best small car australia 2022 under $20 000

Got under $20k to spend and want the best small car in Australia? Aim for used all‑rounders like Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai i30, or a tidy Kia Cerato—reliable, efficient, and not allergic to parallel parking.

If you’re chasing something near-new and still under $20k (think 2022 pricing), the MG3 and Kia Picanto were the realistic showroom bets; everything else had already wandered north of twenty grand.

Prioritise full service history, low kms, and basic safety tech like AEB; spend a little on a pre‑purchase inspection and save a lot on regret.

Expect real-world fuel use around 6–8 L/100 km and cheap consumables, so the running costs don’t mug you at the servo.

Browse Tradingpost to compare clean examples, then haggle politely—no one ever scored a bargain by mumbling at their shoes.