Top 15 Cars Under $30,000 in 2023

Whether you’re looking for a hatchback, an SUV, a sedan or even a work-ready ute, if you know where to look, there’s no shortage of options for your next car for less than $30,000.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at 15 of the best cars on sale here in Australia you can get behind the wheel of, for under $30,000 in 2023.

Mazda CX-3

Starting from $23,510*

The Mazda CX-3 has become one of Australia’s most popular compact SUVs, and it’s not hard to see why.

Mazda’s sleek designs inside and out make the CX-3 feel more premium than its price tag might suggest, while offering a user-friendly and nimble package to drive around town.

Hyundai i30

Starting from $24,000*

The i30 has played a big role in Hyundai’s ascension here in Australia, and in its latest form, the i30 is one of the best value propositions in the world of affordable small cars.

For under $30,000, you can get your hands on the base model and the mid-range i30 Active, giving you a generous list of comfort and safety features.

Toyota HiLux

Starting from $26,475*

For those looking for a ute for less than $30,000, Toyota has you covered with its most affordable member of the HiLux range, the Workmate 4x2 single cab chassis in both manual and automatic form.

The baby of the HiLux range comes powered by a 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol pushing out 122kW of power and 245Nm of torque, enough for 2500kg of braked towing.

Hyundai Venue

Starting from $22,000*

The Hyundai Venue comes close to outright taking the cake when it comes to value for money, with every member of the Venue family priced under $30,000 here in Australia, while offering a base model that comes generously equipped with alloy wheels, cruise control, wireless phone charging and an 8.0-inch infotainment display.

MG ZS

Starting from $22,990*

MG’s rise to prominence here in Australia has been built largely on the back of its cut-price compact SUV, the ZS, which remains one of the best value picks of the segment.

What the ZS lacks in active safety equipment compared to its rivals, it makes up for when it comes to a generous features list, with 17-inch alloys, cruise control, LED daytime running lamps and an 8.0-inch infotainment display fitted as standard.

Toyota Yaris Cross

Starting from $28,000*

Toyota’s funky little compact SUV, the Yaris Cross, is available in two forms for buyers with a $30k budget, including the entry-level GX and even the massively fuel-efficient GX Hybrid, which returns combined fuel economy figures of just 5.4L/100km.

Mitsubishi ASX

Starting from $23,990*

Mitsubishi has long been an option for Aussies looking for a great deal, and in light of this, the company has maintained very attractive pricing for its ASX compact SUV.

That means you can get behind the wheel of five out of the total seven variants for less than $30,000, bringing in impressive levels of equipment, all of which are backed by Mitsubishi’s outstanding ten-year warranty; if serviced within the network.

Kia Stonic

Starting from $22,290*

Kia has more than a few options for buyers in the market for an affordable compact SUV, with the Stonic well-positioned to take the fight to its rivals with attractive prices, generous features and the company’s long seven-year warranty program.

GWM Haval Jolion

Starting from $28,490*

The GWM Haval Jolion almost makes you take a second look at its price tag when you consider just how much car is on offer for less than $30k.

It’s a compact SUV with a spacious interior layout that makes it more approachable for family buyers, while the 430L of boot space means you can fit far more cargo into the rear than a number of its small SUV rivals.

Volkswagen Polo

Starting from $25,750*

The Volkswagen Polo has, for decades now, been one of the best pint-sized packages you can buy, and while prices have increased in recent years, it’s still priced well under our $30k budget.

For the money, you’ve got access to the entry-level Polo Life manual and automatic, which pick up a pair of 8.0-inch displays, wireless phone charging, LED head & tail lights and cruise control as standard.

Suzuki Swift

Starting from $22,490*

While it doesn’t have a heap of size to offer, the Suzuki Swift is a super charming little package that makes for a great daily driver and perfect city car.

With super competitive pricing, buyers can get their hands on two Suzuki Swift variants for under $30k, the latter of which adds a decent amount of active safety gear like autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Nissan Juke

Starting from $28,390*

Nissan’s fun and funky Juke compact SUV has no problem standing out from the crowd, with the entry-level Juke ST priced below our budget of $30,000.

As standard, the Juke ST picks up 17-inch alloys, LED head & tail lights and an 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, with 422L of boot space on offer.

Toyota Corolla

Starting from $29,270*

It’s fair to say that the Corolla has become one of the most renowned small cars of all time, and thankfully, Toyota has maintained prices below $30,000 for the Corolla in both hatchback and sedan form.

Mazda 2

Starting from $21,510*

Mazda’s baby of the range punches well above its weight when it comes to value for money, with the entire range priced below $30,000 here in Australia.

All members of the Mazda 2 family come priced under $30k, with its fuel-efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine returning economy figures of just 5.0L/100km, and your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Kia Seltos

Starting from $29,500*

Kia’s fun-loving Seltos compact SUV is the final member of our best options under $30,000 here in Australia, with the entry-level Seltos S just squeezing into the mix.

As standard, the Seltos S picks up a healthy amount of safety equipment, 16-inch alloys, cruise control and an 8.0-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

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If you’re looking to find your dream car for under $30,000, reach out to one of our car buying specialists who can help provide you a shortlist of your best options.

* Prices accurate at time of writing.