Stellantis, Ford, Hyundai and Kia Ripped You Off THE MOST | Episode 1057

The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger three-row SUV built to carry more passengers than the standard Highlander. It’s positioned as a family-friendly alternative when you want extra seating space without stepping up to a full-size SUV.

The Toyota Sienna is a minivan known for family-focused features and available technology. In this segment, it’s referenced for an available rear seat entertainment system, highlighting its role as a kid- and road-trip-friendly vehicle.

All-wheel drive (AWD) sends power to more than just the front or rear wheels, helping the vehicle maintain traction. It’s commonly used to improve grip in rain, snow, or low-traction conditions.

The host is referring to Stellantis, the large automaker formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group. In this episode, they’re using Stellantis as one of the brands that allegedly raised prices the most over the last decade.

Ford is one of the automakers included in the episode’s analysis of which brands raised prices the most from 2015 to 2025. The discussion frames Ford as part of the group that allegedly “ripped you off” via pricing.

Kia is included in the episode’s headline list of automakers whose pricing allegedly increased the most over the last decade. The hosts emphasize they’re using data from 2015 through 2025 to support the claim.

Hyundai is named as one of the brands in the episode’s “price increases” comparison. The hosts say they crunched data across a 10-year window to identify which brands raised prices the most.

CarEdge.com is the sponsor and the platform the hosts reference for car shopping tools and deal-finding. In this segment, they mention features like MapView and claim average savings for users.

“Negotiability” here refers to how much room there is to bargain on a vehicle’s price depending on local market conditions. The host connects it to their MapView tool, implying some regions have more leverage for buyers than others.

MapView is described as a feature inside the CarEdge car search that shows which states have the most buyer leverage for a given vehicle. The host uses it to recommend where to buy a Mazda CX-30 based on inventory and how quickly cars are selling.

The Ford Bronco Sport is used as an example of how negotiation can vary by location. The host claims it’s “negotiable everywhere” in the United States, tying the car to the episode’s broader theme of pricing and bargaining.

The Mazda CX-30 is the specific vehicle used to demonstrate how market conditions affect pricing and availability. The host uses MapView to suggest which states are better or worse for buying one, based on how quickly they’re selling and how many are sitting on lots.

The hosts frame the episode around a data-driven comparison of which automakers raised prices the most from the end of 2015 to the end of 2025. This is essentially a “10-year pricing trend” analysis rather than a single-model review.

The “average new car transaction price” is the typical price actually paid for new vehicles in sales data (not the sticker price). Tracking it over time helps show how much prices are rising in the real market.

CPI is the Consumer Price Index, a widely used inflation measure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When the podcast compares automaker price increases to CPI, it’s asking whether car prices rose faster than general inflation.

“Medium Household Income” refers to median household income from the U.S. Census. Comparing car price growth to income growth helps evaluate affordability—whether wages are keeping up with vehicle costs.

“Solantis” appears to be a mis-transcription of Stellantis, the automaker formed from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. The segment is using brand-level pricing changes to argue some manufacturers raised prices more than inflation.

Hyundai Genesis refers to the Genesis brand, which has been Hyundai’s lineup for more upscale vehicles. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as one of the manufacturers that stands out in terms of manufacturing or lineup behavior compared with others. That’s why it appears in a list of “outliers.”

General Motors is included in the “not as much as inflation” group in the transcript. The episode uses these comparisons to argue that pricing behavior varies widely by automaker.

Nissan is grouped with other brands described as below inflation in the transcript. The episode uses this to argue that not every automaker raised prices faster than general inflation.

Honda is described as “right below inflation,” placing it among brands whose pricing rose roughly in step with CPI. The episode uses this to contrast with automakers that raised prices more aggressively.

“Infinity” appears to be a mis-transcription of Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand. The transcript is listing brands that rose less than inflation, including the Infiniti line.

