Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest car in this U.S.-market comparison at about 2,084 pounds. The soft-top manual Mazda MX-5 Miata is second at about 2,341 pounds and is the lightest sports car here. The list uses each nameplate’s lightest documented base configuration, so transmission, trim, body style, wheels, and equipment matter.
The 10 lightest cars in the U.S. for the 2024 model year
Using the lightest documented U.S.-market configuration for each nameplate, the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest car in this comparison at about 2,084 pounds. The Mazda MX-5 Miata follows at about 2,341 pounds, while the remaining cars range from 2,598 to approximately 2,877 pounds.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This is a ranking of the 2024 model year, not a list of vehicles that are necessarily still sold new today. “Lightest” means the lowest documented curb weight for a representative base configuration available in the United States. Automatic transmissions, larger wheels, extra equipment, turbocharged engines, hardtops, and higher trims can all increase a vehicle’s weight.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRanked: the 10 lightest 2024 cars
| Rank | Vehicle | Representative configuration | Base curb weight | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitsubishi Mirage | Base hatchback | About 2,084 lb | Weight is configuration-specific |
| 2 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | Soft top, manual transmission | About 2,341 lb | RF hardtop and automatic versions weigh more |
| 3 | Nissan Versa | S, manual transmission | 2,598 lb | CVT and higher trims add weight |
| 4 | Hyundai Venue | Lightest available configuration | 2,612 lb | Published range extends to 2,738 lb |
| 5 | MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper | Manual transmission | 2,711 lb | Automatic version is listed at 2,769 lb |
| 6 | Hyundai Elantra | Lightest conventional trim | About 2,725 lb | Published range is approximately 2,725–2,868 lb |
| 7 | Kia Forte | LX | About 2,769 lb | Turbocharged GT versions are heavier |
| 8 | Toyota GR86 | Base, manual transmission | 2,811 lb | Automatic version is 2,851 lb |
| 9 | Subaru BRZ | Premium, manual transmission | 2,820 lb | Other trims and automatic versions weigh more |
| 10 | Honda Civic sedan | Lightest sedan configuration | About 2,877 lb | Trim, wheels, and body style change the figure |
1. Mitsubishi Mirage: about 2,084 pounds
The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest entry in this U.S.-market comparison by a substantial margin. Its small hatchback body, three-cylinder engine, and relatively modest equipment list keep the base car close to 2,000 pounds.
#1 Best Overall
- Accurate, Dependable Readings: Factory‑calibrated to ±1 PSI, so you can confidently match your vehicle’s recommended PSI (check the door jamb sticker). Ideal for monthly checks and road trips — consistent results every time, cold or warm.
- Bright Backlit Display & Nozzle Light: The illuminated nozzle helps you find the valve stem in the dark, while the backlit LCD makes readings crystal clear in dim garages or at night. No more squinting or holding a flashlight.
- 4 Measurement Units, One Button: Quickly switch among PSI, Bar, Kgf/cm², and KPA with a single press. No complex settings — just press and cycle to your preferred unit. Perfect for drivers who need multiple scales.
- Broad Compatibility for Everyday Vehicles: 0–150 PSI covers cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and spare tires (often 60 PSI). Fits standard Schrader valves; just press on for a reading.
- Auto‑Off to Extend Battery Life: The gauge automatically powers down after 30 seconds of inactivity, so the included 2*AAA batteries last longer. Always ready for your monthly checks without surprise dead batteries.
The Mirage’s low weight is primarily an efficiency and affordability advantage, not a sign that it is intended to be a sports car. It has a very different mission from the MX-5 Miata or the rear-wheel-drive coupes farther down this list. Its place at number one comes from minimizing mass in an economy-car package.
2. Mazda MX-5 Miata: about 2,341 pounds
The soft-top, manual-transmission 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the lightest sports car in the comparison. At roughly 2,341 pounds, it is dramatically lighter than most modern performance cars, even though it uses a rear-wheel-drive chassis and is designed around handling.
