1) 2018 Kia Rio

$13,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7/10

The 2018 Kia Rio was completely redesigned this year, so it has a few more standard features than it used to, including power door locks and air conditioning – but not power windows or cruise control. A 5-inch touch screen and satellite radio come with the base LX trim.

The price of the base trim is low enough that you could upgrade a few things and still not reach $15,000. The standard six-speed manual transmission can be replaced by a six-speed automatic for about $1,000, or you could choose the five-door hatchback instead of the sedan for about $300 more.

• See 2018 Kia Rio Photos

4) 2018 Chevrolet Spark

$13,050 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10

If you need to get around town on the cheap, the 2018 Chevy Spark can do it. It’s maneuverable in tight spaces and quick to change lanes on arterial surface streets.

However, this car is less appealing when you leave the city. The 98-horsepower engine isn’t quite up to long stretches on the highway, and the light steering feels better when parallel parking than when passing a semi truck.

The interior is pretty small, and power seat adjustments are not available. But the standard infotainment system is top-notch, with a 7-inch touch screen that recognizes gestures you’d use on your phone, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The base Spark LS is well under $15,000. The Spark 1LT adds cruise control, power windows and locks, keyless entry, and more for $14,875.

7) 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

$13,395 | U.S. News Overall Score: 5.6/10

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is a real mixed bag. It is very inexpensive, and it performs well in safety tests. A rearview camera, a 7-inch touch screen, and Bluetooth were added as standard equipment this year. The hatchback has quite a bit of room behind the seats, and it’s less expensive than the sedan. The Mirage also has one of the highest fuel economy ratings in the subcompact car class.

However, that thriftiness at the pump comes at the cost of performance. The three-cylinder engine is poky on its best days. The interior is filled with hard plastics, and the back seat is small. It’s possible to choose a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) instead of the five-speed manual transmission and still pay less than $15,000, but the CVT can make the engine noisy when you’re trying to accelerate.