Tag Archives: Price

News

Why the Ram 1500 Is Leaning Into Affordability Again

Sticker shock has officially gone mainstream. With the average transaction price of a new vehicle ballooning to $49,814 in November, even traditionally loyal truck buyers are blinking twice before signing on the dotted line. Ford recently summed it up best: “price fatigue” is real. And in 2025, that fatigue is reshaping what Americans want parked in their driveways.

Ram appears to be paying attention.

Tim Kuniskis, Ram’s CEO, has made it clear that the real battleground isn’t at the luxury end of the truck market—it’s below $50,000. That’s where volume lives, and that’s where buyers are rediscovering the appeal of simpler, entry-level trims that don’t feel like punishment.

On paper, the 2026 Ram 1500 already makes a compelling case. Starting at $41,575, it undercuts many rivals while still delivering the size, power, and refinement expected from a modern full-size pickup. But competition in the budget-friendly truck space is brutal, and Ram isn’t exactly winning the price war outright. Ford and General Motors still own the sub-$50K conversation, with GM in particular dominating the segment. For Stellantis’ truck brand, that gap represents opportunity—and urgency.

Enter the Ram 1500 Express.

Introduced earlier this year, the Express starts at $43,700 and smartly avoids the bargain-bin aesthetic that often plagues cheaper trims. Body-color bumpers, 20-inch wheels, and a gloss-black grille surround give it curb appeal, while the cabin benefits from upgraded interior accents that feel deliberate rather than deleted. Even better, Ram didn’t strip away the tech: adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking are standard, proving that affordability no longer has to mean analog living.

For buyers with dirtier intentions, Ram already laid some groundwork with last year’s 1500 Warlock. Starting at $52,415, it’s not exactly cheap, but it is purpose-built. Think rugged suspension, Bilstein dampers, and a one-inch lift, backed up by skid plates, an electronic locking rear differential, and powder-coated bumpers that beg to be scraped. Four-wheel drive, tow hooks, and all-terrain tires complete the look—and the mission.

Still, the Express and Warlock feel like opening moves rather than endgame strategies.

Ram has publicly committed to more than 25 product announcements over an 18-month stretch, and while several have already landed, plenty remain under wraps. Among them is a high-performance variant set to debut on New Year’s Day, a reminder that Ram hasn’t abandoned speed and spectacle even as it courts more cost-conscious buyers.

The takeaway? Ram knows where the market is headed. As prices climb and patience wears thin, the brand is rediscovering the value of value. If more affordable Ram 1500 trims are indeed on the way, don’t be surprised—just relieved.

News

Renault’s Retro-Cool 4 Is Practically a Steal Right Now

Renault’s newest slice of retro futurism—the reborn Renault 4—has been quietly cruising under the radar. But not anymore. Thanks to a sudden plunge in lease prices, the 4 has become one of the most compelling EV deals in the UK, undercutting expectations and even brushing up against its smaller, less practical sibling, the Renault 5.

A new offer through Leasing Options, via the Auto Express Buy A Car service, lets you slide into the 4’s squared-off driver’s seat for a shockingly low £186.85 per month. This is a three-year lease with an initial payment of £2,592.19, paired with a modest 5,000-mile annual limit. Need more road time? Bumping it to 8,000 miles only adds £15 a month, which feels almost symbolic in today’s EV market.

More Battery, More Range, Almost the Same Price

Here’s what makes this deal pop: the Renault 4, with its bigger 52-kWh battery, is only £2 more per month than a Renault 5 lease. That’s barely the price of a half-decent coffee for 55 extra miles of claimed range. On paper, Renault says the 4 will do 247 miles on a charge. Real-world? Expect something closer to 220 miles, which is plenty respectable for an urban-friendly EV with a taste for the occasional road trip.

The 4 also charges at up to 100 kW, allowing a 15–80 percent top-up in roughly half an hour—quick enough to refuel while grabbing lunch.

Base Trim, But Far From Basic

The trim in question is the entry-level Evolution, though you might not guess that from the equipment list. Renault clearly wanted this one to make a statement. Standard kit includes:

  • 18-inch diamond-cut alloys
  • A crisp 10-inch touchscreen
  • Google’s smooth, intuitive in-car operating system
  • A handsome coat of Carmin Red metallic paint

It’s a spec sheet that reads more premium than budget lease special.