That number applies to the lighter soft-top configuration. Mazda also offers the MX-5 Miata RF with a retractable hardtop, and the RF is heavier. An automatic transmission and additional equipment add weight as well, so an advertised Miata curb weight should always be read alongside its body style, trim, and transmission.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
3. Nissan Versa: 2,598 pounds
The base 2024 Nissan Versa S with a manual transmission weighs 2,598 pounds. That makes the Versa notable because it is not a two-seat sports car or an especially stripped-down city hatchback. It is a conventional four-door subcompact with usable rear seats and a trunk.
The manual S is the key to its ranking. Versa versions equipped with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), as well as higher trims with additional equipment, weigh more than the cited base configuration.
4. Hyundai Venue: 2,612 pounds at the lightest end
The 2024 Hyundai Venue has a published curb-weight range of 2,612 to 2,738 pounds. Using the low end of that range places it fourth in this comparison.
Rank #2
- PROCESS LEVEL ACCURACY: This heavy duty tire pressure gauge is calibrated manually to ANSI B40.1 Grade A (±1% of span)
- PRESSURE RANGE 0-75 PSI: ETENWOLF’s tire gauge can measure pressure of pickup, motorcycle, truck, bike, SUV, RV or ATV
- EASY TO READ IN THE DARKNESS: The large glow dial helps you clearly read the pressure at night or in low light
- EASY TO USE: 360 degree swivel chuck allows you to measure and take a reading from a tire valve at any angle
- ACCURACY IN EXTREME WEATHER: PSI gauge works normally even in extreme cold or hot weather
The Venue demonstrates why exterior size alone is a poor way to identify a light vehicle. It is a small crossover with a taller body and a more upright seating position than the cars above it, yet its lightest configuration remains relatively light by modern crossover standards. The actual figure depends on equipment and configuration, so 2,612 pounds should not be treated as the weight of every Venue.
5. MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper: 2,711 pounds with the manual
The base 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper weighs 2,711 pounds with the manual transmission. Its compact two-door hatchback body keeps it below many smaller-looking modern cars.
MINI lists the automatic version at 2,769 pounds, a 58-pound increase over the cited manual configuration. The more powerful Cooper S and John Cooper Works versions are heavier, as is the electric MINI variant. Therefore, the ranking applies specifically to the base Cooper with the manual gearbox.
6. Hyundai Elantra: about 2,725 pounds at the lightest end
The conventional 2024 Hyundai Elantra range begins at approximately 2,725 pounds and extends to about 2,868 pounds, depending on trim and equipment. That puts the lightest Elantra ahead of many vehicles that appear smaller from the outside.
This entry should not be confused with the performance-oriented Elantra N or N Line. Those versions use additional performance hardware and should not replace the lightest conventional Elantra in a base-weight comparison.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
7. Kia Forte: about 2,769 pounds
The 2024 Kia Forte LX has a minimum curb weight of approximately 2,769 pounds. Its naturally aspirated base powertrain and smaller wheels help keep it below 2,800 pounds while retaining the practicality of a compact sedan.
Rank #3
- PROCESS LEVEL ACCURACY: Each ETENWOLF’s digital tire pressure gauge is calibrated manually to ANSI B40.7 Grade 2A(plus-minus 1 PSI).Presta valve adapter not included, if used for bicycles, it must be purchased separately
- ACCURACY IN EXTREME PRESSURE RANGE: Whether tire pressure is below 12 PSI or above 140 PSI, ETENWOLF’s digital tire gauge is accurate as well
- ACCURACY IN EXTREME WEATHER: Built-in AI chip with thermal compensation inside, ETENWOLF’s tire gauge works normally even in extreme cold or hot weather(-4°F-130°F/-20°C-54°C)
- PRESSURE RANGE 3-200 PSI : ETENWOLF’s digital tire pressure gauge can measure pressure of all types of vehicles
- REPLACEABLE AAA BATTERIES: Batteries are easy to replace and helps to extend the tire pressure gauge’s life span, with LED light to illuminate dark areas for easy tire pressure reading
The number does not represent every Forte. Turbocharged GT versions and higher-equipment configurations add mass, which is why the LX is the appropriate representative configuration for this list.
