If you thought the hottest new vehicle was Tesla's TSLA Cybertruck or Toyota's TM forthcoming redesigned Land Cruiser, think again.
These certainly might be buzz-worthy cars that many folks are talking about. But in the grand scheme of things, they're going to be hard to come by and even harder to afford for your average U.S. consumer.
Related: These top 10 cars take the longest to sell (and it's not even close)
Take, for example, even your most basic but reliable Toyota Camry, which starts at about $26,500 — before all the haggling and add-ons. America's best-selling car, the Ford F F-150, will run you even more; the 2024 base model starts at over $38,500.
The fact of the matter is that, if you're in the market for a new car, you'd better have a lot stashed away — or be prepared for a long-term loan with less-than-savory interest rates.
As of August, a new car in the U.S. costs an average of about $48,000 — before taxes and other fees. Only three models were available in the U.S. for $20,000 or less.
Some crafty consumers might hesitate to buy a car unless they really need one. And playing to long game has proven to be a pretty sound solution — except in recent years. According to the most recent data found in the September Consumer Price Index, new vehicle costs are only rising, leaping 2.5% year-over-year and 0.3% compared to just one month prior.
What then, of the consumer who needs wheels presently? What about the folks who just started a job and need to get from point A to point B tomorrow? What comes of those who can't wait a year or two until the market possibly begins to tilt in the customer's favor?
Honda might just have the answer.
Honda's latest innovation is playful and unique
In a clever alternative to the high cost of a new car, Honda has developed a new method of transportation that may be particularly useful to people in densely populated areas like cities and suburban centers.
The Japanese car maker, which has been blending utility and sport for decades, recently developed the Motocompacto, an electric scooter that folds down to a reasonable size and is surprisingly capable.
Here are some stats on the new ride:
- Gets a full charge in 3.5 hours
- Uses a common 110v outlet
- Weighs just 41.3 lbs.
- Top speed of 15 mph
- Maximum range of 12 miles
- Peak output is 490 watts
- The whole scooter is just 3.7 inches wide but has folding foot rests
- Folds up to 29 inches long x 21 inches high
The Motocompacto will be available for sale to the public for just $995 in a couple of weeks, but the initial results are in. The pros and analysts who've driven it absolutely love it.
"Riding the Motocompacto feels intuitive, safe and downright fun, no matter who you are," car blog Jalopnik writes, adding, "It may look like a ridable suitcase, but it feels much sturdier and more substantial. It’s also fairly quick."
"It’s a zippy little thing in the straights and, though it steers like an oversized deck of cards, it corners well enough to get its rider through busy city streets," the blog continued.
Others are just as enthusiastic.
"The motocompacto's riding position feels natural, arguably more natural than any standing scooter, probably because the rider sits so close to the ground. The brown leather-covered handlebars and seat are adjustable to many body shapes, so I think even the tallest and shortest of riders will find the Motocompacto comfortable," Ars Technica writes.
"It is the most fun, kookiest vehicle I've driven all year," CNET says in a video review.
The Drive gushed even more emphatically about the scooter.
"When every other form of electric mobility looks like asphalt vomit and makes you look dorky when riding it, the Motocompacto has whimsy and a deeply unserious character. It’s a joyful, stylish object. It implores you not to look too hard at its range and top speed compared to similarly priced scooters with its adorable cyclops eye and gleefully flashing daytime running light," it writes in an article which calls the scooter a "friend."
"From the moment I set off to tour the campus, I could not stop smiling. It was a delightful, charming machine that not only accepted its role as a companion, it assumed it with gusto. Yes, the lack of suspension and real tires made the ride quality pretty rough, and the hard seat made for a fairly numb ass in about 15 minutes of riding. But rather than feeling unfinished or bad, it just felt like a return to basics. A return to simple transportation," The Drive continues.
So if you live in sunnier climes or just can't justify shelling out what might be a future house down payment on your next SUV, perhaps consider the Motocompacto and see what all the fuss is about.
