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The $20,000 new vehicle is all but extinct—what the most affordable new car looks like now
Key takeaways
- As carbuyers' preferences have shifted, pricier vehicles have become the norm at dealerships, leaving budget-conscious shoppers with fewer affordable models to choose from.
- The $20,000 new vehicle has all but disappeared, accounting for just 0.2% of new-vehicle sales in 2025, according to Edmunds.
- Inflation is only part of the story, says Ivan Drury, director of insights at automotive research firm Edmunds.
As carbuyers' preferences have shifted, pricier vehicles have become the norm at dealerships, leaving budget-conscious shoppers with fewer affordable models to choose from.
The $20,000 new vehicle has all but disappeared, accounting for just 0.2% of new-vehicle sales in 2025, according to Edmunds. The share selling for less than $30,000 also fell sharply, from 40% in 2019 to just 15%.
Inflation is only part of the story, says Ivan Drury, director of insights at automotive research firm Edmunds. New-car buyers have increasingly favored SUVs and pickups, along with higher trim levels that offer more technology and comfort features. That has left automakers with less incentive to build inexpensive entry-level models.
Article preview — originally published by CNBC. Full story at the source.
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