Affordable cars under $30,000 are being dwarfed by amenity-stuffed, high-end models, new data shows

Two men look at a truck in a parking lot. (Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg—Getty Images)

• Affordable car inventory growth is falling behind pace for all car inventories, according to a new Cars.com report. Budget-friendly cars are predominantly imported, meaning they are susceptible to tariff-induced price hikes. Some cars once under $30,000 may have jumped into a more expensive category as a result.

Sweeping tariffs are making it harder to buy cheaper cars, industry experts warn.