23:48 19-11-2025

New-car prices above MSRP: the worst deals Consumer Reports found

New-car prices in the United States keep climbing, and the average transaction price has topped $50,000 for the first time. Against that backdrop, Consumer Reports analyzed real-world TrueCar data and put together a list of the worst deals on the market—models that consistently sell for more than the sticker price.

The biggest offender is the Kia Sportage: buyers pay an average of $2,053 above MSRP, roughly a 7% premium. Close behind are the Hyundai Kona, Kia K5, and Toyota Prius, where markups reach as high as 6%. In the pickup segment, the GMC Sierra 1500 stands out with an average $2,585 over list.

There’s also an unexpected name: the Chevrolet Malibu, a sedan that hasn’t seen a major update in nearly a decade. Despite its age and modest hardware, shoppers still pay on average more than $1,300 above MSRP—an illustration of how market quirks can outweigh logic at the retail level.

Among the more attainable options, the Kia Soul and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport carry premiums of around 5%. Even the popular Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Frontier are selling at roughly 4% over sticker, showing that demand pressure reaches across segments.

Experts note that the picture varies widely by region: some areas face shortages, while elsewhere cars sit on lots for weeks. Consumer Reports’ takeaway is straightforward: if one of these models is on your shortlist, study local listings carefully or consider alternatives to avoid paying more than you should.