• The Ford Fiesta, which was introduced to the European market in 2008, is finally available in the United States.New Ford Fiesta image by zimous from Fotolia.com
  
  If you're looking for a car that offers good quality at a budget-friendly price, you have a few options. A number of quality compact cars are available for a price of less than $20,000 as of October 2010. The 2010 Honda Fit, the 2011 Ford Fiesta, and the 2011 Nissan Versa fall into this category.
  
  

Honda Fit

• The 2010 Honda Fit offers some innovative storage, good value in fuel usage and commodious rear seating. One area it falls short is in accommodating taller drivers. U.S. News & World Report gives this car its Best Hatchback for the Money award for 2010. And according to Car and Driver, whose list of the 10 best cars the Honda Fit made it into as well, "It remains at heart a versatile, fun-to-drive car in a segment full of mostly duds."
  
  

Ford Fiesta

• The Ford Fiesta, which has been available in Europe since 2008, has finally made it to the United States with the 2011 model. U.S. News & World Report ranks this car number one in its "Affordable Small Cars" ranking. Reviewers generally see this car as offering a fun driving experience and good fuel economy. the car gets 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on highways, according to Ford. "The Fiesta is a substantial, grown-up car," says a review by Automobile Magazine.
  
  

Nissan Versa

• The 2011 Nissan Versa offers a particularly good price, starting at $9,990 for the basic model. For this price, you don't get air-conditioning, antilock brakes or other features a lot of drivers would want. However, the economy car offers commodious cargo space and comfortable rear seats, says U.S, News & World Report. And according to a review by Consumer Guide, "Versa is priced like a subcompact, but its blend of room, comfort, and refinement are an easy match for any number of more-expensive compact cars."