This is a free-trade article that urges dropping tariffs and letting inexpensive, sometimes superior quality, Chinese and other cars into the U.S.

Free trade is not a prerequisite for "affordable" cars. Whether to build "affordable" cars, or overgimmicked circus wagons, is a decision by management. As long as management thinks the stock market will reward them for escalating ATP and GP, that is what they will do. Company honchos openly say they don't care about market share. As they price their products beyond the reach of more and more people, they close plants and lay people off, to "right size" the company for the lower, but more profitable, volume.

Same thing with houses. If Pulte has a fixed about of land, which they can use for 1200sqft houses, like we boomers grew up in, or 3500sqft McMansions, they will build McMansions, because that is what is more profitable.

Most Affordable Cars

These are the least-expensive new cars you can buy, listed in order of base price.

caranddriver.com - Best sedans

That $23+k for the Kia, apparently the cheapest car in the US in 2026, is more than I paid for my VW Jetta wagon, 12 years ago.

For those who noticed how pricey the Sube Impreza is, Sube has dropped the base trim Impreza, accounting for the steep price escalation of that model.

Steve