CARS.COM'S FIRST-EVER AFFORDABILITY REPORT PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR VALUE-CONSCIOUS BUYERS

Rhea-AI Summary

Cars.com released its first Affordability Report, highlighting economic concerns like inflation and job insecurity affecting consumers' car-buying decisions. The report reveals that 1 in 4 shoppers aims to spend less than $20,000 on a new car, while the median price exceeds $40,000. Kia, Chevy, and Ford offer the most affordable new vehicles in 2023, with Chevy leading in trade-in value. Notably, the 2023 Kia Rio S, 2023 Chevy Trailblazer LS, and 2023 Ford Maverick XL are recognized as best value cars by segment. The report underscores the rising interest rates impacting financing, with many consumers needing to adjust their expectations amid rising vehicle costs.

Positive

• Launch of the first Affordability Report provides valuable insights to cost-conscious consumers.
• Identified top affordable vehicles, boosting consumer trust and engagement.
• Strong demand for cost-effective vehicles amid economic challenges supports potential sales growth.

Negative

• Median new car price exceeds $40,000, challenging consumers planning to spend under $20,000.
• Rising interest rates complicating financing options may deter potential buyers.
• Economic uncertainties may affect long-term consumer confidence and purchasing decisions.

Kia, Chevy and Ford Offer Most Affordable New Cars for 2023; Chevy Leads for Trade-In Value

1 in 4 Shoppers Expect to Spend Less Than $20,000 on a New Car; the Median Price of New Cars
Is More Than Double That

CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Affordability is top of mind for consumers as the new year starts, with less than half of Americans (46%) feeling financially confident and consumers citing a range of economic concerns including inflation, job insecurity and rising interest rates.¹ Financial concerns, however, are being met with pent-up demand for new vehicles from the inventory shortage that began in 2021 and is just now beginning to ease. The result is a robust car-buying market of cost-conscious consumers and the timely launch of car-shopping marketplace Cars.com's (NYSE: CARS) first-ever Affordability Report.

"The compounding effects of inventory shortages, economic uncertainty and industry challenges have made value one of the most sought-after features in a vehicle," said Jane Ulitskaya, Cars.com news editor. "Electric vehicles and new technologies will continue to dominate the media and capture our attention, but affordability is the trend that's propelling today's car shoppers."

The Cars.com Affordability Report empowers car shoppers with data-driven insights about comparative vehicle pricing, the trade-in market and financing trends, and it uncovers a potential disconnect between consumer expectations and current market conditions. More than 70 currently available vehicles were evaluated by model, trim, features, fuel efficiency or a minimum range requirement for EVs and compared against the median price for each category. The following topped the list of best value cars for 2023:

Cars.com's Affordability Report Top Cars by Segment
Competitive Category	Median Category Price	BEST VALUE Model/Trim	Median Price
Small Car	$25,745	2023 Kia Rio S with Technology Package	$20,240
Small SUV	$34,195	2023 Chevy Trailblazer LS with Driver Confidence Package	$23,440
Small Pickup Truck	$43,070	2023 Ford Maverick XL with Co-Pilot360 Package	$26,660
EV/Plug-in Hybrid	$59,670	2023 Chevy Bolt EV 1LT with Driver Confidence Package	$28,330

A Cars.com survey of in-market shoppers indicates more than half plan to purchase a new vehicle, and 1 in 4 expects to spend less than $20,000², a figure that might prove challenging considering the median new-car price was more than twice that at the end of 2022.³

"A growing preference for larger, costlier vehicles is driving shoppers to lean on a combination of long-term savings, flexible financing terms and the trade-in market to bridge the gap between the right car and the right price," said Ulitskaya. "Many who typically purchase new models are taking a fresh look at the used-car marketplace, which is sustaining the demand for trade-in inventory."

Trading In

The Affordability Report also provides insights that help consumers understand how they can afford to pay for a car and the value of trading in a vehicle. As used-car prices spiked amid the inventory shortage, trade-in values followed suit, hitting record highs by mid-2022 before leveling out.

