August Asking Prices Eased Across 97 Comparable Vehicle Groups
A fixed-mix comparison of July and August advertisements fell 3.4%. Within the 97 vehicle groups available in both months, 53 had a lower August median ask, 35 had a higher one, and nine were unchanged.
A lower market midpoint, then a closer comparison
The median asking price of newly advertised passenger cars moved from $13,700 in July to $13,500 in August, a decline of 1.5%. A monthly midpoint can move when the models being offered change, as well as when prices within those models move.
A closer comparison follows 97 groups with the same make, model, model year, 50,000-km mileage band and customs status in each month. These groups contain 1,126 July advertisements and 1,076 August advertisements.
Keeping each group's share constant produces a 3.4% decline in the average of their median asking prices. The accompanying group count also leans downward: more groups became cheaper than more expensive.
- Advertisements in the common groups — July: 1,126; August: 1,076
- Groups represented in both months — July: 97; August: 97
- Fixed-mix average of group median asks — July: $16,685; August: $16,120
The fixed-mix values describe this set of comparable groups. The overall market medians of $13,700 and $13,500 describe the wider monthly offer.
Direction of median asking prices in common groups
Number of vehicle groups with a lower, higher or unchanged August median asking price.
Lower asks were more common, but far from universal
Of the 97 common groups, 53 had a lower median ask in August, 35 had a higher median, and nine were unchanged. The middle group's change was −1.7%.
- Lower than July — Groups: 53
- Higher than July — Groups: 35
- Unchanged — Groups: 9
This is a mixed market with a downward tilt. Buyers looking at one specific model and year could encounter rising, stable or falling asks even while the broader comparison moved lower.
Lower asks were more common, but far from universal
Of the 97 common groups, 53 had a lower median ask in August, 35 had a higher median, and nine were unchanged. The middle group's change was −1.7%.
- Lower than July — Groups: 53
- Higher than July — Groups: 35
- Unchanged — Groups: 9
This is a mixed market with a downward tilt. Buyers looking at one specific model and year could encounter rising, stable or falling asks even while the broader comparison moved lower.
Direction of median asking prices in common groups
Number of vehicle groups with a lower, higher or unchanged August median asking price.
July and August asks in the five largest common groups
Same model, year, mileage band and customs status; equipment and condition can vary within each group.
The largest groups show the variation
The five largest common groups, ordered by their combined July and August advertisement counts, span all three outcomes. Every vehicle group in this table was awaiting customs clearance.
- Hyundai Elantra, 2022 — Mileage band: 50,000–99,999 km; July / August ads: 44 / 58; July median ask: $12,250; August median ask: $12,250; Change: 0.0%
- Chevrolet Trax, 2023 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 39 / 34; July median ask: $16,200; August median ask: $15,500; Change: −4.3%
- Hyundai Elantra, 2023 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 40 / 31; July median ask: $12,500; August median ask: $12,700; Change: +1.6%
- Toyota Camry, 2025 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 33 / 32; July median ask: $24,500; August median ask: $23,150; Change: −5.5%
- Volkswagen Jetta, 2021 — Mileage band: 50,000–99,999 km; July / August ads: 24 / 36; July median ask: $15,500; August median ask: $13,650; Change: −11.9%
The 2022 Elantra group held its midpoint even as the number of advertisements rose. The low-mileage 2023 Elantra group moved slightly upward. Trax, Camry and Jetta groups moved downward, with the largest percentage decline in the Jetta comparison.
Equipment, engine, powertrain and condition can still vary within a model-year and mileage group. The figures describe the changing offers available to a buyer shopping within those boundaries.
The largest groups show the variation
The five largest common groups, ordered by their combined July and August advertisement counts, span all three outcomes. Every vehicle group in this table was awaiting customs clearance.
- Hyundai Elantra, 2022 — Mileage band: 50,000–99,999 km; July / August ads: 44 / 58; July median ask: $12,250; August median ask: $12,250; Change: 0.0%
- Chevrolet Trax, 2023 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 39 / 34; July median ask: $16,200; August median ask: $15,500; Change: −4.3%
- Hyundai Elantra, 2023 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 40 / 31; July median ask: $12,500; August median ask: $12,700; Change: +1.6%
- Toyota Camry, 2025 — Mileage band: Below 50,000 km; July / August ads: 33 / 32; July median ask: $24,500; August median ask: $23,150; Change: −5.5%
- Volkswagen Jetta, 2021 — Mileage band: 50,000–99,999 km; July / August ads: 24 / 36; July median ask: $15,500; August median ask: $13,650; Change: −11.9%
The 2022 Elantra group held its midpoint even as the number of advertisements rose. The low-mileage 2023 Elantra group moved slightly upward. Trax, Camry and Jetta groups moved downward, with the largest percentage decline in the Jetta comparison.
Equipment, engine, powertrain and condition can still vary within a model-year and mileage group. The figures describe the changing offers available to a buyer shopping within those boundaries.
July and August asks in the five largest common groups
Same model, year, mileage band and customs status; equipment and condition can vary within each group.
How much does the mix matter?
The fixed-mix comparison assigns each group the same share in July and August, based on its combined advertisement count across both months. Its average of group median asks falls from $16,685 to $16,120, or 3.4%.
Allowing group shares to follow their actual advertisement counts in each month gives $16,739 in July and $16,004 in August, a 4.4% decline. The larger decline in the changing-mix comparison is consistent with an additional shift toward lower-priced groups inside this common set.
Both comparisons move downward. Holding the broad vehicle-group composition constant therefore preserves the direction of the result, while reducing its size. Differences within the groups remain part of the asking-price comparison.
The buyer's useful next step
The most useful starting point is a specific model-year and customs-status group. A shopper considering an uncleared 2021 Jetta faces a different August offer from someone considering an uncleared 2023 Elantra, despite the same overall market direction.
Within that group, engine, specification, accident history and repair needs deserve the next comparison. A lower asking price becomes a stronger opportunity when those vehicle-level details also fit the buyer's requirements.
The fixed-mix result is an average of group median asking prices, with the same vehicle-group shares in both months.
Methodology
AutoBridge advertised passenger-car prices for July and August 2026.
97 common vehicle groups containing 1,126 July and 1,076 August advertisements.
July and August 2026; figures read 6 September 2026.