One of the most consistent complaints about the auto industry is that modern cars are too expensive. Manufacturers are gradually shifting away from truly mass-market vehicles to upsell customers on higher-priced models. As it stands, there are no new cars that start with a retail price under $20,000.
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The commonly held belief is that cars used to be cheaper, and it’s true based on the number printed on the sticker. However, the dollar’s value isn’t static. The currency’s purchasing power has steadily decreased over decades and wages haven’t increased to compensate. Using data from automakers and Kelley Blue Book, I’ve compared the MSRPs for long-running models between 2024 and the 1990s adjusted for inflation.
