Used car prices rose sharply during the pandemic and remain substantially higher than they were in 2019, leaving today’s buyers with far less purchasing power across most vehicle segments.

iSeeCars analyzed the prices of more than 2 million 3-year-old used cars sold in 2019 and 2026 and found that their overall average price increased by 38.2%, a change of almost $10,000, from $23,624 to $32,651.

Price Increases of 3-Year-Old Cars By Vehicle Segments: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Segment Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
Luxury Passenger Cars $30,034 $47,539 58.3%
Passenger Cars $16,953 $24,003 41.6%
Overall Average $23,624 $32,651 38.2%
Trucks $29,724 $40,335 35.7%
SUVs $21,972 $29,387 33.7%
Luxury SUVs $34,836 $44,382 27.4%
Luxury and non-luxury passenger car segments ranked first and second for price increases. At the model level, luxury cars such as the Porsche 911 saw price increases of about 80% from 2019 to 2026, while prices of formerly affordable models such as the Hyundai Elantra or Nissan Versa increased by over 50%.

Luxury passenger car prices increased the most

3-Year-Old Luxury Passenger Cars With the Largest Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Porsche 911 (Convertible) $109,574 $198,090 80.8%
2 Porsche 911 (Coupe) $142,197 $256,070 80.1%
3 Acura TLX $21,277 $35,555 67.1%
4 BMW M3 $49,356 $80,420 62.9%
5 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Coupe) $31,630 $51,399 62.5%
6 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Convertible) $39,864 $64,456 61.7%
7 BMW 3 Series $23,698 $37,922 60.0%
Luxury Passenger Car Average $30,034 $47,539 58.3%
8 Mercedes-Benz E-Class $30,103 $46,657 55.0%
9 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Wagon) $46,229 $71,184 54.0%
10 BMW M4 $50,214 $76,121 51.6%
11 Volvo V60 Cross Country $24,136 $36,007 49.2%
12 BMW M5 $59,765 $87,164 45.8%
13 Porsche Panamera $62,004 $89,698 44.7%
14 BMW 2 Series $26,945 $38,657 43.5%
15 Lexus IS 350 $30,265 $42,754 41.3%
16 BMW 5 Series $30,334 $42,844 41.2%
17 Volvo S60 $20,930 $29,509 41.0%
18 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class $64,762 $90,987 40.5%
19 BMW 4 Series $28,233 $39,641 40.4%
20 Lexus ES 350 $27,293 $38,227 40.1%

Some luxury SUVs had much larger price hikes than others

3-Year-Old Luxury SUVs With the Largest Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Porsche Cayenne (Hybrid) $50,301 $88,387 75.7%
2 Mercedes-Benz G-Class $99,967 $172,781 72.8%
3 Lincoln Navigator L $38,044 $63,057 65.7%
4 Lincoln Navigator $38,564 $60,791 57.6%
5 Porsche Cayenne $48,906 $72,589 48.4%
6 Land Rover Range Rover $65,403 $95,836 46.5%
7 Lexus GX 460 $39,085 $56,992 45.8%
8 Acura MDX $29,222 $40,912 40.0%
9 Mercedes-Benz GLE $38,754 $54,067 39.5%
10 Cadillac Escalade $51,122 $71,188 39.3%
11 Acura RDX $26,055 $36,015 38.2%
12 Cadillac Escalade ESV $51,053 $70,082 37.3%
13 BMW X4 $31,680 $43,055 35.9%
14 BMW X6 M $60,284 $80,522 33.6%
15 BMW X6 $41,675 $55,637 33.5%
16 Land Rover Range Rover Sport $51,947 $68,973 32.8%
17 Lexus RX 350 $36,556 $47,277 29.3%
18 Volvo XC60 $26,378 $34,098 29.3%
Luxury SUV Average $34,836 $44,382 27.4%

Prices for some of the least expensive cars increased over 50%

These cars were some of the lowest-cost 2019 models, generally priced around $10,000 to $12,000 for the Versa, Rio, Forte, and Elantra. By 2026, their average prices ranged from roughly $15,700 to $19,200. Though their dollar increases were smaller than those of six-figure luxury cars, the impact may be more consequential for shoppers limited by a fixed budget.

