Rides of a Recession: 10 Cheapest Cars of the 21st Century

Looking to save some cash during this rough economy? Many of the cars on this list could be purchased with a month’s salary or less. You won’t find them available here in the U.S., however, as they would fail safety and emission standards like a beauty queen on a calculus exam. One can certainly dream, however, and a few of the companies have mentioned bringing their cars to the U.S. These cars represent the bottom of the world price scale for automobiles over the last several years. Here’s a look at the vehicles that just $2k to $7K can procure.

Renault/Dacia Logan

It certainly is nice to see something that doesn’t have a hatch make the list, as most of the cars down lower do. The Dacia Logan was introduced in 2004 to the rousing approval of western Europeans. Renault manufactured the 75-hp sedan in Romania and other cheap markets with stress on cutting manufacturing costs to provide a roomy, but inexpensive car for consumers. Buyers enjoyed a base price of $6,600.

Hyundai Atos/Santro

Shocked to see a Hyundai on the list? The company that’s been known for its share of cheap cars here in the U.S. makes them even cheaper overseas. The Atos was originally introduced in 1998 and built in Korea, but Hyundai shifted production to India, where it made inroads with Indian consumers. It also made the Atos available in Europe and other markets around the world. Labeled the Santro in India, the car was a five-door, five-seat hatch. This cheap car offered some notable available upgrades including power windows, a/c and dual front air bags. In 2007, the Atos would have set you back $6,350. The new version of the Atos is known as the i10.

Suzuki Maruti Alto

This compact little 5-door put out 47hp controlled via a 5-speed transmission. The car was launched in India in 2000 and also gained popularity in other markets including Europe. Its gaining popularity saw it surpass the classic M-800 in sales during the middle of the decade. In 2007, one would have expected to pay just over $6 grand for the Alto. The Wall Street Journal reported just days ago that Suzuki Maruti expects to see double digit sales growth this year, proving that vehicles like the Alto remain quite popular.

Geely MR

The Geely MR was a five-door hatch similar to the HQ-SRV. It featured more impressive options under the hood, however, with choice of 1.3-liter 86 hp 4-cylinder or a 1.5-liter 94 hp version. For that kind of prime time power, one had to pay a premium of around $5,500.

Fiat Palio

You just knew you were going to run into a Fiat sooner or later. Another entry from the Indian market, the Palio is produced in Brazil among a number of other nations. The five-door hatch was launched in 1996 and was based on the Fiat Uno from the 1980’s. It featured a 999cc inline 4-cylinder engine. The “best travel mate” for “work, school, entertainment, traveling, nightlife” had a base price of $5,000 in 2007.

Geely HQ-SRV

Here we have a sports recreational vehicle that sold for under $5,000–pretty impressive. Looking like a cheapened, shortened shell of a Subaru Outback, the HQ-SRV featured a roomy interior and 1.0 to 1.5 liter engine options. It doesn’t appear like it was ever ready to tackle the most challenging off-road terrain, but it did sell well in China, and was also exported to Middle Eastern countries. Base price was $4,400.

Suzuki Maruti M-800

In cheap car circles, the Suzuki Maruti M-800 is a living legend. First introduced in 1983, the 4-door, 1,444-lb. Suzuki has been very popular with the Indian middle class and has also been sold in other nearby developing countries.  In 2007, the ” smallest car in production” was listed at a base price of $4,400. For that little scratch, its 78-mph top speed and 47 mpg doesn’t look too bad at all.

Geely Marie Star

This tiny little four-door sedan featured engines from 1.0 to 1.3 liters. Originally introduced in 2005, the China-manufactured Marie Star was a popular ride in middle-class China. The company has claimed intentions of bringing its cars to the U.S., so we’ll have to wait with bated breath to get a test ride. Price has been listed as low as $4200 for this one.

Chery QQ3

This boxy little put-put featured a .8-liter, 3-cylinder engine that put out 51 scrambling horses. The vehicle was made in China and other countries and enjoyed popularity with Chinese buyers. It was also made available in other countries in the Middle East and Latin America. The car had a remarkably close resemblance to the Chevy Spark, and GM Daiwoo persued legal action against Chery, in which Chery settled. Why any company would want to admit that this car was modeled after its own is a quandary that won’t likely be answered. In 2007, the car was priced starting at $3,900.

Tata Nano

Just released to the Indian market this summer, the Tata is the current cheapest car in the world. With a starting price around $2,500, this car is cheaper than many performance bicycles. The Nano is a four-door, five-seater that sports a 624cc 2-cylinder petrol engine. Little conveniences like air conditioning are nowhere to be found, but for $2.5K, one shouldn’t expect too much. The car has actually been the focal point of some controversy due to the perceived environmental impact such an inexpensive car will have. In its defense, it’d be interesting to know how many of those first-world critics drive to work on a bicycle every day–or even a car as small and efficient as the Nano (50mpg).  While it’s selling in India, plans are to make this one available in Europe and the U.S. within two years.

*Most prices come from a 2007 BusinessWeek feature and 2008 numbers supplied by Forbes and are not a reflection of current market prices.*