Yahoo Finance Car trend saving Aussies $75,000 as cost of living soars: ‘Features without the price tag’
Car “dupes” offering similar features for less are growing in popularity as Aussies face cost-of-living pressures.
“Dupes” have been growing in popularity across the fashion and beauty industries as Aussies look for ways to achieve a high-end look, without the hefty price tag. Now the trend has also infiltrated the car world, with Aussies able to save as much as $75,000 by opting for some of the top lower-cost options.
Carma automotive expert Peter Willis told Yahoo Finance “dupes” in the automotive industry had been around for a while but were growing in popularity due to increased cost-of-living pressures.
“If you think back to the early 2000s, Kia and Hyundai started out their marketing choosing what a popular car would be, [such as a] Toyota Corolla and Tarago, and then pitching cars in those markets to compete at that price level,” Willis said.
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“What we are seeing with cost-of-living pressures and the impact that has on consumers and their decisions, is driving manufacturers to push into that more.
“With the pressures on finance, they are trying to give that opportunity for a buyer to have that car that looks quite prestigious or has all the features without the price tag.”
Willis said some popular “dupes” included the Jeep Wrangler and the Suzuki Jimny. A 2024 Wrangler retails for about $93,871, while a 2020 Jimny could be picked up for about $31,991.
“They’ve both got solid front axles, they’ve both got 4x4 drive lines and they are an off-road adventure vehicle at heart,” Willis said.
“However, the Jimny has all the capability for about $60,000 less.”
Top 7 car ‘dupes’
Carma’s experts revealed the top “dupes” available on the market and how much buyers could save by buying a comparable car second-hand:
2024 Audi RS 3 Sportback vs 2017 Volkswagen Golf R - save $75,000
2024 Rubicon Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Suzuki Jimmy - save $60,000
2024 Toyota GR Supra GT vs 2022 Subaru BRZ S - save $56,000
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor vs 2021 Toyota Hilux - save $45,000
2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe - save $30,000
2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 MG HS + EV - save $18,000
2023 AUDI Q5 vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan - save $13,000
Cost top of mind for buyers
Hunter Valley resident Ashley Sherry recently purchased her dream car and said cost was top of mind when making the purchase.
“We’re verging on retirement so we especially needed to be more cautious with our budget than we might have been otherwise,” the 61-year-old told Yahoo Finance.
“This meant weighing the pros and cons of various options more carefully and considering not just the purchase price but also the long-term costs, like fuel efficiency and roadside maintenance.”
She said she and her partner were after a new car that would be versatile enough for towing their new motorhome and offroading, while still allowing them to do the school run to pick up the grandkids.
The couple originally purchased a Suzuki Jimny for $11,000 with a $22,000 trade-in via Carma, but realised it wasn’t quite right for them.
“We made the purchase on a slick blue model and had the car for one week when I realised the car didn’t work for our motorhome specifically,” she said.
The couple ended up looking for a “dupe” option with a similar look and feel, and settled on a Kia Sportage.
“It had all of the same features we wanted in the Jimny and also fit our particular camping needs so we didn’t need to sacrifice,” she said.
Sherry said purchase kept within their budget and they spent an additional $1,000 as part of the Jimny trade-in.
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