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All-Electric Jeeps Are On the Way! Everything We Know About Jeep EVs
Would you believe me if I told you that the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America is a Jeep? As wild as that sounds in a world of Teslas and Toyotas, that is perhaps the most interesting bit of EV trivia today. Although PHEVs offer the convenience of gas stations and the savings of fully-electric miles, we’ve been hearing more drivers ask for an all-electric Jeep. When will the electric Jeep Wrangler arrive? What about an electric Cherokee or Gladiator? Let’s dive into what we know today. Check back for updates as more details are released.
Jeep 4xe: Jeep’s Strategy For Electrifying It’s Lineup
When Jeep unveiled the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid in September 2020, skeptics wondered if off-roading types would ever give an electric Wrangler a try. Over two years later, the electrified Wrangler is the top-selling plug-in hybrid in America. 19,207 Wrangler 4xe’s were sold in the first half of 2022, beating the previous champion, the RAV4 Prime, by nearly 8,000 sales.
Since then, Jeep has announced that the 4xe sub-brand will continue to grow as Jeep’s electric wing. Jeep 4xe models will include full battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
In 2023, these are the Jeep 4xe models available now:
By 2025, Stellantis says that the Jeep 4xe family will grow to include four fully-electric models and several plug-in hybrids. I have a feeling that Jeep and its parent Stellantis are looking forward to the future, considering the success of the Wrangler 4xe.
The Wrangler EV Is a Plug-In Hybrid For Now
If you’re in the market for a fully-electric Wrangler, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. But if you’re willing to consider a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is available now. In fact, the Wrangler 4xe PHEV is one of the top-selling electrified vehicles in America. Jeep has recently said that the massive popularity of the Wrangler 4xe inspired their plans to accelerate bringing By the end of 2025, Jeep says they will have four all-electric Jeep models, and plug-in hybrid options across their lineup.
The 2023 Wrangler 4xe starts at $55,590 for the Willys 4xe. No matter the trim option, the 2023 Wrangler 4xe is good for 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, along with 21 miles of all-electric range. That comes out to a combined 49 MPGe. That’s double what you get with the gas-powered Wrangler. If you drive a lot, the savings will add up quickly.
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee 4xe Electrifies the Best-Seller
Starting just shy of $60,000, the Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid is the definition of value in today’s selection of PHEVs. A Trailhawk 4xe can be had for $62,880. Jeep says that this is where capability meets sustainability.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe is properly powered by a hybrid powertrain that puts out 375 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque, 6,000 pounds of towing capacity and a VERY impressive 56 MPGe. All-electric range is 25 miles, with 470 miles of total driving range with one tank of gas and a full charge. We haven’t heard word of an all-electric Grand Cherokee just yet, but Jeep just made major announcements regarding what’s next in their 4xe product lineup.
The Jeep Recon EV Is Made For Off-Roading Enthusiasts
A convertible, open-top, off-road electric Jeep is finally on the way. If the electric Wrangler’s plug-in hybrid powertrain just doesn’t cut it, the fully-electric Recon should suit your needs. This is targeted towards those yearning for an electric Rubicon.
The Recon’s design is inspired by the Wrangler, according to Stellantis’ Chief Design Officer Ralph Giles. The Recon is an all-new model separate from some of the Recon packages that the Wrangler has featured from time to time. Take one look at it, and it’s clearly something different altogether. It’s kind of boxy, kind of rounded, but unabashedly off-road capable.
Jeep says it will have “true trail-rated capability”. The Recon will have tow hooks, off-road tires, and underbody protection to ensure that the battery is always protected. Remember, EVs are built on skateboard-like platforms with batteries beneath the cabin and motors between the wheels.
Is this a Rubicon-capable EV?
Jeep wants you to know that it is. ““The all-new, all-electric Jeep Recon has the capability to cross the mighty Rubicon Trail, one of the most challenging off-road trails in the U.S. and reach the end of the trail with enough range to drive back to town and recharge,” said Jeep CEO Christian Meunier.
