Written byIn today’s tech-savvy automotive universe, large infotainment screens are no longer reserved for luxury cars. More budget-friendly vehicles are now equipped with higher-resolution touchscreen screens, innovative features, and advanced connectivity from the factory, offering a better driving experience. Whether it’s music or vehicle functions, live traffic, or your favorite apps, with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the larger screen is the ideal size to maximize your experience on the go in your In-Dash receiver.
If you are in the market for a new car, and you don’t want to lay out a fortune to get the latest tech — which may be outdated in two or three years, anyway — you are in luck. Even many of the greatest cars and trucks under $30,000 today are either included with them or at least offer large infotainment displays.
Then there are sporty-looking sedans, including the Hyundai Elantra, which comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen on higher trims, and flashy subcompact SUVs like the Chevrolet Trax, featuring an even larger 11-inch display from the 2025 model year. These cars represent a combination of value, reliability, and innovation at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore the best cars available for under $30,000, featuring large, user-friendly infotainment systems. We’ll detail their screen sizes, key specs, and the tech features that set them apart in a crowded market. Whether you value access, looks, or the latest technology, these rides bring big-screen action to the screen of your car without an A-list price. Which model offers the best value in terms of technology and affordability for your lifestyle in 2025? Read on.
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#1. 2025 Chevrolet Trax
- Starting Price: $20,400
- Infotainment Screen: 11-inch touchscreen
Key Features:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Chevy Safety Assist suite
- Modern design with increased interior space
Chevrolet Trax At just $20,400, the Trax is a value and stylish subcompact SUV. It is the spacious, modernized cousin of the original, with a flamboyant redesign. Meanwhile, behind the wheel, they’ll have a convenient 11-inch touchscreen available at their fingertips, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay1 and wireless Android Auto2 connectivity as star marks.
Safety earns heavy-duty thanks to features that include emergency emergency braking and lane keep assist. Whether dashing through the city or running weekend errands, 2025 will keep you comfortable and connected, allowing you to stay up with your urban adventures and modern lifestyle. For thrifty shoppers who want utility and some of the latest features, the Trax is one of the best options on the market.
#2. 2025 Hyundai Elantra
- Starting Price: $22,125
- Infotainment Screen: 8-inch standard; 10.25-inch available on higher trims
Key Features:
- Sleek design with advanced safety features
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
The Hyundai Elantra offers the value, style, and technology you want in a vehicle, starting at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $22,125. The Elantra combines aggressive styling with a strong safety record and a comprehensive list of available features. Inside, it comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, although you can opt for a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display on upper trims. Both screens also offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to stay connected while on the go.
For added peace of mind, Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite also includes lane-keeping assistance and forward-collision warning. Price and features: it’s inexpensive, packed with features, and stylish, which is why the Elantra is ideal for budget-conscious individuals who still want modern technology and safety.
#3. 2025 Kia Soul
- Starting Price: $20,190
- Infotainment Screen: 10.25-inch touchscreen
Key Features:
- Unique boxy design with spacious interior
- Â User-friendly infotainment system
The redesigned Kia Soul starts at $20,190 and is once again attracting attention with its trademark boxy design. While this may be a compact car, it offers a generous amount of interior space, making it ideal when you need versatility without having to switch to a larger vehicle. In the middle of the cabin is a glossy 10.25-inch touchscreen, which is paired with a user-friendly infotainment system and seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
From its daring design to its dramatic interior, the Soul is a rock star among small cars and currently holds a 2017 Best award. Whether you’re cruising urban highways or exploring rural backroads, the Kia Soul brings you comfort, connectivity, and character at a price that’s impossible to resist.
#4. 2025 Honda Civic
- Starting Price: $25,345
- Infotainment Screen: 7-inch standard; 9-inch available on higher trims
Key Features:
- Refined interior with advanced safety features
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
The Honda Civic remains among the best in the compact car class, with a base price of $25,345. It rides and handles well, and it’s more refined than ever inside, with a more interesting interior and the latest features. Base models come with a 7-inch touchscreen, while upper trims receive a larger 9-inch display geared towards a more expansive infotainment offering. Both screens are also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, helping the driver stay constantly connected.
Honda’s suite of safety assist systems is on hand for peace of mind, featuring adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation braking. With an impressive new look, good gas mileage, and driver-friendly tech, the Honda Civic boasts a comprehensive package that keeps it ahead of the game in the segment.
#5. 2025 Toyota Corolla
- Starting Price: $21,700
- Infotainment Screen: 8-inch touchscreen
Key Features:
- Reliable performance with excellent fuel efficiency
- Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Currently, the Toyota Corolla remains the top choice for drivers who prioritize value, reliability, and fuel efficiency, and it is the best-selling sedan model in North America. The Corolla, with a base price of $21,700, offers spirited performance and impressive fuel economy, making it well-suited for both daily commutes and extended road trips. Embedded in the dash is an 8-inch touchscreen that houses the infotainment system, which comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to easily connect your smartphone and enjoy it while on the go.
Toyota also adds a good complement of advanced safety features, such as lane departure alerts and dynamic radar-based cruise control, which inspires even more confidence in driving. The Toyota Corolla has it all in terms of style, ride quality, and interior space. We just got everything you need without being too hard on the budget or gas.
