Finding the Right Car by Price


There's a lot of talk about high new car prices, but there is a way around that. Often, that talk is based on new car averages. Consumers opting for higher trim levels and more luxury brands, plus the price of new electric cars, is driving the averages up. There are still affordable new cars. The Chevrolet Trax, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Kia K4, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota Corolla are all reasonably priced. The VW Tiguan SE is an especially decent little SUV for the price. At about $34,000, you get a vehicle that most would assume costs more than $40,000 based on interior and exterior appearance. Doing a little extra research on both new and used cars will save money. 


I just learned about this page on CarGurus.  It basically tells you the price increases and decreases by make and model on one page – the vehicles with the biggest increases or decreases (new and used) are at the top in big boxes.  You can toggle between price decreases and increases. 


Body Style and Brand


You can browse by body style and brand. For example, in the last 30 days, convertible prices have gone up .86 percent, according to CarGurus. Year over year, they've increased about 15 percent. Meanwhile, vans have gone down about 6.5 percent over the last year. 


Wagons, like this Buick Regal TourX, are an especially good deal right now, according to Car Gurus. 

Photo Courtesy General Motors.


When it comes to brands, BMW and Bentley have had price increases, while Maserati, Mini, Nissan, and Rivian have had price decreases. Rivian, for example, has seen a 12% year-over-year price decrease. That means you might be able to find a pretty good deal on a Rivian. Volkswagen has had price decreases of 1.1 percent, so you're probably going to pay about what everyone else has been paying for the past year or so. 


On the other hand, the average Aston Martin price is $144,000. If you browse by body style, you can see that the average coupe price is $43,493. The average wagon price is $19,508. The average coupe price is higher than most others, likely because most coupes these days are luxury brands, not mainstream brands. 


At one point, there was an Altima Coupe, a Toyota Camry Coupe, and a Honda Accord Coupe. Today, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota still have coupes, but they're more specialty cars like the Z and Prelude. Still, if you're looking for a deal, the “price-trends” page shows you where you can find deals. 


On average, getting a sedan versus a coupe can save you about 50 percent, depending on the specific make and model. 


Inexpensive Cars


Anyone looking for a good deal on a new or used car should be looking at these kinds of cars, according to CarGurus published info:


·      Hatchback - Average price: $15,223

·      Sedan – Average price: $19,952 

·      Minivan – Average price: $22,596


This transparency is especially useful for budget-conscious shoppers, as it allows them to time their purchases and negotiate more effectively (if the dealer you’re shopping with allows that).  By monitoring these price movements, buyers can gain a better understanding of which cars are becoming more affordable and which are in higher demand. Overall, Car Gurus’ price-tracking feature adds a layer of insight that supports smarter car buying decisions.


Low-Priced New Cars


Capital One Auto Navigator has something similar when it comes to new cars. This article, 10 of the Least Expensive SUVs, is a good place for consumers who know a new car is best for them. Many of the SUVs listed are around or under $30,000. 



The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is one of several new cars that have a starting price under $30,000 - 
Photo Courtesy of Subaru.


According to Auto Navigator, these SUV models have notably low prices:


* Chevrolet Trailblazer

* Honda HR-V

* Hyundai Kona

* Kia Seltos

* Mazda CX-30

* Nissan Kicks

* Subaru Crosstrek

* Toyota Corolla Cross 


There are several others. Capital One Auto Navigator has lots of other information useful for getting a good deal, covering topics from leasing to financing, including shopping by price. 


-Brian Moody 


See more info on many different low to medium-priced cars on TikTok



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