The typical monthly new vehicle payment today (~$750/month) is nearly double what the median US income ($60K/year) worker can afford on a sensible budget plan, & a lot of those people financed for 72/84/96 months🤢. Recipe for disaster, which is why loan defaults & repossessions are going up & up & up. So, I can see why new vehicle sales are down. Stagnant/low wages for most working Americans & overpriced vehicles in comparison - & the true subcompact segment has been killed off in the USA/CAN market already. For most, if you don't have a good trade and/or down payment then you can't reasonably afford a new vehicle even in the lower $25K-$30K "compact vehicle" range without unhealthy levels of debt.

 

The typical monthly new vehicle payment today (~$750/month) is nearly double what the median US income ($60K/year) worker can afford on a sensible budget plan, & a lot of those people financed for 72/84/96 months no-less. Recipe for disaster, which is why loan defaults & repossessions are going up & up & up. So, I can see why new vehicle sales are down. Stagnant/low wages for most working Americans & overpriced vehicles in comparison - & the true subcompact segment has been killed-off in the USA/CAN market already. For most, if you don't have a good trade and/or down payment then you can't reasonably afford a new vehicle even in the lower $25K-$30K "compact vehicle" range without unhealthy levels of debt.

Certainly US sales appear to be in decline but it's a bit hard to say about the rest of the world since that data only goes up to 2022.

It's also true that prices and costs appear to have gone up more in the US than some other countries so it'll be interesting to see more recent data when it becomes available. For example, in my neck of the woods, the 2025 price appears to be 1-2% higher than the 2024 price at this time last year.

Without wishing to hijack the thread, one interesting aspect of US sales is the heavy focus on monthly repayment costs vs total cost which obviously implies that credit-worthiness is a significant factor. Is this common in most other markets?

 

Prices have increased in Europe also, i notice it is about 3% more expensive from May in the latest pricelist than when i made my order back in February.

But used cars have also increased a lot, i got 52% value left in my 2020 Mazda 3, from the dealer as switch in car, that is insanely good for a almost 5 yo car with about 95000 km on the clock

Not surprising if cost increase more in the US, tarrifs tends to do that, it is basically as as a tax

At least in Sweden unless long term renting / leasing the vehicle you normally see the total purchase cost of the vehicle advertised, them you get a breakdown of monthly payments that warry on financing options, delas with reduced interests etc is common , it is often much more beneficial thou to extend your mortage if you own a property .

I can also imagine i mean the CX30 is rather old now with only minor facelifts, we have got the CX-60 also and soon we get the in between sized CX-5 so ppl might be waiting , (personaly i made shure to order so id get a 2025 as the 26 is rumored to be much more changed, no car is better than the last made)

 

I am not sure about Sweden and the rest of EU, but in the UK Mazda is increasing manufacturer's warranty from 3 years to 6 years for vehicles purchased from 1st September 2025. So, it makes a lot of sense to wait until this date.

 

The model I have is $6000 more now than it was in 2022. The Buick Envista is a compelling competitor.

 

The Envista is a lower end vehicle that doesn't offer all the features the CX-30 does. No AWD, 1.2 turbo that puts out 137HP. It's less money for a reason.

 

Tariffs are misunderstood by the general public, the tariff is on the declared value at port of entry, not, as some seem to think, the retail value. The CX-50 has no doubt, taken a portion of the CX-30s sales in the U.S. It is manufactured in the U.S. and is designed to look more rugged, off road purpose, that seems to be what a significant percentage of todays car buyers.

 

A lot of people in the US/CAN market (where the CX-50 is definitely aimed in all of its "Americanized" design glory) seem to like the look of it. I find it too big, boxy & clumsy-looking in-general, though the front styling is nice overall. It starts to look a bit weird towards the rear to me for some reason & those "rugged cutouts" on the back to match the front vents (which I assume are functional) are just silly - & the thick plastic cladding gives it a cheaper look just like it does for the CX-30. I prefer the smaller, sleeker look of the CX-30 overall, & also the new exterior styling/look of the 2026 CX-5 over the CX-50. But, I know I'm a real outlier consumer in the US vehicle market with my personal tastes. I would be much happier in other global vehicle markets, where cool subcompact offerings & manual transmissions are still alive & thriving.

I also find it funny that most people in the US buying all these larger AWD "rugged" SUV/Crossovers vehicles will never encounter more rugged/difficult terrain than a neglected parking lot at their local supermarket, & more often than not they are just being used as basic (& poorer MPG) single/double occupant basic transportation.🤣But hey, it's the new cultural fad & your not a cool, upscale kid if you aren't driving one.

 

In countries such as a Colombia and Mexico, the cx 30 is the best seller

 

In countries such as a Colombia and Mexico, the cx 30 is the best seller

....and?

I'm afraid it's not going to get any better until we get of all this tariff crap that is going on.

Check out the how and why of tariffs, foreign tariffs on our products costs us, yes, you and me. They protect segments of U.S production and the jobs needed to produce. We lost the steel, and the jobs, and economic advantage domestic steel production provided. Then the foreign produces add tariffs we had to meet if we wanted steel. Tariffs protect American labor from the nearly non extant labor costs in other countries, while at the same time providing relief for the abused laborers in those countries, child labor, forced labor, slave labor, there still is slave labor. This only one example of the necessity of tariffs, they are most often the only retribution against the unfair trade practices of foreign greed.

 

....and?

Check out the how and why of tariffs, foreign tariffs on our products costs us, yes, you and me. They protect segments of U.S production and the jobs needed to produce. We lost the steel, and the jobs, and economic advantage domestic steel production provided. Then the foreign produces add tariffs we had to meet if we wanted steel. Tariffs protect American labor from the nearly non extant labor costs in other countries, while at the same time providing relief for the abused laborers in those countries, child labor, forced labor, slave labor, there still is slave labor. This only one example of the necessity of tariffs, they are most often the only retribution against the unfair trade practices of foreign greed.

Meaning that the model might not be popular to that specific market, plus Mazda themselves said that they stopped shipping cx 30 from Mexico to USA due to tariff shenanigans.

 

While there may be a decline in the USA sales, I traded in my 2023 CX-30 Mazda yesterday for a 2025 CX-30 Mazda at Town North Mazda in Richardson, Texas. The dealership was so crowded with people buying new vehicles. My monthly payment for buying the 2025 CX-30 went from $297 to $299.47! The deals the General Manager, Alex Tsvang, is offering on the new models are fantastic! Received a great deal/top dollar on my trade in. For me, it was time for a new model as I had almost 35,600 miles on the trade in and part of the warranty was going to be up soon at 36,000. The newer model has a few new standard options like a blind spot monitor that I did not have on the 2023 model. Very please and think it may be time for some of you in Texas to go see Alex and trade your older model in! Tell him Susan sent you!

 

Do you get a draw against commissions?

 

😂 neglected parking lot, I’m dyin’ amen to that though. I used to make fun of big fancy pickup trucks with not a speck of mud, paint, or anything from actual “work”.