8. Toyota GR86: 2,811 pounds with the manual
Toyota lists the 2024 GR86 base manual at 2,811 pounds. The automatic version weighs 2,851 pounds, making the manual 40 pounds lighter.
The GR86’s weight has a different significance from that of the Mirage, Versa, or Elantra. It combines low mass with rear-wheel drive, a naturally aspirated boxer engine, and a low seating position. Those characteristics give it the feel of a purpose-built sports coupe rather than an economy car that happens to weigh little.
9. Subaru BRZ: 2,820 pounds with the manual
The 2024 Subaru BRZ Premium with a manual transmission is listed at 2,820 pounds. That is only nine pounds more than the cited base-manual GR86, making the two cars effectively tied for most practical purposes.
Small equipment differences can easily matter more than a nine-pound gap. The BRZ’s automatic Limited and tS configurations are heavier, so the trim and transmission belong beside the weight whenever the car is compared with the GR86.
10. Honda Civic sedan: about 2,877 pounds at the lightest end
The lightest listed 2024 Honda Civic sedan configuration weighs approximately 2,877 pounds. It is the heaviest vehicle in this 10-nameplate group, but it remains relatively light for a modern compact sedan equipped with contemporary safety and convenience features.
Rank #4
- HIGH ACCURACY: Every ETENWOLF's pencil tire gauge is calibrated to ANSI B40.1 Grade B, it is accurate to 2% of span in the middle 50% of range and 3% of span in the lower and upper 25% of range. Each ETENWOLF pencil tire pressure gauge is manually calibrated and has its unique calibration number printed on the pencil
- WIDER RANGE: ETENWOLF's tire gauge offers 2 pressure ranges: 10-50PSI, 20-120PSI for all types of vehicles
- ALL METAL: ETENWOLF tire gauges are made of all solid metal, zinc alloy head and stainless steel body, they are durable and can be used for many years unless you lose them
- DEFLATION: You can also use ETENWOLF's tire gauge to deflate tires when the tire pressure is overinflated
- 16 CAPS IN 2 CASES: ETENWOLF even offers 16 valve stem caps, so you won't worry about losing tire caps anymore
Higher trims, larger wheels, and different Civic body styles can move the curb weight upward. The figure here is therefore the low end for the sedan range, not a universal weight for every 2024 Civic.
What this ranking reveals
The cars separate into three useful weight bands:
- Clear outliers: The Mitsubishi Mirage at about 2,084 pounds and the MX-5 Miata at about 2,341 pounds sit well below the rest.
- Practical small-car group: The Nissan Versa, Hyundai Venue, MINI Hardtop, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Forte span roughly 2,598 to 2,769 pounds.
- Light modern coupes and sedan: The Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and Honda Civic sedan range from 2,811 to approximately 2,877 pounds.
These bands are more meaningful than treating every small difference as decisive. For example, the nine-pound gap between the cited BRZ and GR86 configurations is not a meaningful real-world distinction once trim and equipment differences are considered.
Why curb weight is the right comparison
Curb weight is the most useful figure for comparing how much a complete vehicle weighs in normal operating condition. The NHTSA definition includes standard equipment and the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, coolant, and air conditioning. It is not the same as:
- Dry weight: A figure that generally excludes some operating fluids and may be presented differently by manufacturers.
- Shipping weight: The vehicle’s transport weight, which may not use the same assumptions as curb weight.
- GVWR: Gross vehicle weight rating, or the maximum permitted loaded weight of the vehicle. GVWR includes occupants, cargo, and the vehicle itself.
Using curb weight keeps the comparison focused on the complete car rather than on a manufacturer’s preferred dry-weight or capacity figure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the same model can have several different weights
A nameplate does not have one universal curb weight. The lightest version is often a manual-transmission base trim, while an automatic, larger-wheeled, more powerful, or more heavily equipped version can weigh noticeably more.
Recommended Free Tools
- Transmission: The manual GR86 is 40 pounds lighter than the automatic, and the manual MINI is 58 pounds lighter than its automatic counterpart.
