The lowest-priced new 2024 vehicle currently available in the United States is the Nissan Versa S, starting at $16,290, or $17,225 with the destination charge. Adjusted for inflation, this price equates to about $7,286 in 1990 dollars.
In 1990, the Toyota Tercel EZ stood out as a top choice for budget-conscious car buyers due to its exceptional build quality and highly affordable price. Priced at just $6,488, or $15,647 in today’s money, the Tercel EZ was a standout. Other budget-friendly cars of the time included the Yugo GV, Subaru Justy, Hyundai Excel hatchback, Mitsubishi Precis, Geo Metro XFi, Ford Festiva L hatchback, Suzuki Swift hatchback, and Daihatsu Charade SE hatchback. The Tercel EZ’s price was even lower than those of the Honda Civic, Dodge/Plymouth Colt/Mitsubishi Mirage/Eagle Summit, Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon, Volkswagen Fox, Chevy Cavalier, and Ford Escort.
The Tercel EZ featured a basic 1.5-liter straight-four engine with 78 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque, but it was criticized for its slow acceleration. Additionally, the carburetor was outdated even at that time, while other cars were equipped with electronic fuel injection.
This model was only offered with a four-speed manual transmission, which made it one of the last new cars available in the United States with this type of gearbox until the 1996 model year.
Despite its shortcomings, the Tercel EZ was known for its reliability and longevity. It’s not uncommon to find junkyard Tercels with high mileage, but a remarkably well-preserved example, like one with only 75,131 miles, can still fetch a high price in today’s used car market.
Many people have shown a renewed interest in the Tercel EZ in recent years, which has driven up its value, making it more expensive to park than to drive in some cases.
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