The Cheapest American-Made Car Costs $23,920 Now And You Might Not Believe Who Makes It
The lowest-priced car that’s made in USA isn’t made by an American brand.
The Mississippi-built Toyota Corolla sedan has held the title for several years, but it’s going to be a little bit more expensive when the 2026 models hit showrooms this fall.
The base price for the Corolla LE is increasing from the current $23,520 to $23,920. Last August, it was $23,185. That’s a small bump in these days of new import tariffs, but a clear sign that even American-made vehicles aren’t immune from inflation.
You do get a more for your money, however, as Toyota has added a standard seven-inch digital guague cluster and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert to the LE to go along with the Toyota Safety Sense package of electronic driver aids, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane-tracing steering assist and adaptive cruise control.
Read Also — 2025 US-BUILT CAR OF THE YEARTM: TOYOTA CAMRY
All Corollas come with front-wheel-drive and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 169 hp and 151 lb-ft that’s good for 35 mpg combined. The step-up trims are the $26,360 SE and $29,635 XSE, which add styling and comfort upgrades.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the next lowest-priced US-built vehicle is also made by Toyota and wears the Corolla name. It’s the Corolla Cross subcompact SUV, which is assembled in Alabama. Pricing for the 2026 model hasn’t been released, but the 2025 model starts at $25,585.
If you’re wondering what the cheapest car made in the USA by an American brand is, that would be the $31,010 Ford Escape Active, which hails from Kentucky. But it could be undercut soon.
Read Also — WHERE TO GM, FORD, RAM AND TOYOTA BUILD THEIR FULL-SIZE PICKUPS?
The Kansas-built Chevrolet Malibu previously held the title at $26,195, but production of the sedan ended last year. It’s not coming back, but the factory will soon start assembling the electric 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, which may rival the Escape on price.
Chevrolet hasn’t announced what it will list for, but has previously said that it was hoping to keep it close to the last generation Bolt EUV that had a starting price of $28,795 when it went out went out of production in 2023. That gives it a $2,215 buffer to play with to come in under the Escape.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST
Unfortunately, unless it goes on sale by Sept. 30, the sticker price is what customers will have to pay as the $7,500 federal tax credit on EV purchases that the old Bolts qualified for will no longer be available for vehicles purchased after that date.