These are the additional details released by Jeep and parent company Stellantis:
- Reservations for the Jeep Recon will open in early 2023
- True trail-rated capability with Jeep Selec-Terrain traction management system, e-locker axle technology, under-body protection, tow hooks and aggressive off-road tires
- Authentic Jeep open-air freedom with a one-touch powertop, removable doors and glass
- The latest generation Uconnect system, including detailed travel guides of the most notable off-road trails
Recon EV Pricing
Stellantis didn’t announce exact pricing, and considering the volatility in lithium-battery supply chains right now, that was probably wise of them. We can infer from the Recon press release that they are positioning the Recon to basically be an electric Wrangler Rubicon. EVs are always more expensive, so I expect Recon pricing to be roughly $5,000 – $8,000 more than Wrangler Rubicon prices like-for-like. With that said, I estimate the Recon’s starting price to be in the ballpark of $46,000, with fully-optioned trims going for closer to $60,000.
If that’s out of your price range, here’s our list of the BEST electric cars for under $50,000.
Will the Recon EV Be Made In America?
Good news for EV tax credit hopefuls! The electric Recon will be built in America. It’s not confirmed where batteries will be sourced from, but it’s highly likely that they will be supplied by the new Stellantis-Samsung SDI battery plant to be built in Indiana.
Will the Jeep Recon qualify for tax credits? With made-in-America batteries AND final assembly, it’s highly likely that it will. Remember, you’ll have to keep the price under $80,000 for an SUV, and fall under the income limits.
The Electric Wagoneer S Is a High-End Jeep. Expect It to Be Expensive.
By now, I think we’re all getting used to the Jeep Grand Wagoneer’s foothold in luxury status. The ‘regular’ Wagoneer is much more approachable, but it’s still near-premium priced at $60,000. If you haven’t noticed, luxury automakers are going electric, and Jeep is giving the Wagoneer the EV treatment too.
Jeep calls the electric Wagoneer the ‘Wagoneer S’, but indicated in their own unveiling that it may be a placeholder name. We know little about the Wagoneer S right now, but here’s what Jeep has shared:
- It’s a premium mid-size SUV
- Range will approach 400 miles
- 4×4 capability is standard
- The Wagoneer S will be made in North America
- Reservations open in early 2023
Wagoneer S Pricing
Stellantis isn’t hiding their plans to price the Wagoneer EV in the premium class. They call the Wagoneer S ‘The Art of American Premium’, so expect a premium price.
Need evidence for convincing? Jeep just announced these performance specs for the Wagoneer S: 3.5 second 0-60 time, over 600 horsepower and range of 400 miles on a charge. Every EV available today with performance and range costs at least $80,000. We’re talking about the Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, and a few others. Factor in that this is a mid-sized SUV, and it becomes crystal clear that this won’t be cheap. This one is tougher to estimate than the Recon EV, but considering the pricing for the combustion-powered 2023 Jeep Wagoneer, I think the Wagoneer S electric vehicle will have a starting price between $65,000 and $75,000.
EVs require more costly raw materials, and that drives prices higher. Don’t forget that the more miles you drive in an EV, the sooner the payback period will arrive to break even versus more affordable gas-powered models. And you’re driving thousands of miles with zero tailpipe emissions along the way.
The good news is that the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S is likely to qualify for up to $7,500 in federal incentives, plus whatever your state has to offer.
We’ll update this page when we know more.
Is the Jeep Avenger Coming to America?
Sadly, Stellantis doesn’t think that the more compact Avenger electric Jeep is suitable for the American market. They have said that the Avenger will be built in Poland for European markets, with no plans to bring it stateside. Americans live compact SUVs, so I suspect this is more of a supply constraint issue.
We’ll be sure to update this page with more information on electric Jeeps as Stellantis releases more details. 2023 and especially 2024 look to be big years for Jeep’s 4xe ambitions.
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The 5 Car Brands You Can Negotiate Right Now
Can you negotiate new car prices in 2023? Our CarEdge Auto Experts help hundreds of car buyers every week, and they gather real-time insights of the market along the way. The market is changing, and both new and used cars are more negotiable than at any time in 2022. Which car brands are most negotiable right now? We spoke to CarEdge’s Justise Lasley and Mario Rodriquez to find out. The consensus was clear: these are the five car brands that you can negotiate right now.