- Body style: The MX-5 Miata soft top is lighter than the RF retractable-hardtop model.
- Trim and equipment: Larger wheels, additional convenience features, and upgraded interiors add weight.
- Powertrain: Turbocharged performance versions, such as the Forte GT and Elantra N, carry additional hardware. Electric versions are also typically heavier because of their battery packs.
- Configuration ranges: Hyundai lists the Venue from 2,612 to 2,738 pounds and the Elantra from approximately 2,725 to 2,868 pounds, rather than presenting one number for every version.
For a specific purchase, check the manufacturer’s specification sheet or the vehicle label for that exact trim. The numbers in this article are intended for nameplate-level comparison, not as a substitute for the certified weight of an individual car.
Best Value
- RUGGED DESIGN: The stainless steel components prevent rust and corrosion while the precision-crafted nozzle seamlessly seals onto the valve stems for highly accurate readings (±2% span). We also provide 4 valve stem caps for convenient replacement.
- MEASURES PSI, kPa, BAR; Measurement range from 10-75 PSI, 70-550 kPa, 0.7-5.5 BAR. Attention! Do not exceed the maximum pressure of the gauge, doing so will permanently damage the device.
- UNIVERSAL APPLICATION: Not only are these gauges easy to use, but include an integrated deflator valve, chuck, and ABS indicator bar
- CONVENIENT DESIGN stows easily in a glove box, tool belt, workbench, or even a pocket; the pocket clip makes it easy to carry with you while on the job
- Further service provided by AstroAI, BATTERY FREE means no maintenance and total reliability under all weather conditions; a necessary tool for roadtrips and optimal safety
Which lightweight car makes the most sense?
- Choose the Mirage if minimum mass and basic economy-car simplicity matter more than performance or premium features.
- Choose the MX-5 Miata if the goal is a lightweight sports car. The soft-top manual is the version that best represents the Miata’s low-weight advantage.
- Choose the Versa if you want one of the lightest cars here with four doors, rear-seat space, and a conventional trunk.
- Choose the Venue if you prefer crossover-like seating and shape without moving into the weight range of many larger SUVs.
- Choose the MINI Hardtop for a small, premium-leaning hatchback with a manual-transmission option.
- Choose the Elantra, Forte, or Civic if practical compact-sedan space is the priority and you still want to avoid the weight of many larger modern cars.
- Choose the GR86 or BRZ if low mass, rear-wheel drive, and sports-car handling matter more than rear-seat usability or cargo flexibility.
Bottom line
The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest car in this researched U.S. comparison at about 2,084 pounds. The MX-5 Miata is the lightest sports car, while the Versa, Venue, MINI, Elantra, and Forte show that practical four-door and crossover-shaped vehicles can remain below roughly 2,800 pounds. The GR86 and BRZ round out the lightweight sports-car group, and the Civic sedan proves that a well-equipped compact can still stay under 2,900 pounds.
Because curb weight changes with trim, transmission, body style, and equipment, treat the ranking as a comparison of each nameplate’s lightest representative 2024 configuration—not as a promise that every version weighs the number shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lightest car in 2024?
The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest car in this comparison, with a base curb weight of about 2,084 pounds.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What is the lightest sports car in 2024?
The soft-top, manual-transmission 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the lightest sports car on this list at about 2,341 pounds.
What does curb weight mean?
Curb weight is the weight of a complete vehicle with standard equipment and specified operating fluids. It is different from dry weight, shipping weight, and GVWR.
Does every version of a listed car weigh the same?
No. The figures identify the lightest documented configuration for each nameplate. Automatic transmissions, larger wheels, higher trims, added equipment, different body styles, and performance powertrains can make the same model heavier.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is the lightest car in this U.S.-market comparison at about 2,084 pounds. For sports-car buyers, the soft-top manual Mazda MX-5 Miata is the lightest choice at about 2,341 pounds. Always verify the exact trim, body style, transmission, and equipment because curb weight varies within every nameplate.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
