Worst Deals on New Cars are Dominated by This One Popular Make

Cars with Prices Running Well Above their MSRP

Are you willing to pay as much as a little over $6,000 above the MSRP for a new car? Hopefully not. However, some popular makes and models are now running well above their recommended MSRP pricing that can really take the joy out of buying a new car.

Just recently, we learned that right now there are some good deals on SUVs with incentive pricing that will last until May 2, 2022, for those new vehicle shoppers with their hearts and budgets set on owning an SUV.

To complement that list, CR analysts took a look at which cars, minivans, and SUVs are selling the most over their sticker price and found that automaker Kia comprises 80% of the models that range from 18% to 21% above MSRP. To help car shoppers identify those models and what to expect, examples of models with specific trims reveal just what you can expect if you are determined to own one of their listed “Worst Deals on New Cars” models.

That said, here is a summary of the list presented in ranked order from highest to lowest above MSRP. For a more detailed breakdown of the data, please visit the CR website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

Worst Deals Right Now

1. Kia Telluride: 21% Over MSRP
Price Range: $33,090 - $44,890
CR MPG: Overall 21 / City 14 / Hwy 30 mpg
Rated #1 of 14 Midsized sport-utility vehicles 3-row

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Telluride LX FWD
MSRP: $33,090
Average spent over MSRP: $6,809
Average transaction price: $39,899

2. Kia Forte: 20% Over MSRP
Price Range: $19,090 - $24,490
CR MPG: Overall 34 / City 22 / Hwy 49 mpg
Rated #12 of 12 Compact cars

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Forte LXS IVT
MSRP: $19,590
Average spent over MSRP: $3,978
Average transaction price: $23,568

3. Kia Sorento: 20% Over MSRP
Price Range: $29,590 - $48,090
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 17 / Hwy 34 mpg
Rated #14 of 14 Midsized sport-utility vehicles 3-row

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid S FWD
MSRP: $34,090
Average spent over MSRP: $6,726
Average transaction price: $40,816

4. Kia Rio: 19% Over MSRP
Price Range: $16,250 - $17,190
CR MPG: Overall 33 / City 22 / Hwy 48 mpg
Rated #4 of 6 Subcompact cars

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Rio LX Sedan IVT
MSRP: $16,250
Average spent over MSRP: $3,107
Average transaction price: $19,357

5. Hyundai Accent: 19% Over MSRP
Price Range: $16,645 - $19,600
CR MPG: Overall 33 / City 22 / Hwy 47 mpg
Rated #2 of 6 Subcompact cars

Trim Example: 2022 Hyundai Accent SE
MSRP: $16,645
Average spent over MSRP: $3,123
Average transaction price: $19,768

6. Kia Seltos: 19% Over MSRP
Price Range: $22,590 - $28,090
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 20 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #11 of 14 Subcompact sport-utility vehicles

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Seltos LX 2.0 AWD
MSRP: $22,590
Average spent over MSRP: $4,240
Average transaction price: $26,830

7. Kia Carnival: 19% Over MSRP
Price Range: $32,300 - $46,300
CR MPG: Overall 21 / City 13 / Hwy 32 mpg
Rated #1 of 6 Midsized minivans

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Carnival LXS
MSRP: $34,300
Average spent over MSRP: $6,396
Average transaction price: $40,696

8. Chevrolet Spark: 19% Over MSRP
Price Range: $13,600 - $18,100
CR MPG: Overall 33 / City 23 / Hwy 44 mpg
Rated #5 of 6 Subcompact cars

Trim Example: 2022 Chevrolet Spark LS CVT
MSRP: $14,700
Average spent over MSRP: $2,723
Average transaction price: $17,423

9. Kia K5: 18% Over MSRP
Price Range: $23,790 - $31,190
CR MPG: Overall 32 / City 20 / Hwy 52 mpg
Rated #5 of 9 Midsized cars

Trim Example: 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line FWD
MSRP: $26,190
Average spent over MSRP: $4,800
Average transaction price: $30,990

10. Kia Soul: 18% Over MSRP
Price Range: $19,290 - $27,890
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 21 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #10 of 12 Compact cars

Trim Example: 2022 Kia Soul LX IVT
MSRP: $19,290
Average spent over MSRP: $3,531
Average transaction price: $22,821

And finally…

For additional Consumer Reports related articles about car shopping, here are three selected pieces that should prove to be informative while looking for your next vehicle:

• Consumer Reports New Car Winners and Losers for This Important Safety Feature

• Consumer Reports New Listing of This Year’s Trucks Buyers Liked and Disliked After Buying

• Consumer Reports Recommends This Important Negotiation Point to Focus on When Buying a New Car

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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