You Have MORE Negotiating Power With These 5 Brands Today
Car buying has always been about supply and demand. However these days, automakers are admitting to intentionally holding supply down to keep prices higher. Still, some brands are negotiable. As car prices fall, gone are the days of being forced to accept dealer markups. You CAN buy a new car at or below MSRP.
Would a car buying coach make this whole process easier for you? What about major savings on financing, insurance, maintenance and more? Consider joining CarEdge+, the membership that pays for itself!
Now onto the 5 brands you can negotiate today…
Jeep
CarEdge’s Mario Rodriguez says that the Stellantis family of brands (Chryler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram) is negotiable right now. A quick look at CarEdge Car Search shows that prices for both new and used Jeeps are softening, with many dealers slashing prices. We’re seeing more Jeeps sit on the lot for longer, such as this discounted Cherokee in the DC-area.
Jeep Incentives:
- Lease a Jeep Compass for $347/month with $3,799 due at signing
- The Cherokee qualifies for a $1,750 cash allowance
- The much-loved Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid can be leased for just $519/month with $4,899 due at signing
- Purchase a Jeep Gladiator with 0% APR for 72 months
See the full details from Jeep
Browse Jeep listings in your area
Ram
After 18 months of elevated prices, some trucks are finally more negotiable. The Ram 1500 is more negotiable in 2023 due to softening demand and slightly better inventory. Finally, Ram trucks are coming down in price. This 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie is one of many examples. This East Coast dealer dropped the price by 12% recently. Depending on how long the truck has been on the lot, in many cases you can start negotiating truck prices.
Ram Incentives:
- Purchase a Ram 1500 or 1500 Classic with 0% APR for 72 months
See the full details of Ram incentives
Browse Ram listings in your area
How can you get a low APR for your new set of wheels? Finance with CarEdge! We work with trusted credit unions offering low rates and great customer service. Learn more about our hassle-free process.
Chrysler
CarEdge’s Justise Lasley has been seeing more Chrysler deals over the past month. The Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid were previously in such high demand that finding one was next to impossible. Now, demand has weakened, and Chrysler is even offering manufacturer incentives. On the used van front, the Pacifica is finally seeing softening prices. This 2021 Pacifica Limited 4WD has had a $4,000 price drop recently.
Chrysler Incentives:
- $1,000 in Stellantis Loyalty Retail Bonus Cash towards a Pacifica Touring L
- $750 cash allowance on a 2022 Pacifica Hybrid Touring L
- $2,000 cash allowance on the Chrysler 300S V6
See the full breakdown of Chrysler Incentives
Find Chrysler new and used listings in your area
Lexus
Lexus is one of the brands that releases monthly inventory numbers. In September, Lexus had a 26 day supply overall, with a higher inventory among Lexus cars than SUVs/crossovers. The overall luxury segment has seen the quickest depreciation over the past month. This is especially true for used Lexus models, such as this 2020 NX. See the latest used car price trends here.
CarEdge’s Mario Rodriguez noted that the Lexus RX350 is the most negotiable right now considering inventory numbers and incentives.
Lexus Incentives:
- The RX is available with 2.99% APR for 48 months in select regions
- $1,500 lease cash is available for the RX
- The ES is available with 2.99% APR for 48 months in select regions
- Hybrids are included in these incentives
See the full details of Lexus incentives
Find Lexus new and used listings in your area
BMW
More buyers are in the market for luxury vehicles, but demand has backed off of recent highs. BMW models are more negotiable as dealers face the prospect of further market softening. They want to sell their lot inventory ASAP. For example, a DC-area BMW dealership has slashed 10% off the price of this 2020 BMW X3 over the past month.
Our own auto expert Mario says that the X5 and X3 are the most negotiable models right now.
BMW Incentives:
- Lease the BMW X3 for $579/month with $6,469 due at signing
- Lease the 330i starting at $579/month with $4,779 due at signing
The best deals are with used BMWs. Find new and used listings in your area.
