These Best-Selling Cars Weren't Actually Cheaper In The 1990s

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.

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.

The Ford Explorer is one of the best-selling vehicles in the country, with 186,799 units sold in 2023. The 2024 Explorer hit the showroom with an MSRP of $38,455.

The Ford Explorer has been around for 24 years and the venerable SUV is actually cheaper today than in 1992. The 1992 Explorer started at $19,799, but that figure has risen to $45,131 when adjusted for inflation.

The Toyota Camry is the best-selling sedan in the United States. While the car class is becoming rarer by the year, 290,649 Camrys were sold in 2023. The 2024 Toyota Camry LE started at retail for $26,420.

Sedans were far more popular in the 1990s, but the pricing trend still holds. The 1992 Toyota Camry LE was available for $17,293. That figure is $39,419 when adjusted for inflation.

Honda sold 197,947 Accord sedans in 2023, over 90,000 cars fewer than the Camry. The 2024 Honda Accord LX starts at retail for $28,295.

The 1992 Honda Accord LX was available for $16,865, which becomes $38,443 when adjusted for inflation.

The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling crossover SUV with 434,943 vehicles sold, and it's emblematic of the class. The 2024 Toyota RAV4 starts at retail for $28,675.

The Toyota RAV4 was first sold in the United States in the 1996 model year. The 1996 RAV4 was available for $17,058, which is $34,778 when adjusted for inflation.

The Honda CR-V, another crossover, was one of the top ten best-selling vehicles in 2023. The 2024 CR-V is available at retail for $30,850.

The Honda CR-V was launched in the United States in the 1997 model year. The 1997 CR-V was available at retail for $19,695, which is $38,968 when adjusted for inflation.

The Toyota Corolla remains solidly one of the 15 best-selling models in the country, with 232,370 units sold across both gas and hybrid versions. The 2024 Corolla starts at retail for $22,050.

The 1992 Toyota Corolla was available for $11,123 at retail, which is $25,354 when adjusted for inflation.

The Ford F-150 has seemingly been the best-selling vehicle in America since time immemorial. The 2024 F-150 XL Regular Cab is available for $36,965 at retail.

Pickup trucks are likely the exception that proves the rules, being vastly more expensive now than in the 1990s. The 1992 Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab was available for $3,207, which is $7,310 when adjusted for inflation.