Which Brand Has The Most Overpriced Cars?

Car prices are actually down a little this year when compared to 2022 and even some months in 2023, but before you start celebrating, let’s not get carried away. Despite this dip, plenty of automakers are still slapping eye-watering suggested retail prices on their vehicles. Today, we put the question to you. Which mainstream, near-premium or premium (we’re steering clear of exotics and ultra-luxury here) automaker has the most overpriced cars?

That last word is key. We’re not just talking about one absurdly overpriced model in an otherwise reasonably priced lineup. Take Volkswagen, for example. Sure, the ID.Buzz is wildly expensive, considering what it offers, but most of VW’s lineup is pretty competitive within their segments. So, to keep this discussion grounded, we’re looking at entire brands, not just one or two offenders.

More: New vs. Used Price Gap Hits A Record High Of $20,000

Land Rover is, in many ways, a luxury brand today. Despite that, several of their SUVs seem reasonably priced. The Evoque starts at under $50,000. The Velar starts at $61,500. The Discovery Sport is $48,900 and the Defender is just $56,900. Of course, those are only starting prices.

But that’s where the “reasonable” pricing ends. Stack on any options or pick a trim level that isn’t at the bottom of the ladder and these cars get pricey fast. For example, the new Defender Octa starts at $152,000. The Range Rover starts at $107,900. And if that wasn’t crazy enough consider this: it’s possible to spec a Discovery Sport to the point that it costs over $65,000.

Infiniti, which teeters between mainstream and premium-ish, is another contender worth considering. The QX55 seen here is what the brand calls a “crossover coupe” and it starts at $50,150. Spec one crazy enough though and it’ll set you back nearly $65,000 too. It’s far from the only offender on the list. The new QX80, which we liked overall during a recent test, is still a very expensive proposition with a starting price north of $82,000. Infiniti is even on record saying that it wants buyers who make seven figures.

More: Average New Car Cost $48k, But Buyers Only Want To Spend $35k

Finally, let’s chat about Jeep because the days of this brand being rugged and inexpensive are long gone. The only things cheap at Jeep are SUVs that are nowhere near as capable as the Wrangler. In fact, the automaker even understands the problem to a degree as it’s slashing prices across the board. And honestly, it’s not just Jeep. You could throw any Stellantis brand into the mix here and make a case for overpriced lineups.

Perhaps it’s one of the growing roster of EV-exclusive brands like Tesla, Polestar, Lucid, Rivian and others.

So, what do you think? Are any of these brands deserving of the title of most overpriced automaker, or do you have a different contender in mind? Share your thoughts below and don’t forget to vote for the comments that resonate with your opinion.