Don’t Go In Blind: Negotiate Car Prices With Confidence
Whether you’re thinking of buying new or used, always know the right price to pay. This is more important than ever as the market continues to change at a quicker pace. At CarEdge, we know that the best deal is the one you completely understand. Research is key to negotiating car prices effectively, and ultimately buying your car for the price you want.
The CarEdge Community is your one-stop shop for car buying advice and consumer empowerment. Join for free, or become a Premium member for unlimited access to CarEdge car buying tools, our team of Auto Experts, deal/lease reviews, and more.
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Negotiate Thousands Off New and Used Cars in 2023
Whether you’re in the market for a new or used car, you have more negotiating power in 2023 than at any time in the past two years. Our car buying coaches help hundreds of car buyers every week, and they gather real-time insights of the market along the way. The market is changing, and both new and used cars are more negotiable. Which car brands are most negotiable right now? We spoke to YAA’s Justise Lasley and Mario Rodriquez to find out. The consensus was clear: you can negotiate new and used car prices today, especially with these brands and models.
Negotiate With Confidence
Car buying has always been about supply and demand. These days, automakers are admitting to intentionally holding supply down to keep prices higher. Still, many cars and trucks are negotiable for the first time since 2020. As car prices fall, gone are the days of being forced to accept dealer markups. You CAN negotiate car prices in 2023.
Let’s talk about how you can save thousands on your next auto.
Crossovers and SUVs Are Negotiable
During the post-pandemic shortages, both mainstream and luxury crossovers and SUVs saw prices climb very quickly. Now, as the auto market continues to cool off, they have farther to fall. YAA Auto Expert Mario says that he’s been helping YAA members negotiate great deals on several crossovers, such as the following models:
- Mazda CX-9
- Honda Pilot
- Subaru Ascent
- Subaru Outback
- Jeep crossovers
- Volvo crossovers (XC40, XC60, XC90)
- Audi crossovers (Q3, Q5, Q8)
- BMW crossovers (X3 and X5)
In addition to the thousands of dollars our team of advocates has been saving for our members, even more car buyers have been sharing similar stories on our Community Forum. Deals are even possible for popular models like the Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX.
Negotiate Truck Prices in 2023
It’s almost shocking how quickly truck prices have fallen, at least when it come to negotiated out-the-door prices.
“Better truck inventory levels have also increased the negotiability of models like the Toyota Tacoma, the RAM 1500, Chevy Silverado, Honda Ridgeline, and Nissan Titan. Buyers are negotiating thousands off of trucks that were selling with markups just months ago,” one of our Auto Experts noted.
Jerry, an industry veteran and YAA Expert, has been surprised to see better deals and more negotiable truck prices for certain mainstream Ford F-150 models. Of course, the new electric F-150 Lightning remains in high demand with low supply, so simply finding one at MSRP would be a big win for the Lightning. See every electric truck’s pricing and range here.
A quick look at YAA Car Search shows that prices for both new and used trucks are softening, with many dealers slashing prices. We’re seeing more trucks sit on the lot for longer, such as this Ram 1500 in Texas. When the dealer adjusts the price that often, you know negotiation is on the table!
Knowledge Is Power In 2023: Negotiate Car Prices With Confidence
Whether you’re thinking of buying new or used, always know the right price to pay. This is more important than ever as the market continues to change at a quicker pace. At YAA, we know that the best deal is the one you completely understand. Research is key to negotiating car prices effectively, and ultimately buying your car for the price you want.
We have hundreds of free guides, online tools and helpful videos to help you get the best deal on your next vehicle. For example, here are a few of our member favorites. Feel free to take them with you to the dealership!
- Car Buying Cheat Sheet. Know what to say, and what not to say!
- How to Challenge Forced Add-Ons At a Dealership
- The Car Buyer’s Glossary of Terms, Lingo, and Jargon
The YAA Community is your one-stop shop for car buying advice and consumer empowerment. Join for free, or become a Premium member for unlimited access to YAA car buying tools, our team of Auto Experts, deal/lease reviews, and more.
