5 of the Best Base Trim Vehicles in 2025

Miami Herald

17-07-2025

There's a lot of pressure to get the most expensive trim level due to FOMO. That shouldn't force you into getting more than you need, and while top-tier trims get all the headlines with panoramic sunroofs, massaging seats, and 20-inch wheels, most car buyers don't need all of those unnecessary features. Whether it's due to budget constraints, a preference for simplicity, or just smart shopping, base trims often provide more today than ever before. Modern base trims come packed with safety tech, infotainment, and style that rival mid-range trims from just a few years ago. Here are five of the best base trim vehicles for 2025 that prove you don't have to pay more to get a lot.
The current generation of the Honda Civic might just be its best, and that's true even in base LX trim ($24,595 MSRP). The venerable Civic continues the model's long-standing tradition of blending value, comfort, and dependability. It's powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower, paired with a CVT. The exterior and interior are smartly designed, featuring more conservatively styled yet attractive sheet metal, combined with an ergonomically excellent cabin that showcases some of the best physical controls in the segment.
Even if you don't add a single option to the LX, it comes standard with a ton of equipment, including 16-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights, automatic climate control, a 7-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and pushbutton start, Honda's full "Sensing" safety suite, makes the Civic feel like a tremendous safety value. It comes with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane departure warning, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, and traffic sign recognition, making the LX a well-rounded and smart buy in the compact car segment. Learn more here.
A premium SUV doesn't have to feel like an à la carte experience. The Genesis GV70 offers real value in a segment where prices can climb quickly. In base 2.5T AWD trim ($47,985), the GV70 redefines what base-trim luxury can be. Under the hood is a potent 300-hp turbocharged 2.5‑liter four‑cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. In terms of exterior styling, the GV70 sports one of the most original looks in the segment with eye-catching two-line parallel headlights and taillights, a more intricate lattice grille, and new wheel styles.
As the trim label indicates, the GV70 2.5T comes standard with all-wheel drive. The GV70 now has a beautiful 27-inch dash-mounted OLED screen setup that incorporates the instrument cluster and infotainment for a seamless experience. It also comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic high beams, heated outside mirrors, Genesis Connected Services, fingerprint authentication that allows you to start the car without a key, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a hands-free power liftgate, LED lighting, heated leatherette seats, and dual-zone climate control. Its safety set includes standard adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation, and Genesis's Highway Driving Assist. Another boost for the model, even in base trim, is improved sound deadening that makes the GV70 an impressively quiet place to be, even at high speeds.
The now hybrid-only Camry, which starts around $28,700, is one of the most value-packed automobiles in the industry. The significant refresh brings more refined styling, and even the base LE doesn't scrimp on features. First of all, it has the same powertrain as higher trims, a 2.5-liter hybrid engine that makes a substantial 225 horsepower and even returns an EPA-estimated 51 mpg city and 49 mpg highway. That's Prius-level efficiency in a family sedan with gobs of room, combined with steering and handling that often evade the segment.
The Camry LE's list of standard features includes 16-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights and DRLs, heated power outside mirrors, acoustic front windshield, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a tire pressure monitor, plus Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane centering, road sign assist, and proactive driving assist. The safety equipment alone is worth the price of entry. The Camry LE proves that going hybrid in base form doesn't mean sacrificing performance or features. The Camry is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
This list wouldn't be complete without a Hyundai model. The brand is known for jamming tons of standard features into every trim level, and that includes the Tucson SE, priced at $28,705. The fourth-generation provides one of the strongest value propositions in the compact SUV segment, and it's even more appealing with a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen incorporated within a larger dash-mounted display with new analog gauges. The SE is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Standard equipment on the SE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and DRLs, automatic headlights with high beam assist, a rear spoiler, acoustic front glass, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear occupant alert, and advanced safety features like forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning. The Tucson also offers a spacious interior with a class-leading 41.3 inches of rear legroom and a sizable cargo area of 80.3 cubic feet with the seats folded flat, making it a smart and practical pick for small families or anyone wanting crossover utility without climbing the trim ladder. With bold styling and Hyundai's excellent warranty, the Tucson SE punches well above its price point. Learn more here.
The Mazda3 might seem long-in-the-tooth on paper (it's now in the 7th year of its 4th generation), but it still delivers arguably the most premium experience among base trims. Even the 2.5 S trim level, at a starting price of $24,170, is impressively outfitted. First of all, the style quotient is high with its curvaceous body that exudes premium. The 2.5 S comes with a 191 horsepower 2.5-liter engine that can be mated to either a 6-speed manual with front wheel drive or a 6-speed automatic transmission with front- or all-wheel drive, the latter of which is uncommon for base hatchbacks. Inside, the Mazda3 has a near-luxury feel, with high-quality materials and elegant design throughout the cabin.
Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, heated power side mirrors, LED headlights and DRLs, automatic headlights, black body trim, pushbutton start, voice control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, an 8.8-inch color infotainment display, while safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beam control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Mazda3 also excels dynamically, offering responsive steering and confident handling that enthusiasts will appreciate even in the base model. It's a tremendous value in base form, and everyone will think you paid more than you did.
Across the board, these five vehicles show that base trims no longer equate to boring, stripped-down transportation. In 2025, smart buyers can get high-end tech, advanced safety, solid performance, and thoughtful design right from the entry-level offerings. Whether you're looking for efficiency, utility, or a dose of driving excitement, every one of these base models proves that you don't have to spend more to get a great vehicle
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