Mitsubishi is mentioned as being below inflation in the episode’s pricing comparison. This supports the broader point that some automakers tracked closer to CPI than others.

The Nissan Versa is used as an example of the “cheapest vehicles” category whose prices rose sharply from 2015 to 2025. The point is that even entry-level cars became much more expensive over the decade.

The Infiniti Q40 is a compact luxury sedan that the podcast groups with other models that were relatively affordable. The mention is tied to the idea that some of these budget-friendly options have been removed from the market. That makes the Q40 relevant to discussions about shrinking choices at lower price points.

The Infiniti Q60 is a luxury coupe/fastback-style car mentioned alongside other models that were relatively affordable. In the episode, it’s brought up to illustrate how some lower-priced choices have been discontinued or replaced. That context makes it part of the broader affordability and lineup-change discussion.

The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback known for its practicality and interior space. “LX Manual” indicates the trim level and a manual transmission option, which typically helps keep the price lower; the host uses it as an example of a cheaper 2015 Honda that’s no longer offered.

The Mitsubishi Mirage is a very affordable subcompact car, and the podcast includes it as one of the relatively low-cost options that used to be available. It’s mentioned in the context of other brands’ cheapest models and how those entry-level prices have changed. That makes the Mirage relevant to the episode’s affordability comparison.

The Honda Civic is Honda’s mainstream compact car, and “LX” is typically the entry trim. The host contrasts the Civic LX’s current starting price with the much cheaper Honda Fit LX Manual from 2015 to illustrate how the “entry-level” price floor has risen.

The Acura RLX is a luxury sedan from Acura, and the podcast notes that Acura got rid of the ILX and RLX. It’s mentioned to support the point that some brands have reduced their model lineups over time. That makes the RLX relevant to the episode’s theme of fewer choices and shifting pricing.

The Acura ILX is a compact luxury sedan, and the podcast notes that Acura got rid of it along with the RLX. It’s referenced to support the point that some brands have trimmed their model lineups. That connects to the episode’s larger theme of fewer options and changing affordability.

The host argues that automakers are increasingly discontinuing their cheapest models, effectively raising the “price floor” for new vehicles. This is a market strategy and product-planning shift: fewer low-cost trims means consumers have fewer truly affordable options, even if demand exists.

The Toyota Corolla is Toyota’s long-running compact car and one of the brand’s most affordable mainstream models. The segment uses the Corolla’s current price to show that even “affordable” Toyotas cost significantly more than they did a decade earlier.

The Toyota Yaris was Toyota’s smaller, lower-cost subcompact option in the U.S. market, and the host notes it’s no longer available there—removing another “cheap” choice from the lineup and contributing to higher entry-level pricing.

Scion was Toyota’s youth-focused brand in the U.S., positioned around simpler, lower-priced models. The host uses Scion’s discontinuation to explain why consumers lost an affordable entry point—while still expecting “Toyota quality” at lower prices.

The Chevrolet Trax is a subcompact crossover that Chevrolet positions as a mainstream, relatively affordable entry SUV. In the segment, the host compares its current starting price to the much cheaper Chevrolet Spark from 2015 to show how the “entry-level” category has shifted upward.

The Chevrolet Impala was a full-size sedan that GM discontinued as consumer demand shifted away from sedans. The segment lists it alongside other removed models to support the argument about shrinking “affordable” choices.

The Chevrolet Sonic was a compact car that GM discontinued as the market shifted toward crossovers and trucks. In the segment, it’s part of a list of cheaper models that were removed from the lineup.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact sedan that GM discontinued in favor of more profitable SUV and truck segments. The hosts mention it as part of a broader trend of automakers cutting lower-priced cars.

The Buick Verano is a compact luxury sedan that the podcast says was discontinued, along with other models like the Impala and LaCrosse. It’s brought up as an example of brands removing cars from their lineups. That ties into the episode’s broader discussion about how fewer affordable models remain available.