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The Average Price of an Electric Car in America (2025 Update)
2025 Update: The average transaction price for an EV rose slightly last month. Check out the details below.
Car buying is the second biggest expense most consumers will ever make, and more drivers are getting squeezed into $1,000/month car payments. With an EV, you can save hundreds of dollars per month in fuel costs, but the upfront cost of getting into an electric car is substantial. Here’s the average price of an electric car today, and how much prices have increased over the past three years.
The Average Price of an Electric Car Is 12% Higher
As of the most recent data from December 2024, the average transaction price for a new car (of any powertrain) was $49,740 according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s up slightly from the month prior. In December 2024, the average new electric car price was $55,544.
In 2025, the average price paid for a new EV is 12% higher than the overall new car market average. How does this compare to the recent past? In 2024, electric car prices averaged 16% more than the overall market average. In 2023, EV prices averaged more than 8% higher than the overall market.
EV prices appear to have stabilized, and remain a premium segment in most cases. It’s also true that overall new car prices are much higher than historical norms, regardless of powertrain. According to KBB, new EV pricing peaked in June 2022 at $66,997, and has fallen by $11,453 since.
Why Are EV Prices So High?
An abundance of luxury options continues to keep the average price of an electric car well above gas counterparts. Affordable options like the Chevrolet Equinox EV have arrived, but so have expensive electric trucks like the Tesla Cybertruck and offerings from GM.
Electric truck prices are generally expensive (see electric truck prices here). For instance, the Chevrolet Silverado EV is not as affordable as originally claimed. Most electric trucks cost over $75,000 once trim and spec availability is considered.
Although the average EV sells for 12% more than gas-powered models, here’s a breakdown of the starting MSRP for the top 10 electric car models on sale right now. As you can see, not all EVs are quite this expensive:
- Tesla Model Y ($47,740)
- Tesla Model 3 ($40,240)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E ($46,995)
- Tesla Model S ($74,990)
- Chevrolet Bolt ($27,495)
- Tesla Model X ($79,990)
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 ($41,450)
- Kia EV6 ($42,600)
- Volkswagen ID.4 ($37,495)
- Ford F-150 Lightning ($49,995)
The average starting price for the top 10 best-selling electric cars in America is $48,899, which is 10% lower than six months prior.
EV Price Trends
In January 2020, the average electric car price was $54,668, or 42% higher than the overall market average. By 2023, the average cost of a new EV was $53,376 or about 10% higher than the overall new car market. Of course, this reflects the overall rising prices in the broader new car market. Here’s how the average cost of an electric car has changed monthly from January 2020 to 2025.
| 1-2020 | 2-2020 | 3-2020 | 4-2020 | 5-2020 | 6-2020 | 7-2020 | 8-2020 | 9-2020 | 10-2020 | 11-2020 | 12-2020 | 1-2021 | 2-2021 | 3-2021 | 4-2021 | 5-2021 | 6-2021 | 7-2021 | 8-2021 | 9-2021 | 10-2021 | 11-2021 | 12-2021 | 1-2022 | 2-2022 | 3-2022 | 4-2022 | 5-2022 | 6-2022 | 7-2022 | 8-2022 | 9-2022 | 10-2022 | 11-2022 | 12-2022 | 1-2023 | 2-2023 | 3-2023 | 4-2023 | 5-2023 | 6-2023 | 7-2023 | 8-2023 | 9-2023 | 10-2023 | 11-2023 | 12-2023 | 1-2024 | 2-2024 | 3-2024 | 4-2024 | 5-2024 | 6-2024 | 7-2024 | 8-2024 | 9-2024 | 10-2024 | 11-2024 | 12-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV Price | $54,669 | $56,326 | $56,059 | $57,757 | $58,863 | $57,480 | $57,346 | $57,346 | $54,381 | $52,947 | $53,117 | $53,811 | $57,750 | $57,491 | $56,503 | $56,059 | $56,140 | $58,914 | $56,110 | $57,540 | $56,312 | $55,625 | $56,437 | $63,821 | $62,876 | $64,807 | $66,386 | $65,094 | $64,553 | $66,997 | $66,645 | $66,524 | $65,291 | $64,249 | $65,041 | $61,448 | $58,725 | $58,385 | $58,940 | $55,089 | $55,488 | $53,438 | $53,469 | $52,212 | $50,683 | $51,715 | $52,362 | $53,611 | $55,353 | $53,707 | $54,021 | $55,252 | $56,648 | $56,371 | $56,520 | $56,575 | $57,580 | $56,902 | $55,105 | $55,544 |
