Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.It's commonplace to complain about the price of cars these days. It's easy to see why, too, with the average transaction price hovering around $50,000 for new vehicles. As a little experiment, we've taken a list of today's best-sellers and compared them to the prices of their original counterparts - some are more than 30 years old.All of our calculations used the US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator, which we used to adjust the older model's pricing for inflation to provide an accurate current-day picture of how much buyers back then were paying.Toyota RAV41996 RAV4ToyotaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisement2026 MSRP: $38,415Inflation-Adjusted MSRP (1996): $39,144Originally, the two-door RAV4 went on sale in '96 with an MSRP of $18,098. It also sets a trend for nearly all vehicles on this list: a lower base price with better features. Automakers love to make this point, and for good reason. The OG compact crossover had barely more than 120 horsepower, and wasn't nearly as safe, fast, or affordable as the current RAV4. Though only cheaper by around $1,000, the latest offers far better for nearly the same money.Honda CR-V2026 Honda CR-VHondaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original article2026 MSRP: $30,920Inflation-Adjusted MSRP (1995): $43,104.92AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Honda CR-V debuted with an MSRP of $19,400 in 1995. At the time, the formula was a bit different from today's CR-V. With a small four-cylinder engine, the compact crossover was intended to be more off-road focused. Automakers were guessing at what consumers might use these new types of vehicles for, and largely overbuilt them. Perhaps this explains the CR-V's high inflation-adjusted price. Today's CR-V, like every other SUV on this list, offers much more in the way of features and technology. Funny enough, Honda's TrailSport CR-V is much closer to the original price, at $40,250, and brings back some of that off-road flair.Ford Explorer1993 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer editionFordView the 2 images of this gallery on the original article2026 MSRP: $38,465Inflation-Adjusted MSRP (1991): $38,666.77AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Explorer's original 1991 MSRP was $16,511. As with today's Explorer, the SUV of yesteryear featured a family-oriented layout with a bit of an off-road bent that has been tuned down some over the years. Explorer Tremor models bring much of that back, but for more money. The original remains shockingly close to the current iteration in price, though it brings much more technology and features than the original. Unlike the prior two SUVs, the Explorer has remained largely consistent in its mission, despite the decades separating the two.Jeep Grand Cherokee2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee TrailhawkJared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 2 images of this gallery on the original article2026 MSRP: $38,415Inflation-Adjusted MSRP (1974):$29,819.19AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cherokee's original MSRP in 1974 was $4,161. Today, the lineup has split to cover a smaller Cherokee and a larger full-size Grand Cherokee, priced at $40,915. This more closely competes with the above Ford Explorer than the current Cherokee does. The hefty gap is also the largest here, and certainly the best evidence of the inflation of the last 25-50 years. In fairness to Jeep, the dearth of modern amenities is again impossible to ignore.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.