New York City has one of the toughest driving environments with traffic, tight parking, and high insurance costs. Compact, fuel-efficient cars are preferred.
This list includes all major brands including Ford, sorted from lowest to highest price.
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| Rank | Car Model | Brand | Starting Price (USD) | Fuel | Best For NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Versa | Nissan | $16,000 | Gasoline | Lowest ownership cost |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Mirage | Mitsubishi | $16,700 | Gasoline | City mileage |
| 3 | Kia Rio | Kia | $17,800 | Gasoline | Budget commuting |
| 4 | Hyundai Venue | Hyundai | $19,900 | Gasoline | Compact SUV |
| 5 | Toyota Corolla | Toyota | $21,900 | Gasoline / Hybrid | Reliability |
| 6 | Hyundai Elantra | Hyundai | $22,800 | Gasoline / Hybrid | Fuel efficiency |
| 7 | Subaru Impreza | Subaru | $23,100 | AWD | Winter driving |
| 8 | Ford Maverick | Ford | $23,400 | Hybrid | Efficient pickup |
| 9 | Honda Civic | Honda | $23,900 | Gasoline | Resale value |
| 10 | Mazda 3 | Mazda | $24,200 | Gasoline | Comfort |
| 11 | Mazda CX-30 | Mazda | $25,700 | Gasoline | Premium compact |
| 12 | Honda HR-V | Honda | $25,900 | Gasoline | Urban SUV |
| 13 | Ford Escape | Ford | $26,000 | Hybrid | Family SUV |
| 14 | Kia Sportage | Kia | $27,800 | Gasoline | Modern design |
| 15 | Toyota Prius | Toyota | $27,900 | Hybrid | Max mileage |
| 16 | Toyota RAV4 | Toyota | $28,400 | Hybrid | Family use |
| 17 | Hyundai Tucson | Hyundai | $28,900 | Hybrid | Comfort |
| 18 | Honda CR-V | Honda | $29,500 | Hybrid | Space |
| 19 | Ford Bronco Sport | Ford | $29,800 | Gasoline | Rugged compact SUV |
| 20 | Tesla Model 3 | Tesla | $38,990 | Electric | EV commuters |
| 21 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Ford | $39,995 | Electric | Electric city driving |
| 22 | Tesla Model Y | Tesla | $43,990 | Electric | EV SUV |
| 23 | Audi A4 | Audi | $43,800 | Gasoline | Premium buyers |
| 24 | BMW 3 Series | BMW | $45,600 | Gasoline | Luxury sedan |
| 25 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Mercedes-Benz | $46,000 | Gasoline | Luxury comfort |