You might think finding a car under $30k that ticks all your boxes is a hard task. And while it’s true that car prices have risen in recent years, the good news is that there are still many great options available that cater for a range of lifestyles and budgets.
We’ve rounded up eight popular small vehicles that continue to punch above their weight in terms of value. And with a novated lease, you could potentially save even more off the price tag, so be sure to speak to one of our novated leasing specialists about your favourite small car below.
Note: The model line-ups mentioned below all include variants under $30k (approx. Manufacturer Offer driveaway). Not every variant in the range is sub-30k.
Hyundai Venue
Arriving in Australia in 2019 as a ‘Light SUV’ replacement for the discontinued Accent light car hatch and sedan, the Hyundai Venue has quickly won hearts for its modest price tag, stylish practicality and lively performance.
For an entry-level small SUV, it’s packed with features, including 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, heated mirrors and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Despite its compactness, there’s room enough to seat four adults comfortably, and the cargo area can more than fit in the week’s grocery shop. Plus, the 60:40 split-folding rear seats allow for extra storage space when you need it.
Kia Cerato S
Kia’s second-best-selling car in Australia1 (after the Sportage SUV) keeps going from strength to strength, having just taken out Drive’s 2022 Car of the Year Award for Best Value Car2.
Available as both a sedan and hatchback, the popular model offers drivers a spacious interior, a next-generation infotainment system, electronic braking and a seven-year warranty. Flaunting a sleek, athletic exterior, the Cerato is also the first model in Australia to sport the brand’s new logo.
You can configure your space to make the most of the cargo area, courtesy of split-folding rear seats. With an impressive 502 litres of boot space available in the Cerato sedan body style – among the largest in its class – you can easily fit in all your everyday gear.
MG ZS
The MG ZS has been an astonishing success in Australia ever since its arrival in 2017. As it stands, year-to-date it’s the highest-selling small SUV in the under $40K1 category.
Part of that success is undoubtedly due to its exceptionally low pricing – lower than most of its SUV rivals and even many hatchback equivalents. But it also offers city dwellers and small families plenty of bang for their buck, with an 8-inch colour touchscreen, LED lighting, keyless entry and smartphone mirroring, plus a 7-year warranty.
With rear interior headroom that is among the best-in-class, an extra-wide cabin and fully foldable back seats, the MG ZS could very well offer you the level of driving comfort and flexibility you’re seeking.
Hyundai i30 Hatch
Stylish, practical and equipped with the SmartSenseTM suite of safety technologies, the Hyundai i30 has fast become one of Australia’s favourites. In fact, it is currently the most popular small car under $40k in Australia1 (as well as amongst our customers).
The i30 comes loaded with impressive features including an 8-inch multimedia touchscreen display with AppleCar Play and Android Auto, 6-speaker audio system and leather-look steering wheel and gear shift.
Its exceptional ride comfort, excellent handling and stability on uneven road surfaces, plus a deceptively roomy cargo area of nearly 400 litres, makes the i30 as well-suited to the city streets as it is taking a trip come the weekend.
Suzuki Swift
The hatch that is renowned for its signature sporty look. The Japanese built Suzuki Swift first made its appearance in Australia on the racing scene as part of the touring category. Don’t let its compact body fool you - it has a surprisingly spacious interior.
Its zippy engine provides the practicality required for city driving as well as the capability to transition well to the open road – doing so with an efficient engine. Its fuel consumption of 4.6L/100 (its manual model) and 4.8L/100kms (its auto model) make it one of the leaders in its light class.
The current 2022 GLS model offers a range of features such as a 9-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, reverse camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start as well as cruise control.
Mazda 2
Having established itself over the years as a reliable and stylish city car runabout, the Mazda 2 continues to be a strong seller in Australia.
Available as a sedan or hatch, even the entry-level Mazda 2 Pure comes with a host of intelligent technologies including keyless push button start, climate control air conditioning, power mirrors and a 7-inch infotainment system. Meanwhile, the Evolve model pumps up its tyres with 16” alloy wheels, plus sat nav, head-up information display, light-sensitive automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and road sign recognition.
Awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the Mazda 2 comes with an enviable list of active safety features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian avoidance, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist and reverse cross traffic alert.
MG3 Auto
The MG3 is not far behind the ZS in terms of overall sales and is by far Australia’s best-selling light hatchback1. It’s also MG’s cheapest vehicle on the market, but that doesn’t mean you don’t get plenty of value, especially when you upgrade to the Excite variant which comes with a sportier body kit, 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels, pleather/tartan-patterned seats and a six-speaker audio system.
The MG3 also makes quite a bold statement, with an angular European-inspired silhouette and ‘London Eye’ LED daytime running lights. And with 307 litres of boot space and an 8-inch colour touchscreen with smartphone integration, the MG3 offers you the convenience and practicality you desire from a run-around or second household car.
Kia Picanto GT
Kia’s smallest and cheapest vehicle in Australia, the Picanto GT, sure lives up to its ‘spicy’ name. It offers sports suspension tuned specifically for Aussie roads, a turbocharged engine, 16-inch alloys, a sleek sporty silhouette and premium red-accented seats.
There are also mod cons including Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, power mirrors and dusk-sensing headlights. The Picanto is both roomier and more comfortable than its bargain price suggests, with convenient split folding seats, and parallel parking is a breeze, because you can see (and almost reach) every corner of the car.
