3 Safe, Affordable American Cars To Give as Gifts in 2024

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You’re looking for a car to give to the young adult in your life, your aging parent, or someone else you take care of. You don’t want to break the bank, but you want them to have a nice, safe, American car. 

Affordable American cars are not easy to find. After all, American-made means American labor, which isn’t cheap. As a result, most American car companies have a hard time keeping their cars under $30k. And they can cost you even more over time. Fortunately, we’ve got a list of 3 safe, affordable American cars to give as gifts in 2024. 

In this article, we’re looking at a variety of factors, the most important being safety. This means: 

• Crashworthiness
• Fuel System
• Wheels
• Accelerator Controls
• Restraint Systems
• Safety Features

Next, when we talk about affordability, the term is of course relative. The cheapest new car made in 2024 is the Nissan Versa, but it’s not American. The Mitsubishi Mirage is super cheap, but it’s also the deadliest car among them all.

Let’s dig in:

1. Ford Fiesta

• Starting price: $8,750

The Ford Fiesta was discontinued in 2019, but the car remains one of the most affordable, safest small cars in the United States. While you may not find a brand-new Fiesta, you can surely find one with low miles for around $10,000. This car has retained its value well. 

The Fiesta has a 4-star rating for safety, it is fuel efficient, and, by all accounts, it’s fun to drive! You’ll get 25 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. 

2. Chevrolet Trax

• Starting price: $20,400

If you’re looking for a brand-new, never-been-touched American car, the Chevy Trax might be your best bet. Or, if you don’t need as much room and don’t need it to be brand-new, consider the 2022 Chevrolet Trax, which has a base price of $16,625. The Trax is a small SUV with decent fuel efficiency. You can expect 24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. 

The NHTSA has awarded the Trax 5 stars on all of its safety tests. It’s roomy, comfortable, and nice-looking!

3. Jeep Compass

• Starting price: $25,900

Many new cars these days tend to run closer to $30,000, with few exceptions. If you’re going to pay that much for a car, you want it to be both safe and American, right? The 2024 Jeep Compass is a rugged contender at just under that amount. If you’ve got a loved one who likes to put wear and tear on their car, this is the one to buy (just be sure to go for the Sport, not the Latitude.)

The Jeep Compass has received 4 out of 5 stars from the NHTSA. It has a turbo engine, so you can zip around in it. And its fuel efficiency is equivalent to that of the other cars listed here. (Yes, we know the multinational Stellantis now owns Jeep, but it is still considered an American brand.)

So, there you have it, your top 3 affordable options for safe American cars in 2024. Happy shopping!

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