Comparing cheap new cars from 21 years ago to now

[Chief Cola]

So last week I bought a 2026 Elantra SE for $20,900.

In 2005 I bought a 2005 Cavalier for $12,500.

In both cases they were the cheapest new cars on the lot.

Here's how base this base trim Cavalier was:

-No cruise control, no power windows or locks, no anti-theft alarm, no remote nothing
-At best it got just over 30mpg highway

Now for the Elantra, I'll list what it has that the Cavalier didn't:
-I'm getting 46mpg on the highway at 72mph
-Cruise control(of course)
-8-inch color touchscreen display, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Audio: 6-speaker audio system
-Blind-Spot Monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
-Backup and overhead cameras
-LED headlights
-Intermittent windshield wipers
-Tire pressure monitoring
-Automatic headlights
-Power windows doors, locks, and trunk, anti-theft alarm
-Power adjustable mirrors
I understand people who don't like all the computer stuff, on touchscreens I agree, it's one of the most overrated parts of newer cars. The only use I get out of it is the backup camara, which I love.
I had the salesman turn off the lane keeping assist before I even test drove it.

But the anti-collision stuff is great. It doesn't brake for you or anything(well, so far... I'm not out to test that) but getting an alert for cars in your blind spot or when you're trying to back out of a busy parking lot is pretty nice.

Overall though it's the mileage that I see as the biggest advancement and improvement over the Cavalier. The 4 cylinder engines have almost identical power but the Elantra's fuel economy is drastically better. All these marked-up hybrids get good mileage in town but that's only like 5% of my driving.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

So last week I bought a 2026 Elantra SE for $20,900.

In 2005 I bought a 2005 Cavalier for $12,500.

In both cases they were the cheapest new cars on the lot.

Here's how base this base trim Cavalier was:

-No cruise control, no power windows or locks, no anti-theft alarm, no remote nothing
-At best it got just over 30mpg highway

Now for the Elantra, I'll list what it has that the Cavalier didn't:
-I'm getting 46mpg on the highway at 72mph
-Cruise control(of course)
-8-inch color touchscreen display, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Audio: 6-speaker audio system
-Blind-Spot Monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
-Backup and overhead cameras
-LED headlights
-Intermittent windshield wipers
-Tire pressure monitoring
-Automatic headlights
-Power windows doors, locks, and trunk, anti-theft alarm
-Power adjustable mirrors
I understand people who don't like all the computer stuff, on touchscreens I agree, it's one of the most overrated parts of newer cars. The only use I get out of it is the backup camara, which I love.
I had the salesman turn off the lane keeping assist before I even test drove it.

But the anti-collision stuff is great. It doesn't brake for you or anything(well, so far... I'm not out to test that) but getting an alert for cars in your blind spot or when you're trying to back out of a busy parking lot is pretty nice.

Overall though it's the mileage that I see as the biggest advancement and improvement over the Cavalier. The 4 cylinder engines have almost identical power but the Elantra's fuel economy is drastically better. All these marked-up hybrids get good mileage in town but that's only like 5% of my driving.

Wow 46 mpg is great.

Let me jump in and compare two similar cars.

In 1995 I found myself desperate for a new car as I had just moved to Virginia and my car promptly shit the bed. I bought a used 1993 Taurus SHO.
What it had:
Power Windows, door locks, seats, AC, Cruise, tilt wheel, JBL Sound/Cassette, 5spd M trans, 34 mpg @ 75 (still 55 limit), fog lights, stealth looks, the sound and feel of that Yamaha motor at high RPM, the look in pony car and rice rocket drivers eyes, a manual transmission.

My 2018 SHO has:
Power windows, seats, doors, keyless entry, remote start, remote windows down, climate control, heated and COOLED seats, tilt and telescope wheel, adjustable pedals, automatic headlights, rear sunshade, Navigation, backup camera, hands free controls, Apple/Android, AWD, 20 mpg (Downhill with a tailwind), space inside the cab and trunk, Silent turbo torque, stealth looks, the look on C6 Corvette drivers eyes. (I have the Performance pack).

I miss the gas mileage and the manual transmission. A lot. But in every other way the 2018 is a far superior vehicle. Quality of materials first and foremost. It does weigh far too much. The Explorer that it shared a chassis with lost a few hundred lbs and gained 40 hp & 50 ft/lbs when it switched from FWD to RWD. If the Taurus had not been cancelled and had undergone a similar update losing a few hundred lbs and gaining the power while sending that power rearward it would have been a spectacular car.

 

[Chief Cola]

But in every other way the 2018 is a far superior vehicle. Quality of materials first and foremost. It does weigh far too much. The Explorer that it shared a chassis with lost a few hundred lbs and gained 40 hp & 50 ft/lbs when it switched from FWD to RWD. If the Taurus had not been cancelled and had undergone a similar update losing a few hundred lbs and gaining the power while sending that power rearward it would have been a spectacular car.

I actually had no idea there was a Taurus trim with balls. A true sleeper.

With the popularity of SUVs I'm surprised there isn't a true Sport Utility Vehicle available.

Nobody cares if a Mustang with a turbo 4 gets 315hp. They want the V8 or nothing.

But that kind of performance from a sub-$40k SUV would really set it apart from a very crowded market while offering some sensible utility.