The Practicality Advantage

Beyond power and price, the main reason to pick the 4 over the 5 is space—glorious, useful, everyday space. The 5’s biggest flaw is its tight rear quarters. The 4 fixes that with a more upright, boxy profile that translates into better headroom, more knee room, and an altogether more adult-friendly back seat. The oversized tailgate also makes loading awkward cargo pleasantly effortless.

A Deal Worth Catching While It Lasts

Auto Express curates these offers from dealers and leasing companies across the UK, and like all good deals, this one won’t last forever. Availability is limited, prices fluctuate, and terms apply. If the offer disappears, Renault 4 leases remain plentiful—and still highly competitive—on their dedicated Renault 4 deals page.

For now, though, this might be one of the savviest EV leasing plays on the market:
more range, more space, more personality—yet barely more money.

News

Dealer Listings Reveal Prelude Could Be Honda’s Priciest “Affordable” Coupe Yet

Honda still hasn’t officially told us what you’ll have to shell out for the reborn 2026 Prelude, but several dealers appear happy to spill the beans early—and if they’re right, Honda’s nostalgic two-door comeback won’t be the affordable coupe some fans hoped it would be.

Dealer Listings Point to a Mid-$40K Prelude

Barber Honda in Bakersfield, California, is the biggest canary in this pricing coal mine. The dealership currently lists the Prelude on Autotrader with an MSRP of $43,850, while its in-house website pegs the car at $42,655. That $1,195 spread is suspiciously identical to Honda’s destination charge for MY25 vehicles—meaning the latter figure may be the Prelude’s real MSRP before destination.

Two more dealers have joined the party. Honda of Denton in Texas and Lehigh Valley Honda in Pennsylvania are both showing $43,650 MSRPs, though none of the listings clarify which trim levels—or nonexistent options—the prices reflect.

What we can say is that the Prelude appears to be arriving not as a budget-minded base model, but as a fully loaded, single-spec machine with premium touches already baked in.

A Pricey Return to the Affordable Coupe Segment

Earlier industry whispers put the Prelude closer to $38,000, and Motor Trend later revised its estimate to $42,000. Dealer pricing now suggests the actual sticker could be a bit north of that—potentially placing the Prelude at the very top of what can reasonably be called the “affordable coupe” segment.

That makes for some awkward comparisons:

  • Toyota GR86: $30,800
  • Ford Mustang EcoBoost: $32,320
  • Honda Prelude (est.): ~$42,650

Sure, neither the GR86 nor the Mustang gives you standard leather, Bose audio, or Honda’s hybrid tech. But a $10K–$12K gulf is tough to ignore—especially when the Prelude’s output is just 200 horsepower.

The GR86 delivers 228 hp, and even the automatic-only Mustang EcoBoost leaves both in the dust at 315 hp. Add in the fact that Honda’s hybrid system eliminates the possibility of a manual transmission, and driving purists will need to think hard about what they value more: efficiency and refinement, or old-school engagement.

Against the Nissan Z, the Prelude Looks Particularly Vulnerable

The dealer-suggested $$43K ballpark sticks the Prelude right next to the $42,970 Nissan Z. And here’s where things get uncomfortable for Honda:

  • Nissan Z (base)
    • 400 hp twin-turbo V6
    • Available manual
    • Rear-drive platform
    • Starts slightly below the Prelude’s rumored price

True, the Z skimps on upscale materials unless you climb to the $52K Performance trim. But for many shoppers, 400 horsepower and a three-pedal setup will be more compelling than leather seats and a premium stereo.

The Civic Type R Problem

Then there’s the threat lurking in Honda’s own backyard. A 2025 Civic Type R stickers at $45,895, delivering a punchy 315 hp and one of the best manual gearboxes on sale. Even if the refreshed CTR ends up pricier, the monthly payment difference next to a ~$43K Prelude would be negligible.

When the performance halo of your own brand is only a coffee a month away, it becomes harder to justify a slower, automatic-only coupe—no matter how stylish or premium it feels.

So What Is the Prelude Now?

If dealer listings prove accurate, the 2026 Prelude won’t be an inexpensive entry point into sporty coupes. Instead, Honda appears to be positioning it as a refined, feature-rich, hybrid grand-touring coupe that prioritizes comfort, tech, and style over outright performance.

That’s not necessarily a bad strategy—just a different one. But it does mean buyers expecting the spiritual successor to the high-revving, front-drive Preludes of old may find themselves surprised at the checkout counter.

Source: Honda/Barber