What $35K Buys You in Cars Now vs. 2019 — Big Changes for Buyers
Written by
Gabrielle Olya
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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In 2019, $35,000 bought you a brand-new SUV. Today, you’re looking at a used one — and that’s if you’re lucky.
According to CarGurus data, here’s a look at the type of car you could buy for $35,000 in 2019 versus 2025.
What $35K Buys You: 2019 vs. 2025 Car Comparison
Here’s a look at the type of car you could buy for $35,000 in 2019 vs. 2025 by type.
Sedan
- 2019: New Toyota Camry XSE V6 FWD
- 2025: 2-year-old Toyota Camry TRD FWD with 32,000 miles
CUV
- 2019: New Honda CR-V Touring AWD
- 2025: 2-year-old Honda CR-V EX-L AWD with 19,000 miles
SUV
- 2019: New Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD
- 2025: 2-year-old Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD with 24,000 miles
Pickup
- 2019: New Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4WD
- 2025: 2-year-old Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4WD with 53,000 miles
Why Car Buying Power Has Dropped Since 2019
There are several reasons why you can’t buy as much on a $35,000 car-buying budget as you could in 2019.
- Total cost of ownership has skyrocketed. “Between higher insurance, loan payments, maintenance and fuel, the all-in cost of owning a vehicle has grown faster than general inflation over the last few years,” said Kevin Roberts, director of economic and market intelligence at CarGurus. Compared with 2019, the total cost of ownership for a new car is up roughly 29%, and for a used one it’s up about 36%.
- Car prices have remained high. “A budget that once bought a new mainstream model now often buys a two-year-old version with meaningful mileage,” Roberts said. “Limited supply of late-model used cars has only reinforced that shift.”
How Car Buyers Are Adapting to Higher Prices
Car shoppers know that their dollars simply don’t go as far as they once did, so they’re adjusting their purchasing decisions to compensate.
“Because $35,000 doesn’t deliver the same package it did a few years ago, we’re seeing more budget-conscious buyers leaning into older used inventory, smaller body styles, hybrids, or just keeping cars longer,” Roberts said.
Bottom line: If you’re car shopping today, expect to pay more — or rethink what you drive.
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