10 Best Vehicles Under $40K, According To AAA

In addition to providing on-call roadside service, travel booking and resources, and a number of auto-related discounts to its 60 million members, the American Automobile Association (AAA) also provides the online Car Guide as a resource for car shoppers. The Car Guide can organize vehicles by price, size and fuel type, allowing would-be shoppers to research the vehicles that meet their specific needs.

Due to the looming threat of automotive price-hikes due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs policies, new cars may be more expensive than ever by the end of the year. As such, discerning shoppers may wish to buy on a budget — which is where AAA’s “Best Vehicles Under $40K” list comes in handy.

From it, GOBankingRates has culled the 10 highest-scoring vehicles (based on the Car Guide’s scoring method of 0-130). Hybrids and electric vehicles dominated the list, highlighting just how affordable hybrid vehicles are becoming as their technology becomes more and more commonplace.

• Rating (out of 130): 95
• Price: $32,845
• Vehicle type: Small car (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 92
• Price: $37,510
• Vehicle type: Pickup (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 91
• Price: $30,810
• Vehicle type: Small car (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 90
• Price: $35,532
• Vehicle type: Small car (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 90
• Price: $34,787
• Vehicle type: Small SUV (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 89
• Price: $34,434
• Vehicle type: Small car (plug-in hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 89
• Price: $34,695
• Vehicle type: Small SUV (gasoline)

• Rating (out of 130): 88
• Price: $34,095
• Vehicle type: Small car (electric)

• Rating (out of 130): 86
• Price: $30,041
• Vehicle type: Small car (hybrid)

• Rating (out of 130): 85
• Price: $30,225
• Vehicle type: Small car (gasoline)

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact makes and models of the vehicles listed in this article.

Source

• AAA, “Best Vehicles Under $40k“