The $20,000 new vehicle is all but extinct. Here’s what the most affordable new cars looks like now

Budget-conscious buyers are still shopping for affordable new vehicles, but the market isn’t what it used to be. 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%. In 2019, the largest share of new-car buyers clustered in the low-to-mid-$20,000 range. Today, the biggest concentration of purchases falls between $30,000 and $35,000, according to Edmunds. Here are the lowest average transaction prices among new vehicles so far in 2026, according to Edmunds. See why automakers are making fewer inexpensive entry-level models at the link in bio. #car #cars #carbuying