Walk into a McDonald’s or iStore, and you’ll soon be confronted by a hundred ways to upgrade the item you wanted. It’s no different when buying a car, with greedy salespeople ready to tack on tempting packages or upgrade you to a better trim, unnecessarily squeezing more money out of you. In certain cases, car upgrades are worthwhile, but some cars are so complete in their cheapest form that not one option is needed to improve them. We’ve chosen ten of the best cars that don’t need any options to impress, so let’s dive in and uncover a world where base models are to be celebrated.
What are base trims?
Quite simply, this is the cheapest version you can buy of a particular car. These models don’t always have the best technologies, the most powerful engines, or the most advanced safety equipment. Base trims can sometimes be upgraded, but even the options and packages available to them tend to be limited. However, a well-engineered vehicle – including the ones mentioned below – can be just as enjoyable as much more expensive cars in the same range.
1 Toyota GR86
The Toyota GR86 shines because it’s a frill-free sports car at a very reasonable price. Instead of an overabundance of gadgets and any form of forced induction, it stays true to the classic sports car recipe of a naturally-aspirated, high-revving engine, rear-wheel drive, and a manual gearbox. You get all of this on the base model, which costs just $29,300. The 2.4-liter flat-four engine shared with the Subaru BRZ produces 228 horsepower, just enough to put a smile on your face. Five colors are available at no extra cost, including the vibrant Neptune 2.0 (blue). With its compact dimensions, the base GR86 weighs only 2,811 pounds, and it feels that light when you drive it. It’s all the sports car you need.
2024 Toyota GR86
- Base MSRP
- $29,300
- Engine
- 2.4-Liter Four-Cylinder
- Horsepower
- 228 hp
- Torque
- 184 lb-ft
- Transmission
- 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Automatic
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Economy
- 20/26/22 mpg (Manual) | 21/30/24 mpg (Automatic)
2 Tesla Model 3 RWD
Tesla’s high-performance models tend to get the lion’s share of attention, but this is an automaker that offers plenty of bang for your buck across the range. At its price point of $38,990, the recently upgraded Tesla Model 3 RWD is unrivaled among electric sedans. Its single motor propels it to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, far quicker than the base Hyundai Ioniq 6, the Tesla’s only legitimate rival at this price. With a range of 272 miles, the cheapest Model 3 also outshines the comparable Ioniq 6. Standard equipment includes a 15.4-inch touchscreen, emergency braking, and over-the-air updates. You miss out on the $8,000 Full Self-Driving Suite, but if you prefer doing the driving yourself, this shouldn’t be an issue.
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Tesla Model 3 Trims Compared |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trim |
Rear-Wheel Drive |
Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive |
Long Range All-Wheel Drive |
Performance All-Wheel Drive |
|
Range |
272 miles |
363 miles |
341 miles |
303 miles |
|
0-60 mph |
5.8 seconds |
4.9 seconds |
4.2 seconds |
2.9 seconds |
|
Base MSRP |
$38,990 |
$42,490 |
$47,490 |
$54,990 |
|
These prices were correct at the time of writing, but since Tesla updates its pricing frequently, we recommend visiting the brand’s website to confirm the latest MSRPs. |
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3 Porsche 911 Carrera
It seems paradoxical to call a $120,100 car a base model, but that’s technically what the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera is. That sum gets you a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 388 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds; it’s hard to believe that’s how quick the slowest 911 now is. The timeless lines, Matrix Design LED headlights, and standard 19-/20-inch Carrera wheels don’t give off any entry-level vibes, and you get the same quality interior materials as other Porsches. This base 911 has the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK transmission and no access to a manual, but it might be the one auto ‘box that won’t have you begging for a third pedal; that’s how good it is. The 911’s responsive, communicative steering and alert chassis are very much evident in this base model. You can easily add $50k in options to the 911, but fundamentally, this is a brilliant sports car.
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera
- Base MSRP
- $120,100
- Base Trim Engine
- 3.0L Twin-Turbo 6-Cylinder Boxer
- Base Trim Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Transmission
- 8-Speed Dual-Clutch PDK Automatic
- Base Trim Horsepower
- 388 hp
- Base Trim Torque
- 331 lb-ft
- 0-60 MPH
- 3.7 seconds (with Sport Chrono)
4 Chevrolet Corvette C8 1LT
Until the arrival of the Z06 and E-Ray, nobody was complaining about the standard C8 being under-endowed. In fact, at $68,300, the Corvette 1LT is phenomenal value considering its performance and exotic looks. The cheapest C8 produces 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter V8 engine and has an ultra-fast eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It flies to 60 in around three seconds, sounds pretty darn good while doing it, and handles fantastically well. Unlike Porsche, Chevy will allow you more color choices for the exterior and interior without adding anything to your bill. Items like a power driver’s seat and Bose sound system also come standard. The Corvette C8’s brilliance shines through before you’ve added a single extra.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
- Base MSRP
- $68,300
- Engine
- 6.2L V8 Gas
- Horsepower
- 490 hp
- Torque
- 465 lb-ft
- Transmission
- 8-Speed Automatic
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- 0-60 MPH
- 3.0 seconds
5 BMW 330i RWD
A few generations back, the 330i was the king of the 3 Series sedan lineup. Today, it’s the cheapest model you can get. For the 2025 model year, the base 330i RWD starts at $45,500. That gets you a 255-hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. Although it doesn’t have the sonorous soundtrack of the six-cylinder M340i, the 330i is brisk, efficient, handles sweetly, and has a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox. Unless you must have AWD, the standard RWD setup is classic BMW. Performance aside, a base BMW is no longer a stripped-down attempt at luxury. The 330i gets classy SensaTec upholstery, wireless device charging, BMW’s smart Curved Display, forward collision warning, and a lot more as standard. The 18-inch wheels also help with keeping the inherently firm ride more comfortable.