| New Car Average | $38,747 | $38,550 | $38,812 | $39,904 | $39,138 | $39,731 | $39,512 | $39,571 | $40,159 | $40,770 | $40,937 | $41,335 | $41,248 | $41,366 | $40,680 | $41,172 | $41,534 | $42,633 | $43,056 | $43,418 | $45,031 | $46,026 | $46,329 | $47,243 | $46,404 | $46,082 | $46,223 | $46,676 | $47,275 | $48,043 | $48,182 | $48,301 | $48,094 | $48,281 | $48,681 | $49,507 | $49,388 | $48,763 | $48,008 | $48,275 | $48,528 | $48,808 | $48,334 | $48,126 | $47,899 | $47,936 | $48,247 | $48,759 | $47,401 | $47,244 | $47,218 | $48,368 | $48,389 | $48,424 | $48,166 | $47,870 | $48,397 | $48,623 | $48,724 | $49,740 |
We track EV market share monthly. Here’s where things stand today.
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Regardless of whether you think an EV might be in your future, CarEdge Car Search is the best way to shop online with more transparent pricing, and auto industry insights dealers don’t want you to see. Check it out today!
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33% INCREASE In Repos | Auto Loan Debt Is Spiraling Out of Control
The Consumer Financial protection Bureau (CFPB) is concerned about Americans getting deeper into debt. It’s not credit cards or mortgages that are raising red flags, it’s auto loans. Today, the average car payment is $733 per month. That’s nearly $9,000 a year in car payments alone. Rising car prices are leading to larger loan amounts and record-high monthly payments. The CFPB just released new data that shows auto loan delinquency rates increasing dramatically for deep subprime borrowers.
Just how concerned is the Bureau? The latest auto lending data shows that borrowers with poor credit are struggling to make ends meet, largely due to the surging costs of owning a vehicle.
“We are particularly concerned about the impact of these changes on consumers’ financial health, especially for consumers with near-prime or subprime credit scores,” said the report.
Let’s take a closer look at the most recent auto lending data, why delinquencies are rising, and what lies ahead for tomorrow’s car buyer.
Deep Subprime Borrowers Falling Behind; Delinquencies Up 33%
One in three Americans falls within a subprime lending tier, which includes credit scores under 620. So when the federal bureau tasked with keeping tabs on American spending habits sounds the alarm, lenders listen.
The CFPB measures auto loan delinquency rates by quarter after loan origination. The loan origination year is called the vintage, and delinquency rates are tracked by quarter since the vintage was originated. This is considered the best way to detect when borrowers are taking on more debt than they can handle.
Here’s what the Bureau highlighted in their latest report.
“When looking at delinquency in the first two years after purchase, loans originated in 2021 and 2022 are starting to show higher delinquency rates relative to loans originated in previous years, even when compared to loans unaffected by pandemic-related stimulus payments. For example, auto loans originated in 2021 have a delinquency rate of 0.67 percent in the sixth quarter after origination, which is 13 percent higher than the delinquency rate of auto loans originated in 2018.”
Borrowers with poor credit are faring much worse.
“This trend is even more pronounced for consumers with subprime and deep subprime credit scores. For example, 2022 vintage auto loans for consumers with deep subprime credit scores were 2.4 percent delinquent two quarters after origination, which is a 33 percent increase from the previous five-year high set in 2020.”
Why Are Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Rising?
