Overview

• A new ADAC analysis shows average entry-level small-car prices have climbed more than 80% since 2013, topping €25,000 today.
• The number of available small-car models has fallen from 89 in 2013 to 71, with combustion-engine offerings down over 40% since 2019.
• Electric small cars have seen their model lineup roughly triple while average prices rose by about 20% over the same period.
• The ADAC demands that manufacturers strip back expensive features on base variants and reintroduce simpler, lower-cost trims.
• Automakers cite pandemic disruptions, supply-chain issues and stricter EU rules for higher prices, but costs have remained at record levels even after shortages eased.