With new cars costing more than $50,000 on average, affordability is very subjective.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the average age of a car on U.S. roads is nearly 13 years, meaning people are keeping their vehicles longer than ever. I'm one of them: I still drive a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder that has treated me well for more than a decade.
But I've tested 14 different cars and SUVs in 2026, including several of the top-selling models from some of America's largest auto manufacturers. The models I've tested range from affordable gas-powered sedans such as the Mazda3 to top-of-the-line luxury hybrid models such as the Genesis GV80 Coupe. I've also tested several fully electric cars and SUVs, including the Chevrolet Blazer
EV, Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ, Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
I've taken these vehicles on trips to the grocery store, school drop-off runs for my young children and other local commutes to get a sense of their true daily driving experience. While every brand-new car has unique attributes, some models stood out more than others.
Here are 3 models I would consider buying, and the story they tell about the current state of the U.S. auto industry.
1. Kia EV9
Starting price: $54,900
What I liked about it: When I reviewed the EV9, I noted that "I drove the Kia EV9 over 300 miles in my week of testing, putting it through its paces on flat interstate highways, suburban streets, and roads with winding hills and tight corners. It handled each terrain with aplomb."
What it says about the state of the industry: The EV9 is one of only a handful of fully electric three-row SUVs on the market. Electric cars used to cost a lot more than traditional gas guzzlers, but the gap has closed a lot in recent years as newer technologies allowed EV costs to come down at the same time as traditional car prices were rising. The EV9's starting price is only about $4,800 more than the average price of a new car, which was $50,089, according to Cox Automotive.
2. Toyota Grand Highlander hybrid
Starting price: $42,260
What I liked: When I reviewed the Grand Highlander, I noted it was spacious enough to be a modern family car and had excellent gas mileage as a hybrid vehicle.
What it says about the industry: Toyota introduced the Grand Highlander because they noticed Americans were gravitating toward larger cars. The Japanese company has announced plans to electrify the traditional Highlander, but not the Grand Highlander because the selling power is much higher for the larger version of the popular SUV in its current gas-powered and hybrid formats.
3. Volkswagen Tiguan
Starting price: $30,805
What I liked about it: When I reviewed the Tiguan, I noted the two-row SUV offers up to 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It also got over 350 miles on a single tank of gas in mostly local driving.
What it says about the state of the industry: Volkswagen's take a bit of sales hit in recent years, but they have reputation for making sturdy cars that last. With car shoppers gravitating toward hybrids as gas price rise, Volkswagen has confirmed plans to launch hybrid versions of the Tiguan and its larger three-row Atlas next year.
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at klaing@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 affordable cars I'd buy and what each pick says about the market