Approximately 40% of in-market shoppers will trade in a current car before purchasing a new one, and of those looking to buy used, 76% are looking for a model no more than 5 years old.² As part of the Affordability Report, Cars.com experts examined trade-in values for available used vehicles from model-year 2018 and identified the best same-model upgrade values⁴ — notably they are all electric vehicles. Used EVs are trending much more affordable now than they were a year ago.

The top three 2018 models with the best trade-in value include:

Vehicles With Best Trade-in Value as Percent of New Purchase Price
Chevrolet Bolt EV	62 %
Honda HR-V	59 %
Toyota Prius Prime	57 %

Saving Up and Paying Out

Two-thirds of current shoppers aim to save between three and 12 months for a vehicle, most planning to accumulate 10%-25% of the final price before purchase, and nearly half anticipate a down payment of less than $5,000.¹ Where both new- and used-car shoppers will be the most surprised is with their interest rate.

Gone are the days of super low rates. Typically strong credit earns a better rate, however — even those with very good credit — are now routinely receiving financing offers with double-digit interest rates, and those with non prime and subprime credit profiles are seeing rates between 20%-30% with shorter financing terms. Notably, among those with a super-prime credit rating (800-plus), the average interest rate is still high at 8%.⁵

In 2022, Cars.com launched new digital financing tools and offered new ways for shoppers to sell their current car to a local dealership. The technology helps shoppers understand what they can afford, get preapproved for a loan, determine what their current car is worth and claim an Instant Offer from a local dealership. 

Fuel Prices: Tanks and No Tanks

Though gas prices have since settled from the headline-grabbing highs of 2022, affordability in the form of fuel expense remains a major consideration for shoppers and a key component in the Affordability Report's analysis. Aside from the top-ranked EVs and plug-in hybrids, which all had calculated first-year fuel costs between $600 and $1,100, the most fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle among the finalists is the Hyundai Elantra, with an estimated first-year fuel expense of $1,350.⁶

For more information on the 2023 Cars.com Affordability Report, including a deeper dive into the data and methodology, visit Cars.com.

¹ Cars.com Consumer Survey; 1,027 responses; Jan. 5, 2023
² Cars.com Consumer Survey In-Market Shoppers; 992 responses; Jan. 5-Jan. 6, 2023
³ Cars.com internal data
⁴Cars.com-owned Accu-Trade data
⁵ Cars.com-owned CreditIQ data
⁶ Cars.com internal calculations

ABOUT CARS.COM

CARS is the leading automotive marketplace platform that provides a robust set of digital solutions that connect car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share.

In addition to Cars.com™, the Company's brands include Dealer Inspire®, a technology provider building solutions to future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL™, an advertising solution providing dealers and OEMs the benefit of leveraging targeted digital video marketing to Cars.com's audience of in-market car shoppers; DealerRater®, a leading car dealer review and reputation management technology solution; CreditIQ™, digital financing technology and Accu-Trade™, vehicle valuation and appraisal technology. The Company's portfolio of brands also includes Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®.

The full suite of CARS properties includes Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, FUEL™, DealerRater®, CreditIQ™, Accu-Trade.com™,  Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What is the main finding of Cars.com's first Affordability Report released in January 2023?

The report indicates that 1 in 4 shoppers expects to spend less than $20,000 on a new car, while the median price is over $40,000.

Which companies offer the most affordable new cars for 2023 according to Cars.com?

Kia, Chevy, and Ford are identified as the most affordable new car manufacturers in 2023.

What are the best value cars listed in Cars.com's Affordability Report?

The report highlights the 2023 Kia Rio S, 2023 Chevy Trailblazer LS, and 2023 Ford Maverick XL as best value cars by segment.

How are rising interest rates impacting car buyers as noted in the Affordability Report?

The report states that many consumers face double-digit interest rates, complicating financing options.

What percentage of car shoppers plan to trade in their vehicles according to Cars.com?

Approximately 40% of in-market shoppers plan to trade in a current vehicle before purchasing a new one.