10 Least Expensive Cars With Apple CarPlay

2018 honda fit ・ Photo by Honda

Heaven knows we love our iPhones. Many of us love them more than our cars, our clothes, or even our spouses. So it stands to reason that being able to use the functions we have on our iPhones in our cars has become a very desirable feature.

Apple has facilitated all that with Apple CarPlay — the necessary interface between the iPhone and a car’s infotainment system. Not long ago, getting a car with Apple CarPlay was difficult and expensive, in part because many car manufacturers were reluctant to cede control of the car’s infotainment system to Apple. But consumer demand is pretty persuasive, so for the 2020 model year, Apple CarPlay is more widely available even on cars that are inexpensive. Here are the 10 least expensive cars with Apple CarPlay.

2020 Chevrolet Spark

The Chevrolet Spark minicar is a segment leader, on sale in 131 countries around the world with global sales of more than 2.67 million. One of the reasons for its popularity is it can be filled with features.

That is certainly the Chevrolet version’s claim to fame. Its contemporary interior offers an available dot-matrix LCD instrument display and prominent center stack for infotainment and climate controls. Air conditioning and a split-folding rear seat are standard, and heated seats and a power sunroof are available. But the standard infotainment system might be the biggest plus. It features a 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi hotspot with available 4G LTE data, two USB ports, and an auxiliary input jack. Plus, it is compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Photo by Chevrolet

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mitsubishi Mirage, available as a five-door hatchback or as the G4 sedan, is another minicar and a heads-up competitor to the Chevrolet Spark. Low cost and high fuel economy are the watchwords with the Mirage, one of the few cars in the country that has an engine delivering less than 100 horsepower (78 hp, to be exact).

At the same time, the Mirage now offers automatic climate control as standard equipment. Unlike the Spark, the Mirage doesn’t offer standard Apple CarPlay, but the LE trim features Apple CarPlay compatibility plus heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and some exterior appearance items. A 7-inch touchscreen audio and Bluetooth streaming are standard across the Mirage lineup.

Photo by Mitsubishi

2020 Nissan Versa

The new-for-2020 Nissan Versa is a subcompact sedan that has the features on many larger cars. An example of that is the availability of Nissan Safety Shield 360 that helps provide front, side, and rear safety monitoring and intervention technologies.

Safety Shield 360 features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, and a lane-departure warning, among other technologies. Adaptive cruise control is also available. The 2020 Versa comes with a long list of standard convenience features, including front and rear power windows with driver's one-touch auto up/down, speed-sensing auto door locks, cruise control, and remote keyless entry with fobs. Apple CarPlay is not available in the lowest Versa trim, but it is offered in the SV and SR grades as part of Nissan Connect.

Photo by Nissan

2020 Toyota Yaris

Toyota execs say the Toyota Yaris sedan was designed to shred ideas consumers might have about entry-level subcompact cars. Yes, it offers very high fuel economy estimates and a low price, but there’s more to it than that. It has unexpected features like its low-speed pre-collision system that scans the road ahead for potential crashes and provides automatic braking if necessary.

Also unexpected is the fact that Apple CarPlay compatibility is offered as standard equipment across all the Yaris trim levels. The standard 7-inch multimedia system features voice recognition as well. The premium XLE trim is equipped with leatherette-trimmed front seats; a leather-trimmed steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake; automatic climate control; automatic LED headlights; rain-sensing windshield wipers; and illuminated entry.

Photo by Toyota

2020 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is a front-wheel-drive subcompact that’s offered in sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. It enters the 2020 model year with a new powertrain: An all-new 1.6-liter multi-point injection four-cylinder engine is teamed with an all-new iVT continuously variable transmission to increase fuel efficiency. Available electronic safety features include a new forward collision avoidance system.

The Rio is significantly longer than the segment leader, and its longer wheelbase enhances freeway driving. Its 120 horsepower also gives it a leg up in overall driving pleasure. Luggage space is a roomy 13.7 cubic feet. On the infotainment front, a 7-inch color touchscreen with support for Apple CarPlay is also standard for 2020.

Photo by Kia

2020 Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet might not be the brand you think of first when it comes to small sedans, which has influenced Chevy to fill the car with added features. For example, the Sonic can function as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and other features on the highlight list are keyless entry, LED running lights, a backup camera, and a split-folding rear seat.

On the safety front, 10 airbags are standard, while an available “driver confidence package” includes a forward collision alert, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assist. Cruise control is standard on the LT and Premier trims, and keyless entry and starting is standard on the Premier and available on the LT. The Sonic’s infotainment touchscreen is 7 inches diagonally, and it includes Apple CarPlay capability.

Photo by Chevrolet

2020 Hyundai Accent

Like many vehicles on this list, the Hyundai Accent is a front-wheel-drive subcompact sedan that offers seating for five, though four is a more comfortable number. Like its Kia Rio mechanical cousin, the 2020 Accent is powered by a 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

A six-speed manual transmission remains a choice, but the new automatic transmission is a CVT. The CVT offers better fuel economy than the previous conventional automatic. A big plus for the Accent over many cars on this lists the length of its warranty. There might be no surprise that the Accent features a 7-inch touchscreen interface to accompany its Apple CarPlay capability, but that capability is only offered on SEL and higher trim levels. A remote trunk release and a power moonroof are unexpected luxury options.

Photo by Hyundai

2020 Kia Soul

The sassy Kia Soul punches above its weight class in a number of areas. Newly redesigned for 2020, this subcompact hatchback retains the idiosyncratic style that has won so many fans. Naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines are available, and there an electric version is in the works.

The Soul’s available wireless smartphone charging and dual-zone automatic climate control are unexpected on a subcompact. But even more unexpected is the available sound mood lighting that emits light from the center door panels and a 3D pattern surface on the upper door panels. The system has the ability to synchronize to the beat of the music playing through the audio system, and it features a rainbow of customizable colors. A 10.25-inch HD color touchscreen with split-screen functionality is available, while Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth6 Multi-Connection are standard.

Photo by Kia

2020 Honda Fit

Many vehicle reviewers call the Honda Fit the most fun-to-drive subcompact car available in America. Its performance-oriented character, exceptional people- and cargo-hauling versatility, and available safety features make the Fit a very popular choice.

If you’re seeking safety from the storm, Honda Sensing is standard on uplevel EX and EX-L trims, and it includes niceties like adaptive cruise control plus a bevy of electronic driving enhancement. Fit doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay compatibility across the line, but it is standard on the Sport, EX, and EX-L trim levels. All Fits are powered by a 1.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine producing a peak output of 130 horsepower. In LX and Sport trims, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a continuously variable transmission available. The CVT automatic is standard on the EX and EX-L.

Photo by Honda

2020 Subaru Impreza

Subaru has been gaining a reputation as an exceptionally safe line of vehicles, and that rings true based on the enhancements to the 2020 Impreza. Available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models, all Impreza models equipped with the Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission come with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.

Also new for 2020 is the available Rear Seat Reminder, which alerts the driver to check the rear seat for a child or pet before exiting the vehicle. Additional features include standard all-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that produces 152 horsepower. The standard Subaru Starlink multimedia system has a 6.5-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Photo by Subaru