Why even the cheapest new car in 2026 Is better than we ever had

We are all so spoiled in 2026.

Think back to your first car, whenever and whatever it might have been.

In my case, the date was in the 1970s and the car was a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle. From memory, it cost $400.

I had to wind my own windows, the tyres were skinny and had dreadful grip, and the heater operated by diverting gas from the engine room at the back. Radio? Nup . . .

Now fast-forward to today, when everything from electric windows and air-conditioning and power steering is standard in even the cheapest cars.

Invariably there is also a giant display screen in the dash that can mirror your smartphone and distract you far more comprehensively than any radio.

The size, shape and price of cars has also changed massively.

There is almost nothing now for less than $20,000 – the Kia Picanto tiddler is only for cities and tight parking places – small hatchbacks are nearly dead, and most people want to ‘sit up high’ in an SUV.

All of these changes make it incredibly tough to find a starting-price new car in 2026.

I know because I’ve just been doing it, mostly as a research project but also to find a set of wheels for my 16-year-old son’s L-plate driver training.

One essential requirement was a manual gearbox. Now jokingly described as an ‘anti-theft’ system for Millennials, a manual shift forces a youngster to learn the craft of ‘driving’ and not just steering. You have to be in the right gear at the right time, to match the traffic and maximise your fuel economy, and even moving away means learning the art of the clutch pedal …

After eliminating the Picanto, and a couple of baby Suzuki contenders, I shifted my focus to Hyundai. After all, it was the original Excel that – like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic before it – which won people over to value-first cars from South Korea. The original plan for ‘drive away, no more to pay’ deals, which have become the industry standard, as hatched at Hyundai to give people the essential ‘permission to buy’ which is now the key to 10-year warranties on Chinese cars.

But back to Hyundai. And the baby Venue, which is the modern SUV-style equivalent of the Excel.

It’s compact, relatively affordable from $23,000, is easy to drive and park, and has no illusions of grandeur. So the basic car does not have fake leather trim, or a belter sound system, or electric seats, or a sunroof.

It just does its thing. Nice easy driving, easy to park, and – with the basic six-speed manual gearbox – good to learn about the clutch and gear selection.

My test time in the Venue has taken it well outside the parameters of Learner driving, including a long-distance trip from Brisbane to Sydney and back, moving some flat-pack furniture, and carrying four adults for some short trips.

What have I learned?

Even the most basic car in 2026 is far more than you really need for everyday motoring. The air-conditioning works well, the performance is adequate, the seats are comfy and the headlights and wipers work well.

It’s also easy to pair my phone for calls and Waze navigation and, a big surprise, it even has a charging pad in the front of the central console as well as USB chargers with both A and C sockets.

The ride is fine, the cornering is fine, the gearing is fine, the economy is fine – it’s averaging 6.1 against and official claim of 7.0 litres/100km – and everything looks good and fits well.

The only elephant is the ANCAP safety rating, which is only 4 Stars. But that’s fine to protect the occupants and the missing semi-autonomous systems – such as ‘active’ cruise control and auto safety braking – are actually a bonus when you’re teaching a youngster how to drive. Properly.

So the Venue ticks the right boxes, does what you expect, and will be a great second-hand deal at some time in the future. It should be on the shopping list for anyone considering a new car for a youngster, and also for people at the other end of their time in cars.

HYUNDAI VENUE

Price:          From $23,000

Engine:      1.6-litre petrol, 90kW/151Nm

Gearbox:    6-speed manual, front-wheel drive

Safety:        4-star ANCAP

Economy:   7.0 litres/100km

The tick:     Yes