Overview

• New-vehicle prices have been largely steady so far, with July averages up less than 2% from March as automakers leaned on inventory and soft demand.
• As 2026 models arrive, experts expect moderate pass‑through of tariff costs, with some MSRPs already up—Chevrolet Traverse and Cadillac CT5 by more than 7% and the imported MINI Cooper by 11.4%.
• Manufacturers are channeling increases through fewer base trims, pricier option bundles and higher destination charges rather than large jumps on the window sticker.
• Unsettled trade terms are tempering broad hikes, with a U.S.–EU outline for a 15% rate not yet implemented and country‑specific designations still in flux.
• Forecasts point to industrywide increases in the mid‑single digits this fall, and some analysts advise buying sooner to avoid rising prices and disappearing lower‑cost choices.