing the Civic for decades. Its latest form—with a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 and CVT—fulfills all the requirements needed for quality, inexpensive transportation. The entry-level LX Sedan’s sticker price of $25,890 (including the $1,195 destination charge) leaves only leather-trimmed seats, black alloys, and a larger infotainment screen on the table. Honda prefers baking everything into individual trims rather than offering additional packages, much like most others on this list aside from Toyota.
Sources: Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Slate, Toyota, Volkswagen
