50 years of Australia’s most affordable cars

Fifty years ago, Australia’s most affordable car, the Mini Moke, could be yours for just $2384. Sure, it didn’t have doors, and the part-time roof was a thin bit of canvas, but for under three-thousand bucks, you could find yourself with a brand new car in your driveway.

It seems almost unthinkable that as recently as 2001, new car buyers could nab a brand new car – the Daihatsu Handi – for under $10,000. That would have been it for sub-$10k cars, when in 2013, fledgling Chinese brand Chery asked just $9990 for its Chery J1 hatchback.

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Since then, just two models – Mitsubishi’s Mirage and Kia’s Picanto – have held the honour of Australia’s most affordable new car, a title currently held by the Picanto which remains, in 2025, the only new car in Australia priced at less than $20,000. And unlike its Moke forebear of 50 years ago, it has doors.

Here are the most affordable cars of the past 50 years …

2020s

2025

• Kia Picanto Sport
• $18,690

2024

• Kia Picanto Sport
• $17,890

2023

• Kia Picanto S
• $16,290

2022

• Kia Picanto S
• $15,990

2021

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $14,990

2020

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $13,990

2010s

2019

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $13,990

2018

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $12,250

2017

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $12,250

2016

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $11,990

2015

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $11,990

2014

• Mitsubishi Mirage ES
• $11,490

2013

• Chery J1
• $9,990

2012

• Chery J1
• $10,990

2011

• Suzuki Alto GL
• $11,790

2010

• Suzuki Alto GL
• $11,790

2000s

2009

• Proton S16 GX
• $11,990

2008

• Holden Barina
• $13,690

2007

• Holden Barina
• $13,690

2006

• Holden Barina
• $13,490

2005

• Daihatsu Charade
• $11,490

2004

• Daihatsu Charade
• $11,950

2003

• Daihatsu Cuore
• $11,250

2002

• Daihatsu Cuore
• $11,250

2001

• Daihatsu Handi
• $9,750

2000

• Daewoo Matiz S
• $9,990

1990s

1999

• Daihatsu Handi
• $9,990

1998

• Suzuki Alto GL
• $9,990

1997

• Daihatsu Handivan
• $10,990

1996

• Daihatsu Handivan
• $10,990

1995

• Lada Volante
• $9,990

1994

• Lada Volante
• $9,990

1993

• FSM Niki
• $5,990

1992

• FSM Niki
• $5,999

1991

• FSM Niki
• $6,990

1990

• FSM Niki
• $7,990

1980s

1989

• FSM Niki
• $7,990

1988

• Suzuki Mighty Boy
• $7,490

1987

• Suzuki Mighty Boy
• $7,899

1986

• Daihatsu Hi-Jet
• $7,548

1985

• Suzuki Hatch
• $5,825

1984

• Suzuki Hatch
• $5,150

1983

• Leyland Moke
• $4,065

1982

• Suzuki Hatch
• $3,999

1981

• Leyland Moke
• $3,999

1980

• Suzuki Hatch
• $3,990

1970s

1979

• Leyland Moke
• $3,995

1978

• Leyland Moke
• $3,565

1977

• Leyland Moke
• $3,126

1976

• Suzuki Carry
• $2,604

1975

• Leyland Moke
• $2,384

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