2025 BMW 3 Series Sedan
- Base MSRP
- $45,500
- Base Trim Engine
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged mild-hybrid
- Base Trim Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Transmission
- 8-speed Automatic
- Base Trim Horsepower
- 255 hp
- Base Trim Torque
- 295 lb-ft
- 0-60 MPH
- 5.6 sec
6 Mazda MX-5 Sport
Much like the Toyota GR86, it seems like an affront to the mission of the Mazda MX-5 Miata to overload it with equipment. Decades later, it’s still a simple, lightweight, and lithe sports car. The base MX-5 Sport starts at $28,985, almost $4,000 less than the next cheapest trim. Like the pricier models, the Sport has the same 181-hp 2.0-liter engine with a manual gearbox, with power routed to the rear axle. The Sport sticks with smaller 16-inch alloys and a more limited color palette, while missing out on niceties like the Bose sound system. It’s enormous fun to drive, though, thanks to a curb weight of only 2,341 lbs and quick, sharp steering. Ultimately, the MX-5 is born to entertain, not masquerade as anything remotely luxurious. The base Sport does that as well as the more expensive trims.
Expert Opinion
“For [$28,985], you can buy a car that is so much fun to drive that you’ll forget it has less horsepower than a Toyota Camry hybrid. Let’s get that out of the way first. The Mazda MX-5 is brisk but not fast in a straight line. It doesn’t need to be. Driving in a straight line is boring. The British figured that out way back, but the Japanese took the British roadster concept and perfected it for the modern era. The MX-5 captures the purity of driving joy in one tiny two-seat car that weighs not much more than 2,300 pounds.”
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Base MSRP
- $28,985
- Engine
- 2.0L Inline-4 Gas
- Horsepower
- 181 hp
- Torque
- 151 lb-ft
- Transmission
- 6-speed MT | 6-speed AT
- Drivetrain
- RWD
7 Ford Maverick XL
Together with the Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Ford Maverick has breathed new life into the compact pickup truck market. Unlike the SUV-style Hyundai, the Ford has squarer, more rugged lines traditionally associated with pickups. And, at under $24k for the XL, the base model is excellent value. The 17-inch steel wheels and tough, basic cloth seats would be offensive on a luxury SUV, but here they perfectly complement the more industrious role of a truck. The standard turbocharged engine produces a strong 250 hp, so there’s no need to upgrade to a more powerful pickup. The base Maverick is an honest, unpretentious package that will suit someone who needs the versatility of an open bed for carrying larger or unusually shaped items.
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8 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500
The S-Class has exemplified excellence in the full-size sedan luxury segment for so long, it’s hard to recall when it wasn’t considered the benchmark. To retain that status, Mercedes knows that every single S-Class needs to be great, even the most attainable one. While some older base S-Class models felt a bit underpowered, the S500 4Matic is anything but. This cheapest S-Class costs $117,300 and makes 442 hp and 413 lb-ft from its smooth 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology; it will reach 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds. While the more expensive V8 may be tempting, the mechanical refinement of all S-Class models is such that you can barely hear the engines, anyway. The cheapest S glides down the road with authority, is packed with standard comforts, and nothing about it screams “base model.”
Expert Opinion
“In our opinion, the S-Class is still the clear flagship in the Mercedes lineup, and we greatly prefer it to the EQS Sedan.”
9 Audi A6 Premium 45 TFSI
Few sedans exude understated elegance as effortlessly as the Audi A6. More of a comfortable cruiser than anything else, the A6 rewards a gentle driving style, so the base model’s 261 hp and 273 lb-ft feel adequate. Audi’s secure quattro AWD system is standard, as is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Classy leather upholstery, leatherette trim on the dashboard, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen interface are standard, creating an interior atmosphere that doesn’t feel sparse or missing anything essential. Compared to Mercedes and BMW, this is the only mid-size luxury sedan with AWD that starts at below $60k.
2024 Audi A6
- Base MSRP
- $58,100
- Engine
- 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Horsepower
- 261 hp
- Fuel Economy
- 23/33 MPG
10 Mazda CX-90 Turbo Select
At $37,845, the base Mazda CX-90 is the cheapest way to get a new vehicle with an inline six-cylinder engine. This smooth powertrain goes some way to making the CX-90 feel more refined and luxurious than its price suggests. The 3.3-liter turbo engine produces 280 hp in base form, which is enough to get off the mark swiftly. A refined ride and more engaging handling than the average SUV also make a strong case for the CX-90. It looks good, too, with the Deep Crystal Blue Mica paint pictured above being one of the no-cost color choices. Inside, the Mazda has a smart cabin that is one of the brand’s best. The base CX-90 still gets three-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and leatherette-trimmed seats. The infotainment display is 10.25 inches, unlike the 12.3 inches of other trims. A small difference like this mostly doesn’t affect the overall enjoyment of a very fine SUV in entry-level guise.
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2024 Mazda CX-90
- Base MSRP
- $37,845
- Engine
- 3.3L Turbo Inline-6 Gas
- Horsepower
- 280-340 hp
- Torque
- 332-369 lb-ft
- Transmission
- 8-Speed Automatic
- Fuel Economy
- 24/28 MPG