Subaru and Mazda have the best car deals in 2024 – but there’s a popular brand costing 51% more, ex-sales manager warns
CAR buying experts have revealed that Subaru and Mazda are the two brands that appear almost immune to inflation, making them the best deals of 2024.
The cost of new cars is continually rising, though some are worse than others.
Ray and Zach Shefska, the father-son duo who make up CarEdge, a free car-buying guide with resources and data to help people confidently buy cars, say that that's due to price inflation.
The inflation rate for cars depends on several factors, like the state or county the car is priced in, trim levels, or availability.
Most inflation rates are reasonable, though some brands have dramatically increased the prices of their vehicles without a good explanation, according to Ray and Zach.
Stellantis, the parent company for brands like Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Fiat, and Chrysler, have increased their prices by almost 51% - more than double the national average of 22%.
The vehicle under Stellantis with the highest inflation rates is the Jeep Wrangler, the country's most popular off-roader.
According to the Shefskas, Jeep prices have jumped 61% in five years despite a 34% decrease in sales in the same period.
Other brands that saw another leap in price were Hyundai and Kia, which saw a 49.67% price increase since 2018.
However, the two automakers that sustained the lowest rates were Subaru and Nissan, hovering below the average rate at 19.05% and 19.1% increases.
Subaru's strategy is simple: appealing to its market niche and sticking to it.
"Subaru's prices are pretty low compared to other brands because their price inflation is low," Zach told the U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview.
"They've always been pretty low compared to other cars, especially when options like all-wheel drive and decent technology for under $50,000."
For instance, the Subaru Outback Touring XT, their top-tier trim level, has a host of safety, comfort, and convenience features starting at $42,795 MSRP.
"Subaru's prices have always been relatively low, though they don't always have the best buying deals, so there is a sort of catch," said Zach.
That's where Mazda comes in, as the prices are low but offer more incentives.
"Mazda has the lowest interest rates through their in-house financing so some people might find a better deal there," he said.
"They also have a lot of incentives and deals compared to other brands, too."
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For instance, on February 1, Mazda offered zero percent APR financing on a 2024 CX-30 SUV for the Carbon Edition, Carbon Turbo, and other models.
Standard interest rates stand between 0.9% and 3.9% depending on the trim level and vehicle, with some monthly payments as low as $269 and down payments around $2,499.