The Cadillac ATS was a compact luxury sedan that Cadillac discontinued. The hosts cite it (along with the CTS) as part of Cadillac’s lineup reductions tied to profitability and changing demand.

The Cadillac CTS was a mid-size luxury sedan that Cadillac discontinued. In this segment, it’s included in the “deletions” list to illustrate how automakers reduce lower-volume, lower-profit cars.

The Chevrolet Spark is a small, budget-focused subcompact car. In this segment, the hosts use it as an example of a low-price model that’s less profitable for automakers than higher-margin SUVs and pickup trucks.

The Volkswagen Jetta S is the entry-level trim of the Jetta, and it’s used here to illustrate how the “cheapest” option in a lineup has risen significantly. The hosts also note that the manual transmission is no longer offered on the current Jetta S.

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact hatchback that the hosts say was removed from the lineup in a non-GTI form. This is part of their argument that automakers have reduced lower-priced variants as consumer demand shifted.

The Kia Rio LX is referenced as an example of Kia’s older, entry-level pricing. The hosts use it to illustrate how the brand has moved away from sub-$15,000 offerings, which supports their broader “price increase” argument.

The Hyundai Venue is cited as today’s more affordable option, with a stated price around $20,550. The hosts use the Venue to show how the “entry-level” price floor has risen compared with older sub-$15,000 models.

The Kia Forte is mentioned as one of the models Kia has “gotten rid of,” implying the brand has reduced its lower-cost lineup. In the context of this episode, that supports the argument that Kia and Hyundai have shifted toward higher pricing tiers.

“Upmarket” means moving a brand’s positioning toward higher-end products and higher prices. The hosts question what Hyundai Motor Group has done to attract customers at these higher price points and whether it left earlier, more budget-focused buyers behind.

The hosts point to record sales as evidence that higher pricing hasn’t reduced demand for these brands. In pricing discussions, sustained strong sales can indicate that buyers are still willing to pay more, even if the market feels “ripped off.”

The Ford Maverick XL Hybrid Super Crew is a compact pickup truck configured with a hybrid powertrain and a larger cab (“Super Crew”). In this discussion, it’s used as Ford’s current cheapest option, highlighting how Ford has shifted its lineup away from lower-priced cars.

An entry-level price point is the lowest-priced version of a brand’s lineup that a typical buyer can purchase. The segment argues Ford raised its entry point substantially, reducing access to cheaper vehicles and pushing more customers into higher-priced categories.

The Ford Fiesta S Sedan is referenced as Ford’s low-cost entry point in 2015. The segment uses it to illustrate how Ford’s cheapest offerings have moved up dramatically in price over time.

A base market is the main group of buyers and price tiers a brand targets—often including entry-level models. The hosts claim Ford has abandoned parts of its base market by reducing affordable passenger-car options and focusing on higher-margin trucks and SUVs.

The Ford Mustang is Ford’s remaining mainstream passenger car in this segment’s framing. The hosts use it to argue that Ford has largely exited the car market and focuses more on trucks and SUVs.

Stellantis is the parent company behind brands like Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. The hosts argue Stellantis has raised prices the most over the last decade while also losing market share, especially after 2021 as it tried to move upmarket.

Fiat is one of the brands grouped under Stellantis in the segment. The hosts mention Fiat’s lineup shrinking in the cheaper price tiers, using the Fiat 500 as an example of an affordable model that’s been discontinued.

The Fiat 500 hatchback is used as the example of Stellantis’ cheapest model in 2015. The hosts contrast its low price with today’s cheapest Stellantis offering, highlighting how the company exited lower price tiers.

The Jeep Compass Sport is cited as Stellantis’ cheapest model “today” in the segment. It’s part of the argument that Stellantis has moved away from sub-$25,000 pricing and eliminated many entry-level options.

The Chrysler 200 is cited among the models Stellantis “killed off” as it moved away from affordable pricing. In the segment’s logic, removing these cars helped push the brand group out of the sub-$20,000 and sub-$25,000 markets.

