As car prices rise, buyers should consider compact cars to get more bang for their buck, USA TODAY reported.

The average price for a vehicle today is around $31,000--a substantial increase from a decade or so ago, when $20,000 bought "a lot of car," the outlet reported.

USA TODAY, Cars.com and MotorWeek collaborated for a Compact Car Challenge, finding that buyers can still get a roomy, innovative vehicle for $20,000. Besides costing less, compact cars are also more likely to hold their value over time, according to a projection by TrueCar.com's ALG, specialists in forecasting future value of cars.

Today's compacts have more leg and knee room and plenty of options such as navigation, a backup camera, information and entertainment systems and even all-wheel drive. Fuel economy can sometimes exceed 40 miles per gallon on highway driving.

The goal of the challenge was to find a fuel-efficient compact car that costs no more than $20,000. Seven vehicles matched the criteria: Toyota Corolla. Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza.

While car shoppers can find some good options in the compact vehicle market, no one car had everything, the report found.

The Ford Focus, which sells for $18,200, was the least expensive and had the smoothest handle, but the interior didn't have a lot of space. The car also tended to be noisy and lacked a Bluetooth receiver. At $19,945, the Nissan Sentra was the most expensive, but it was also the only car with a navigation system.

"The interior felt upscale, the air-conditioning was exceptional, it had a backup camera and was smooth and quiet," USA TODAY reported. But the Nissan Sentra didn't ride so well on bumpy roads.

Overall, the report found that compact cars can be a good deal for new buyers who are looking for low prices. Most midsize vehicles will cost at least $22,000.

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