3-Year-Old Passenger Cars With the Largest Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Hyundai Elantra $12,295 $19,178 56.0%
2 Nissan Versa $10,146 $15,718 54.9%
3 Chevrolet Camaro $24,904 $38,514 54.6%
4 Kia Rio $10,217 $15,727 53.9%
5 MINI Clubman $18,876 $28,945 53.3%
6 Kia Forte $12,015 $18,166 51.2%
7 Toyota Camry $16,567 $24,829 49.9%
8 Kia Rio 5-Door $10,818 $16,038 48.3%
9 Chrysler 300 $20,338 $29,839 46.7%
10 Nissan Sentra $12,540 $18,332 46.2%
11 Ford Mustang $24,100 $35,159 45.9%
12 MINI Hardtop 2 Door $17,282 $25,150 45.5%
13 Honda Civic $16,430 $23,771 44.7%
14 Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) $56,610 $81,902 44.7%
15 Hyundai Sonata $14,781 $21,310 44.2%
16 Volkswagen Golf GTI $19,697 $28,063 42.5%
17 Volkswagen Jetta $13,446 $19,123 42.2%
Passenger Car Average $16,953 $24,003 41.6%
The results extend beyond entry-level models. For example, the Chevrolet Camaro rose 54.6%, the MINI Clubman 53.3%, and the Chevrolet Corvette convertible 44.7%. The increases extended across passenger cars at very different price points.

Kia Sportage had the biggest drop in affordability among SUVs 

3-Year-Old SUVs With the Largest Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Kia Sportage $16,312 $24,543 50.5%
2 Ford Expedition $31,348 $46,974 49.8%
3 Nissan Pathfinder $21,533 $31,677 47.1%
4 Kia Sorento $19,305 $27,903 44.5%
5 Jeep Compass $15,515 $22,196 43.1%
6 Mitsubishi Outlander $16,520 $23,591 42.8%
7 MINI Countryman $20,104 $28,509 41.8%
8 Volkswagen Tiguan $16,325 $23,146 41.8%
9 Honda CR-V $20,677 $29,245 41.4%
10 Toyota RAV4 $20,825 $29,190 40.2%
11 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid $24,240 $33,679 38.9%
12 Chevrolet Traverse $22,672 $31,331 38.2%
13 GMC Yukon $42,817 $58,580 36.8%
14 GMC Yukon XL $43,518 $59,032 35.7%
15 Honda Pilot $27,892 $37,695 35.1%
16 Subaru Forester $20,643 $27,776 34.6%
17 Toyota 4Runner $32,141 $43,172 34.3%
SUV Average $21,972 $29,387 33.7%

Nissan Frontier and GMC Canyon lead price increases for trucks 

3-Year-Old Trucks With the Largest Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Nissan Frontier $20,317 $31,292 54.0%
2 GMC Canyon $26,574 $38,855 46.2%
3 Ram 1500 $28,105 $40,060 42.5%
4 Ford F-150 $31,497 $43,121 36.9%
5 GMC Sierra 1500 $33,542 $45,785 36.5%
6 Toyota Tundra $32,634 $44,299 35.7%
Truck Average $29,724 $40,335 35.7%
7 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 $29,910 $38,778 29.6%
8 Toyota Tacoma $28,521 $36,621 28.4%
9 Chevrolet Colorado $25,639 $32,009 24.8%
10 Nissan Titan XD $33,234 $40,036 20.5%

Luxury brands lead, but mainstream brands are close behind

Brands With the Largest 3-Year-Old Used Car Price Increases: 2019 to 2026 – iSeeCars Study
Rank Brand Avg. Price 2019 Avg. Price 2026 % Change
1 Lincoln $38,375 $61,755 60.9%
2 Land Rover $45,904 $72,607 58.2%
3 Mercedes-Benz $33,192 $51,651 55.6%
4 Volkswagen $15,140 $22,677 49.8%
5 Toyota $21,329 $31,937 49.7%
6 Acura $26,195 $38,674 47.6%
7 Hyundai $15,283 $22,462 47.0%
8 Chrysler $20,338 $29,839 46.7%
9 Lexus $31,960 $46,811 46.5%
10 MINI $18,893 $27,257 44.3%
11 Ford $25,211 $36,294 44.0%
12 Ram $28,105 $40,060 42.5%
13 Honda $19,907 $28,061 41.0%
14 Mitsubishi $15,950 $22,388 40.4%
15 Jeep $20,382 $28,595 40.3%
16 GMC $29,327 $40,972 39.7%
17 Cadillac $51,096 $70,802 38.6%
Overall Average $23,624 $32,651 38.2%

The rise in late-model used car pricing, and related drop in affordability for mainstream consumers, can lead many buyers to consider older models with more miles. While older used cars may cost less at the time of purchase, consumers should budget for higher maintenance and repair costs after purchase. Consider purchasing a vehicle history report to check a car’s title history before buying.

 

Methodology

iSeeCars analyzed the prices of over 2 million 3-year-old used cars sold from January through June of 2019 and 2026. The difference in price was calculated for each model and brand, and compared with the appropriate segment’s average price difference.