The Jeep Patriot is a compact SUV that the podcast lists among models that have been discontinued as brands exited lower price segments. It’s mentioned in the context of leaving the sub-$20,000 market and moving away from cheaper offerings. That makes it relevant to the episode’s focus on how entry-level choices have shrunk.

The Dodge Dart is mentioned as one of the affordable models Stellantis discontinued. It supports the hosts’ point that Stellantis exited lower price segments by killing off budget-friendly nameplates.

The Dodge Ram (Ram pickup trucks) is part of the Stellantis “Ram” brand and is known for full-size truck capability. The podcast mentions it in the context of brands exiting lower price tiers and raising prices across the lineup. That’s why Ram is brought up as one of the remaining brands in the group that has increased pricing.

Market share is the percentage of total sales in a market that a manufacturer captures. The hosts claim Stellantis lost more market share than any other automaker over the same timeframe, which they connect to its pricing and “go upmarket” strategy.

MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) is the list price a manufacturer sets for a vehicle. The hosts note that Stellantis’ MSRP has decreased year over year on some models, implying that list prices alone don’t tell the whole story compared with what buyers actually pay.

The transcript mentions the all-electric Charger Daytona as part of Stellantis’ EV lineup and cites very low first-quarter sales. It’s presented as evidence that Stellantis’ EV strategy isn’t resonating with buyers.

The U.S. federal EV tax credits have eligibility rules and phase-outs. When incentives end or stop applying to certain models, demand can drop quickly because buyers lose a major price offset.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rely on large battery packs and electric drivetrains, and they require charging infrastructure and different cost structures than gas cars. The speaker argues that many automakers “bet” on BEVs, but demand shifted faster than expected.

The speaker suggests automakers followed policy pressure from governments—especially in Europe and the U.S.—that emphasized battery-electric adoption. This can lead to product plans that don’t perfectly match real-world consumer demand.

The hosts connect EV sales willingness to whether federal tax credits are available, suggesting that without them only a small share of consumers are willing to buy an EV. This is an example of how incentives can materially change consumer demand and dealer sales velocity.

The segment emphasizes how long certain vehicles have been sitting on dealer lots—260 days, 387 days, and other figures over 300 days. In car-market terms, “days in inventory” is a practical indicator of demand softness and/or pricing pressure, because dealers need to move units to free up cash and floor space.

Carvana is discussed as expanding by adding new dealership franchises, positioning itself as a major player in both buying and selling vehicles. The hosts frame it as a competitive threat to traditional dealer networks, especially when inventory is piling up.

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram are the major brand names under the Stellantis umbrella. The segment focuses on how dealership ownership and brand mix can influence financing outcomes and pricing power.

Loan origination is the process of creating and approving auto loans for customers. The hosts connect it to dealership acquisitions, suggesting Carvana profits not just from selling cars, but from the financing it structures and approves.

Asset-backed securities (ABS) are financial products that are backed by cash flows from assets—here, likely auto loan payments. The hosts imply Carvana can package loans and sell them as ABS, which changes how profitable financing can be.

In retail auto, “transparency” usually means the listed price is the real price with fewer negotiations, add-on surprises, or variable dealer markups. The hosts suggest Carvana’s approach at used-car facilities could carry over to CDJR stores and make shopping easier.

The hosts are arguing that different companies may face different regulatory or contractual limits, even when they operate in the same market. In dealership/financing contexts, this can affect how aggressively a buyer like Carvana can expand compared with other competitors.

A rear seat entertainment system is a set of screens and audio outputs designed to keep passengers in the back occupied. It’s a common family-focused option in minivans and larger vehicles, reducing boredom on long drives.

The Toyota RAV4 is Toyota’s compact crossover SUV, commonly offered with multiple drivetrain options. Here, it’s highlighted for available all-wheel drive, which improves traction in rain, snow, and uneven conditions.