.Grieco Ford in Branford as shown in a March 2025 file photo. The current average new car price, both across the United States and here in Connecticut, is about $50,000. (Luther Turmelle/Hearst Connecticut Media)Average new automobile prices in Connecticut currently range from $23,000 for compact sedans and economy cars to $60,000 for full-size pickups, according to a national online price guide.The average price of a mid-sized sport utility vehicle in Connecticut right now is about $40,000, according to the price tracking platform Current Costs.The average new vehicle transaction price across all types of cars during August in both Connecticut and around the country is about $50,000, a 1.9% increase over the same time a year ago, according to data from Kelley Blue Book, a vehicle valuation and automotive research company.More than ever, new car prices are a hot topic, not only for consumers, but for auto makers as well, according to Clifford Atiyeh, an automotive analyst with CHA Creative in Bridgeport. Atiyeh, who was returning from an automotive conference in Detroit on Wednesday, said auto makers are busy trying to determine how long they can keep from having to pass along cost increases to consumers that are associated with tariffs and transportation costs."For now, many of them have been eating some of these costs because they are concerned about how consumers will react," he said. "But it's becoming more difficult for them to hold out."Fees add to overall car priceOne benefit for consumers is that the Federal Trade Commission has recently passed regulations requiring auto dealers to disclose so-called "hidden fees." Among the things that dealerships must now disclose as part of their advertised price for a vehicle are:Any mandatory fee that is not in the price; if the dealer requires it, the advertised price must include it.Any price that assumes a rebate most people cannot get. The price generally available to any buyer must remain with the restrictions spelled out.If a price is only available if you finance through the dealer."Consumers are now able to better able to compare prices as a result," Atiyeh said.While new car dealers are reluctant to increase prices overall, Atiyeh said it hasn't stopped them from increasing legitimate fees associated with the sale price of a vehicle as a way to recover some of the dealership's increased costs."Destination fees are increasing," he said, referring to the non-negotiable charges automotive manufacturers set to cover the cost of shipping a new vehicle from the factory to the dealership. "And the fees for different levels of trim (different package of features) have been fluctuating more than they used. They used to only change once a year, now its occurring on almost a quarterly basis."Tips for purchasing your next carAtiyeh said when searching for a new car, consumers should look for vehicles that aren't in high demand."You want to look for vehicles that have been sitting around longer on the dealership lots," he said. Here in Connecticut, Atiyeh said Subarus and Hondas are in high demand and so consumers are less likely to get incentives that will lower costs.Because the federal government no longer offers tax credits for plug-in electric vehicles, he said that type of vehicle is now either heavily discounted or available with liberal incentives.The same can't be said for hybrid vehicles, according to Atiyeh.Atiyeh said consumers can take advantage of longer-term financing that is available through dealers by paying it off early. For example, if a consumers takes out a seven-year auto loan, look to pay it off in five years if possible.Experts at Consumer Reports recommend pre-arranging financing through your bank or credit union after figuring out what you can afford, both in terms of monthly payments and a down payment. But Atiyeh said some car manufacturers offer special financing that consumers are unlikely to get from their financial institutions.As far as making a down payment on a new car, Consumer Reports recommends at least 15% down when you buy a vehicle and 20-25% if you can afford it.In terms of new-car shopping strategies, Consumer Reports recommends looking at web sites like TrueCar, Car Gurus, and Cars.com to see what the inventory within a certain geographic areas for models you are interested in. Also, do online searches for specific dealerships and manufacturers to see if incentives such as cash-back offers, low-rate or even 0 percent financing, and lease deals with low monthly payments are available.Sign up for the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the biggest headlines of the day from our network of journalists around the state.