# The return of the "affordable" new car? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689 "2026-05-16T12:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/1 "2026-05-16T12:10:58Z")
The good news is that Stellantis is slated to sell it in the $20k range. The potential bad news is that it might simply be another recycled Fiat design. [https://www.motor1.com/news/795622/chrysler-affordable-future-model/](https://www.motor1.com/news/795622/chrysler-affordable-future-model/) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/2 "2026-05-16T20:37:32Z")
Chrysler is a cruel joke, imo As far as this theoretical new car goes, much depends on the price, imo If it’s too close to the price of a decent car, for example a Honda or Toyota, then there’s absolutely ZERO reason to buy it, as I see things With a few exceptions, Mopar . . . or whatever they want to call themselves nowadays, I really don’t care, fwiw . . . has been an out-of-control dumpster fire for a really long time now. A hopeless case, a goner ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/3 "2026-05-16T22:35:35Z")
Look at what the Hyundai Excel did in the 1980’s. People bought those cars like crazy. There’s wasn’t much thought as to long-term reliability, resale value, or service availability. It was just the idea that you could drive off the lot in a brand new car for $199/month. I had friends who bought a brand new car right out of high school. It fills a gap in the market. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/4 "2026-05-16T23:05:57Z")
+1 I worked with a guy that had a fifty mile commute one way. He bought a Yugo, considering it a disposable car once it was out of warranty and he could no longer fix it. When my wife was ready to start college, her father went to the Plymouth dealer a few blocks away and asked to see the cheapest car on the lot. It was a red Volare with power nuthin. Slant six, too. He bought it, she commuted to schools from home for four years. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/5 "2026-05-16T23:17:44Z")
There are plenty of offerings in the compact car market: Corolla, Civic, Elantra, Mazda 3, Sentra, Jetta etc. When the fuel economy requirements were approaching 54 mpg, there was no incentive for manufactures to compete in the compact car market. Manufactures would need to sell many hybrid and electric vehicles to maintain the fleet fuel economy average. Thank Uncle Sam for the setting the standards so high. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/6 "2026-05-17T01:29:34Z")
Leftover Dodge hornet phev are $25,000 or less at some dealers. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/7 "2026-05-17T02:08:49Z")
That’s an attractive modern little x-over looking thing! Reminds me of a CX-5 or such. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-return-of-the-affordable-new-car/205689/8 "2026-05-17T03:47:32Z")
Problem was at $50k nearly it was an Alfa Romeo sold by Dodge for about $10,000 more than a better made and better equipped Honda Crv Hybrid, I can see why someone bought our dealers demo for less than half of msrp but at sticker the Mazda or Toyota competition are better choices