No U.S. automaker currently offers a new car under $20,000; the least-expensive 2026 model is the Hyundai Venue, priced at $22,150 including destination.
A New York Times deep dive attributes rising new-car prices to political and economic shifts since the late 1970s that concentrated wealth among affluent households, and says automakers have prioritized higher-margin SUVs, trucks and luxury trims over low-cost models.
The Times cites Ford examples: a base 2026 Ford F-150 XL lists at $42,125 including destination and a plastic drop-in bedliner adds about $380, while top trims now often retail near $90,000 versus an inflation-adjusted $29,000 basic truck in 1990.
As a result, automakers' focus on higher-margin vehicles has left few affordable new options, with the Hyundai Venue remaining the market floor and sub-$20,000 new cars largely absent.
This summary is based on coverage by Jalopnik.
Read the full article at Jalopnik.
More automotive news: Latest car news