Intergenerational car price increase

The European car market has been gearing up for a massive shift to electric vehicles over the past few years, but this transition hasn’t materialized as expected. Automakers have invested billions of euros in developing electric cars, yet demand remains lower than anticipated. In response, manufacturers are increasing the prices of combustion engine cars to maintain profits.

Today, we’ll explore the price trends of five popular cars that have been available across multiple generations. We’ve gathered data from official manufacturer price lists.

Volkswagen Golf: the people’s car that mobilized Europe

The VW Golf has consistently been the best-selling car in Europe. Known for its versatility, it’s been a reliable choice for both business and family use. Its strength lies in its affordability and wide range of uses.

2012 (7th generation): Starting price: 339,900 CZK
2019 (8th generation): Starting price: 479,900 CZK (+41%)
2024 (facelift): Starting price: 554,900 CZK (+63%)

Renault Clio: champion of value for money

Renault Clio has always been positioned as an affordable car with great value for money. Its simple engineering, attractive design, and reasonable price made it one of Europe’s best-sellers, even dethroning the VW Golf at times.

2012 (4th generation): Starting price: 229,900 CZK
2019 (5th generation): Starting price: 259,000 CZK (+12%)
2024 (facelift): Starting price: 392,500 CZK (+71%!)

Škoda Octavia: the ideal family car

Built on the same platform as the Golf, the Škoda Octavia always offered something extra, making it one of Europe’s favorite family cars with consistently strong sales numbers.

2012 (3rd generation): Starting price: 334,900 CZK
2019 (4th generation): Starting price: 493,900 CZK (+47%)
2024 (facelift): Starting price: 619,900 CZK (+85%!)

Opel Astra: innovation in the compact car segment

While the Opel Astra may not have achieved the same fame as the Golf, it brought several innovations, such as Matrix headlights and AGR-certified ergonomic seats, giving it high practical value.

2015 (5th generation): Starting price: 319,900 CZK
2021 (6th generation): Starting price: 479,990 CZK (+50%)
2024 (current model): Starting price: 549,900 CZK (+72%)

Peugeot 208: small but popular player

The Peugeot 208 was one of the first models to introduce the controversial i-Cockpit, yet it still managed to gain popularity, especially among women. It continues to rank among Europe’s top-selling cars today.

2012 (1st generation): Starting price: 234,900 CZK
2019 (2nd generation): Starting price: 295,000 CZK (+25%)
2024 (facelift): Starting price: 399,000 CZK (+70%)

Why are car prices rising so much?

There are several key reasons for rising car prices. Automakers are dealing with low margins on electric vehicles, increasing energy costs, rising wages, and more expensive materials. Supply chains are also under significant pressure. It was once predicted that the prices of combustion engine cars and electric vehicles would eventually converge. This is happening now, but not by lowering electric vehicle prices—rather, by dramatically increasing the cost of traditional cars.

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