Are Cars Getting More Expensive? We Compared 2012 And 2022 Prices To Find Out

Inflation is forcing the prices of everyday goods to rocket, but does that include our cars? We’ve heard countless stories about dealers charging new prices for used cars, and massively over MSRP for box-fresh models due to a shortage of supply, but some manufacturers, including Hyundai, Kia and Subaru, have been trying to stamp out the trend, and some dealers from other brands are still willing to give buyers a fair deal.

Sticking with MSRP prices, how do the prices of today’s cars look compared with those of, say, a decade ago? We’ve picked seven cars from 2012 and compared their prices with today’s models to see if we’re getting a better deal in 2022.

Naturally, the newer cars are better equipped, but where possible we’ve looked at equivalent trim grades to get the most accurate picture. To help us make our comparisons we’ve used data from the U.S. Inflation Calculator website, which says $1 in 2012 would be worth $1.24 today.

2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan vs 2022 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Honda’s Civic Si got a bigger naturally aspirated engine for 2012 that traded top-end revs for more mid-range pull. The 2.4-liter motor made 201 hp (204 PS), which means it’s 1 hp (1 PS) more powerful than the current 1.5-liter Si, but the newbie’s 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque is 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) up on the 2012’s best, and it’s more easily accessible.

Related: 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV Hatch Debuts In Europe With 181-HP Hybrid Powertrain

The 2022 Civic Si gives buyers a choice of six-speed manual or CVT transmissions, while the older car was only available with a stick, but did at least offer a three-door coupe body as well as a four-door sedan. Comparing prices for sedan bodies for both years (picking the coupe saved you $160 in 2012), the latest Si is $918 less expensive in real terms.

2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport vs 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport

The Miata’s body might have changed since 2012, but the recipe is very familiar. Then, as now, the Sport trim was the cheapest route to Miata ownership, but in 2012 the Mazda roadster’s 2.0-liter inline four only made 167 hp (169 PS) and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm), whereas the latest MX-5 gives you 181 hp (184 PS) and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) from its same-sized Skyactiv-G motor, yet uses less fuel and is over $2k less expensive to buy.

2012 Dodge Challenger R/T vs 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T

The Dodge Challenger continues to defy the aging process and steal sales from its newer Mustang and Camaro rivals. And because Dodge hasn’t made any radical changes to the styling over the years, the cars built a decade ago look almost as good as the new ones.

Leaving aside the modern Hellcat versions, some of them perform as well, too. A mid-spec 2012 R/T came with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 rated at the same 375 hp and 410 lb-ft as the 5.7 in the current car. But unlike some of the other cars in our list, the 2022 Challenger costs $1,309 more adjusted for inflation.

2012 BMW 328i vs 2022 BMW 330i

BMW’s 3-Series was all-new for 2012, and the F30-code 328i switched from an inline six to an N20B20 turbocharged 2.0-liter four that kicked out 240 hp (243 PS) and 255 lb-ft (346 Nm).

But its modern descendant, the current G20 330i, uses a newer-again N20 2.0-liter engine that produces 255 hp (259 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). Despite those performance gains the 2022 car costs $2,668 less in real terms.

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S vs 2022 Porsche Carrera S

Porsche’s 911 evolved from the 997-generation model to the longer, wider 991 for the 2012 model year, and the naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six in the $97,350 Carrera S gained 15 hp for a total of 395 hp (400 PS), plus 325 lb-ft (441 Nm) of torque. That $97k equates to $120k in modern money, but the current 992 Carrera S serves up 443 hp (449 PS) and 390 lb-ft (529 Nm) while saving you $3,198.

2012 Toyota Sienna XLE vs 2022 Toyota Sienna XLE

In its second year on the street following a comprehensive 2011 refresh, Toyota’s 2012 Sienna minivan was offered with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, the V6 coming standard on the XLE model. The 3.5-liter gas motor made 266 hp (270 PS) without turbos or hybrid assistance, but in 2022 the only available engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that only makes 243 hp (246 PS). Gas mileage is, of course, far better in the 2022 car, and a $1,032 saving further sweetens the deal.

2012 Ford F-150 XL vs 2022 Ford F-150 XL

Most of the F-150 news over the past year has been focused on the Lightning EV, which goes on sale this spring. But the traditional gas-powered F-150s aren’t going anywhere, and the most affordable way into one is via the short-cab XL that costs from $31,685.

Related: Are New Cars More Expensive Than In Your Dad’s Day? We Compare Lamborghinis, Corvettes And Mustangs Across The Decades To Find Out

The XL’s base engine is a 3.3-liter V6 that sends 290 hp (294 PS) and 265 lb-ft (359 Nm) to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Those numbers are actually worse than the 302 hp (305 PS) and 278 lb-ft (377 Nm) you got from an entry-level 2012 F-150’s 3.7-liter V6, and just to rub salt in the wound the new car works out $2,893 more expensive.

Comparing the prices of 2012 cars with those you can buy new today reveals that in most cases we’re getting a much better deal in 2022, assuming you can actually find a dealer to supply a car at MSRP. The reality is that’s not necessarily a simple task, while back in 2012 it would have been normal to persuade your dealer to let you pay less than MSRP.

Before we sign off this post, here’s a final comparison for you. News outlets like CNN reported in 2012 how gas prices were the highest ever on record, averaging $3.60 for a gallon of regular across the year. AAA blamed hurricanes, refinery outages and tensions in the Middle East for the high prices.

That $3.60 is the equivalent of $4.45 today, but despite current talk of crippling gas prices, the price of a gallon of regular average across the U.S. is $4.24. So even if it doesn’t feel like it, the stats show our cars, and the fuel we need to use them, cost less today than they did a decade ago.