Survey exposes the figure most Aussies will spend on a car
carsales’ data shows the budget most Aussie car buyers are working with and it can only mean one thingThe News
Despite new car sales hitting a record high in 2025, new data from carsales has revealed almost 60 per cent of Aussies plan on spending less than $30,000 on their next car, suggesting the ongoing cost of living crisis continues to affect Aussies’ transport decisions.
The Key Details
- More than half of Aussies want to spend less than $30K on next car
- Figure has remained stable over the last three years
- Gen Z significantly more likely to spend under $30K
- Females also much more likely than males to do the same
The Finer Details
The findings come from carsales’ latest Consumer Sentiment Survey, which quizzed more than 2000 Aussies and found just under 30 per cent of buyers are looking to spend between $30-60K on their next car, while just 15 per cent plan on spending more than $60,000.
Those are trends we’ve seen remain stable in the last three years.
That said, a noticeable difference between several key demographics stood out, with over 70 per cent of women looking to spend less than $30K, compared to their male counterparts (48%).
Meanwhile, younger Gen Z respondents (those born around 1996-2010) were found to be significantly more likely than other age groups to spend less than $30,000, which could be attributed to a generally lower disposable income.
But the combination of a sub-$30K budget and a rapidly declining list of affordable new cars means shopping for a brand-new car is out of the equation for many Aussies, while the used (and demonstrator) car market is the alternative.
With vehicle price being the most important aspect to buyers (74%), analysts said almost half of those searching on carsales used filters to specifically view demo vehicles, while almost half say they plan on buying a used car.
The Road Ahead
Despite the shrinking list of affordable new cars, several options remain for those with a sub-$30K budget.
The most affordable – and only sub-$20K option left – is the pint-sized Kia Picanto Sport (manual), which is priced from $19,190 before on-road costs.
Other options below $30,000 include:
Hyundai Venue
BYD Atto 1
Chery Tiggo 4
Mahindra XUV3XO
Suzuki Swift
GAC EMZOOM
GWM Haval Jolion
Kia Stonic
Suzuki Fronx
Toyota Yaris
Nissan Juke
Hyundai i30
BYD Dolphin
Chery C5
Chery Tiggo 7
Related: VFACTS 2025: Toyota tops record year for Aussie car sales, Ford Ranger reigns on
Related: Kia Picanto Sport 2024 Review
Related: BYD bombshell: sub-$30K EV for Australia
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