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#6. 2025 Mazda3
- Starting Price: $25,135
- Infotainment Screen: 8.8-inch display
Key Features:
- Premium interior feel with sporty handling
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support
The Mazda3 is designed to feel premium for a compact car, with a starting price of $25,135. Its smooth bodywork and upscale materials provide a near-luxury experience at an accessible price point. Cool features: The 8.8-inch infotainment screen offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, and it comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration.
What sets the Mazda3 apart is its sporty handling and polished ride quality, offering a fun and smooth driving experience. It’s a solid take on the small car, whether you’re commuting or out on a cruise. When two out of three is not enough, seek style and dash with a dash of sophistication.
#7. 2025 Hyundai Tucson
- Starting Price: $28,355
- Infotainment Screen: 12.3-inch touchscreen
Key Features:
- Spacious cabin with advanced safety tech
- User-friendly infotainment interface
The Hyundai Tucson, with its bold design, spacious interior, and an array of cool tech, makes a statement in the compact SUV class. Beginning at $28,355, the Tucson offers substantial value and features a well-appointed interior, along with advanced safety systems, including Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. Highlighting its interior is an extensive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s user-friendly and responsive, featuring standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The spacious design of the Tucson provides ample room for passengers and a substantial amount of cargo space for daily use. It doesn’t matter if you’re a commuter or a long-distance road-tripper; the Hyundai Tucson offers comfort, technology, and safety in a sharp-looking package that’s tough to beat in the compact SUV segment.
#8. 2025 Kia Seltos
- Starting Price: $24,590
- Infotainment Screen: 8-inch standard; 10.25-inch available on higher trims
Key Features:
- Stylish design with ample cargo space
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
The ideal blend of style, space, and smarts, starting at $24,590 for a compact SUV with the Kia Seltos. With its eye-catching exterior and just the right amount of available space for your life, the Seltos offers plenty of cargo room and cabin comfort to go around, whether it’s a trip to the grocery store or a weekend getaway.
With many tech-savvy drivers on your customer list, you’ll offer them impressive goodies like the standard 8-inch touchscreen (a 10.25-inch unit is available in higher models) and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to ensure their connectivity is smooth and uninterrupted. The Seltos also brings important safety options, such as forward collision warning and lane-keeping assist. Whether it’s the city or the open road, the Kia Seltos unites the best of both worlds with a creative design that is sure to let you stand out among the subcompact SUV segment.
#9. 2025 Volkswagen Taos
- Starting Price: $23,995
- Infotainment Screen: 6.5-inch standard; 8-inch available on higher trims
Key Features:
- Â Spacious interior with user-friendly controls
- Â Available BeatsAudio sound system
Volkswagen Taos is a compact SUV with a lot of comfortable amenities, practical solutions, and intelligence in design, starting at $23,995. It has ample space on the inside, with simple operation, and is an excellent option for small families or commuters. The standard model features a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while the higher trims come with an upgraded 8-inch screen that offers additional features. For those who genuinely love music, the optional BeatsAudio sound system brings a touch of premium to the table.
Its supple ride, cavernous cargo area, and easy-to-operate infotainment system make the Taos perfect for those who prioritize a people hauler that doesn’t compromise comfort. If you’re in the market for an affordable, spacious, and unfussy SUV that still has some kick, the Volkswagen Taos is a wise choice among compact SUVs.
#10. 2025 Subaru Impreza
- Starting Price: $23,610
- Infotainment Screen: 6.5-inch standard; 8-inch available on higher trims
Key Features:
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
The Subaru Impreza is an efficient compact car that offers a reliable, safe, and all-season-friendly option with standard all-wheel drive, a highlight in this class, at a starting price of $23,610. On the inside, the Impreza offers a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on its base trims, which can be upgraded to an 8-inch display for upper trims. Integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on both models, so your smartphone is along for the ride.
With a strong body construction and an accommodating ride, the Impreza is also available with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which enhances safety. The Subaru Impreza’s sensible construction, user-friendly technology, and overall value make it a solid choice for drivers seeking a reliable daily driver that won’t strain their budget.
Conclusion
It used to cost a fortune to take advantage of modern technology and large infotainment screens in your car. Technological advances continue to march on in the automotive industry, and now even vehicles that cost less than $30,000 might come with cool tech features that go beyond what we would have imagined possible just a few years ago. Whether you’re shopping for a subcompact SUV like a Chevrolet Trax or a quirky-styled compact like a Kia Soul, there are models offering infotainment screens as big as 10.25 or even 12.3 inches. Sedans in the image of the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3 offer a combination of screen size and driving pleasure, featuring upscale interiors and responsive handling.
Look past screen size when shopping for your next car. Consider the user interface, smartphone compatibility (such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), voice controls, and the system’s responsiveness to inputs. These things are hugely advantageous; they are the key elements of a seamless and undistracted driving experience. For instance, the Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Taos boast straightforward infotainment systems packed with valuable features that you’ll use regularly.
In the end, it’s easier than ever to strike the right balance of tech, price, and performance. Because many low-cost vehicles come with some of the best infotainment systems on the market, you could have the high-tech car of your dreams without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a technophile or looking for an easy way to navigate or stream music, today’s sub-$30K rides can handle it—and provide you with a more connected, smarter driving experience.
