Perhaps only equaled by the onslaught of statistics in sports, the automotive industry is largely driven by data. The rate at which a car or truck accelerates is typically expressed in tenths of seconds. Navigation screen sizes are listed in quarters of inches. Do drag coefficient fractions listed in thousands of a second have relevance in consumer vehicles?
The overridingly most important automotive statistic remains price. A recent number proved the point.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the vehicle valuation and automotive research company headquartered in Irvine, the average price for a new car has surpassed $50,000.
Consumers paid an average of $50,080 for a new vehicle in September. It was the first time in automotive history the $50,000 plateau had been surpassed.
Kelley Blue Book detailed reasons for the increase are multifold, including auto tariffs, an increased mix of luxury vehicles and higher costs for electric vehicles.
Five years ago, industry analysts detailed the first time the average price of a new vehicle exceeded $40,000. Thirty years ago, the new car average price was a $15,500, with twice as much considered the entry point for luxury vehicles.
But there’s a caveat: While the overall pricing of a new car has increased 25 percent in five years, value options remain.
Here are two 2025 options, both approximately $10,000 less than the $50,000 threshold.
• 2025 Mazda CX-5 — The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V remain the country’s most popular compact crossover sport utility vehicles, but the Mazda CX-5 offers worthy competition.
While the current offering has been manufactured since 2017, the Mazda CX-5 trim options and overall good looks have kept it relevant. The SUV is available in eight trims. It has two four-cylinder engine choices, including a turbocharged option. It offers all-wheel drive and a well-equipped interior is standard.
The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 may be the standard bearers, but the Mazda CX-5 has a hard-to-quantify trait. It has satisfactory acceleration, but its appeal is simply that it’s fun to drive and quiet while getting the job done.
One shortcoming: the 227-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbo premium trim has disappointing gas mileage averages of 22 miles per gallon in city driving, 27 mpg on the highway.
But it’s not a dealbreaker, considering the overall standard features list, including top quality leather seating. The MSRP is $38,000; the total price $40,775.
• 2025 Golf GTI SE — In myriad styles and trims, the Volkswagen Golf has had more than a 50-year run. Available in S, SE and Autobahn trims, 2025 Golf GTI is standard equipped with a turbocharged, 2-liter, four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower.
The front-wheel-drive hatchback has a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s the former that always provide the vehicle’s best trait.
The GTI scoots and it’s handsome, but it’s utility is the best. The wide and tall cargo benefits from nearly flat-folding seats. The cargo measures 19.9 with the seats up, 34.5 cubic feet with the seats down.
Like the defunct Honda Fit, the VW offers more overall room than its exterior presents. The cargo area is complemented by plenty of storage bins and large door pockets.
Gas mileage averages are 24 mpg in city driving, 32 mpg on the freeway. The MSRP is $37,420; the total price is $38,835.
With the Mazda CX-5, the VW Golf GTI SE provides the increasingly expensive industry hope. At least a few quality new vehicles remain affordable against national averages.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also contributes business, lifestyle and sports content to several print and online publications. E-mail: james@jamesraia.com.