The Cheapest Car in the World Cost Under $4,000
The cheapest car in the world sold for under $4,000. Would you drive a car with only one windshield wiper?
Written by Katie Dyer
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- The cheapest car in the world
- What was the Tata Nano like?
- What went wrong?
- Other cheap cars
- Maruti Suzuki 800
- Chevrolet Spark
- Nissan Versa Sedan S Plus
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The world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano, was discontinued in 2019 for a variety of reasons. While the Nano may have been the absolute cheapest, there have been other very
cheap cars
on the market, too. Let’s take a look back at the mega-affordable Nano, what made it so interesting, why it didn’t last, and what other budget-conscious vehicles have
hit the market
over the years. The cheapest car in the world
India-based Tata Motors developed the Nano in 2008.
The idea was to develop an extremely affordable car to offer to the billion or so people who live in India. The number of car owners only measures 2% of the total population in India, and Tata thought the Nano might help boost that number.
When the Nano hit the market, it cost the equivalent of about $1,400! The later editions crept up to a mere $3,338.
What was the Tata Nano like?
The Nano was a tiny hatchback, with four doors, and a snub nose. The original model, according to
MotorBiscuit
, had only one windshield wiper, one side-view mirror, and the hatchback trunk could only be opened from the interior! Talk about serious cost-cutting! Later models received an additional side mirror and a trunk that could open from the exterior. Extra luxuries like air conditioning and radios were additional options.
The base model came with a small two-cylinder engine that produced only 37 hp, 38 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum speed of 65 mph. However, the fuel economy was a very impressive 55 mpg on city streets.
This wasn’t exactly the zippiest ride, but it was OK because the crowded urban streets where this car was marketed didn’t allow for much speed.
What went wrong?
Despite the Nano’s affordability and ease of maneuvering on crowded city streets, the car was met with a very lukewarm reception.
It seemed the average Indian driver who wanted affordable transport was more likely to purchase a motorcycle. Demand dwindled. In 2008, Tata made 70,000 Nanos, by 2018 there was only one car produced.
Unfortunately, the Nano failed safety tests catastrophically, receiving some of the worst crash test ratings ever recorded, with zero stars for both child and adult safety.
Some Nanos reportedly even caught fire as well! While the Nano may not have been a huge success, there have been other extremely affordable cars for sale over the years.
Other cheap cars
With the average cost of a new car in the United States now reaching over $47,000, according to
Car and Driver
, the cars on the Hot Cars
list of “20 of the Cheapest Cars Ever Released to the Public” might make you raise your eyebrows in disbelief when you see their prices! Below are three notable cars on the Top 20 list.
Maruti Suzuki 800
The Maruti Suzuki 800 was released in 1983 and became a major hit in India and Pakistan. It was also sold in Europe.
This car started at a price of just under $5,000 by the time it went off the market in 2014. The affordability, combined with good city-driving capabilities made this four-door hatchback popular.
Chevrolet Spark
The Chevrolet Spark is currently the cheapest car in the United States, but it is being discontinued later this year.
For a few more months, you can snag a brand new Spark starting at around $13,000! Like many of the other
cheapest cars
, this is a small hatchback that is praised for its ability to get in and out of tight urban parking spots with ease. It was designed with city dwellers, students, and young people in mind. The Spark also comes with a good number of safety features. According to
Hot Cars
, it comes with “StabiliTrak stability control with Brake Assist, anti-lock brakes with brake assistants, 10 airbags, traction control, hill-start assist, and 10 airbags.” Plus, with a variety of Chevrolet warranties available, this car should set your mind at ease.Nissan Versa Sedan S Plus
While many of the cheapest cars in the world are not available in the United States, you can get the Nissan Versa Sedan S Plus, and you’ll pay a base rate of only around $14,000.
This car is a roomier sedan than many of the hatchbacks on the list. It gets great gas mileage and received four out of five stars for government crash testing.
This four-cylinder car has some perks like Bluetooth connectivity and keyless entry. This is one of the most affordable cars you can buy in America!
Cheap or not, you probably need insurance! Download the
Jerry
app, and in about 45 seconds you will have insurance quotes from over 50 big-name insurance companies like Progressive and Allstate. The average Jerry customer ends up saving $887 on car insurance a year, plus Jerry will help cancel your old policy right through the app! 
4.7
