3 affordable cars I’d buy and what each pick says about the market

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.

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/