Cars are more expensive, interest rates are rising quickly, and together that equals record-high monthly auto payments. Over the past year, the average car payment has risen from $623/month to $733/month. Go back further in time, and the average car payment was $502 in 2017. When auto loan payments increase nearly 50% in just five years, lower income borrowers are the first to feel the impacts.
Pandemic stimulus packages are over, and household budgets are struggling to adjust as consumer price indices show inflation at 40-year highs. With stimulus money gone (and student loan forbearance set to end at the end of the year), Americans have less money to spend on car payments. Car prices are up as much as 40% since pre-pandemic times, but there’s less money to go around.
Rising Auto Loan Interest Rates Add to the Pain
The federal reserve has made it clear that it will become more expensive to borrow money. Higher-risk borrowers are footing the bill in the form of MUCH higher interest rates. To get a better sense of just how bad it is for subprime borrowers right now, we crunched the numbers to find out how the average auto loan interest rates are adding well over $10,000 to the total cost of an auto loan.
| Credit score | Average APR, New Car | Average Amount Financed | Total Interest Paid (60 Months) | Total Cost (Principal + Interest) 60 Mo. Loan | Total Interest Paid (72 Months) | Total Cost (Principal + Interest) 72 Mo. Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superprime: 781-850 | 2.96%. | $36,725 | $2,830 | $39,555 | $3,403 | $40,128 |
| Prime: 661-780 | 4.03%. | $41,969 | $4,440 | $46,409 | $5,348 | $47,317 |
| Near Prime: 601-660 | 6.57%. | $42,461 | $7,470 | $49,931 | $9,032 | $51,493 |
| Subprime: 501-600 | 9.75%. | $38,802 | $10,378 | $49,180 | $12,603 | $51,405 |
| Deep subprime: 300-500 | 12.84%. | $33,978 | $12,241 | $46,219 | $14,925 | $48,903 |
Used car buyers with subprime credit have it even worse, with the average deep subprime rates over 20%.
| Credit score | Average APR, Used Car | Average Amount Financed | Total Interest Paid (60 Months) | Total Cost (Principal + Interest) 60 Mo. Loan | Total Interest Paid (72 Months) | Total Cost (Principal + Interest) 72 Mo. Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superprime: 781-850 | 3.68% | $28,639 | $2,759 | $31,398 | $3,322 | $31,961 |
| Prime: 661-780 | 5.53% | $30,473 | $4,477 | $34,950 | $5,404 | $35,877 |
| Near-Prime: 601-660 | 10.33% | $28,598 | $8,139 | $36,737 | $9,891 | $38,489 |
| Subprime: 501-600 | 16.85% | $23,935 | $11,640 | $35,575 | $14,258 | $38,193 |
| Deep subprime: 300-500 | 20.43% | $20,311 | $12,248 | $32,559 | $15,057 | $35,368 |
Borrowing less money at lower interest rates for shorter terms is the only way out of runaway interest debt. It’s easier said than done.
Looking Ahead
The CFPB says it is focused on ensuring a fair, transparent, and competitive auto lending market. The Bureau aims to do this by ensuring affordable credit for auto loans, monitoring practices in auto loan servicing and collections, and fostering competition among subprime lenders.
The first step towards keeping auto loan debt under control is to spend less. But there’s only so much that government oversight can do. New car inventory remains historically low (but improving for some), and OEMs announce more MSRP hikes every week it seems. Automakers have been blatantly stating that they plan to keep inventory low long-term, and that’s going to keep new car prices high. And then there’s inflation.
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Is there a silver lining? If you’re willing to consider a used car, you have more negotiating power than at any point in the past year. Data from Black Book shows more used cars sitting on dealer lots for longer, and the bubble has officially burst at wholesale auctions. Dealers are eager to sell their inventory to minimize losses in a rapidly softening used car market. The result is more willingness to negotiate.
Don’t settle for the sticker price. In fact, we think you should aim to negotiate between five percent and ten percent off of the sticker price on a used car. Thinking of selling? Selling sooner rather than later will get you more money as the used car market softens.
What do you think about the latest auto lending numbers? It’s hardly a surprise when car payments cost as much as rent in much of the nation.
