The Type Of Car 'Upper Class' People Buy To Save Money

Living in America today, the purchasing power of a dollar just doesn't get you as far as it used to. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator, a $20 bill in March of 2000 has the same purchasing power as $37.36 as of March 2025. This means that the country has experienced roughly an 87% increase in the cumulative rate of inflation over the last 25 years. With price increases hitting everything from gas to cars to groceries, everyone in America is doing whatever they can to save money – even those that are considered "upper class."

However, outside of applying different grocery shopping strategies that save you money, upper class citizens have also become more conservative with the type of vehicles they choose to drive. Instead of cashing in their checks to buy luxury vehicles (which typically cost far more to refuel than the average car), wealthier Americans are going electric. Many are also choosing to drive hybrid cars as well. For those unaware, hybrids alternate between either a gas or electric setting for operation, which in turn allow them to be considerably fuel efficient. Regardless, between these two types of vehicles, there are four different models that upper class Americans can be most commonly found driving today. These include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, the Kia EV6, and the Toyota Prius.

If you've visited a gas station in the last few years, you're well aware of how expensive gas prices have gotten. Despite the fact that people are selling their Tesla cars in record numbers, electric vehicles are still highly popular amongst wealthier Americans. The reason for this is rather obvious, seeing as these cars do not run on gasoline. Instead, all you have to do is plug them into an outlet in your garage overnight, and by the morning you're good to go. This makes them an optimal choice for more economically-and-environmentally-conscious upper class individuals, as they are relatively affordable once you drive them off the lot and also great for the environment.

The first type of electric car that is quite popular with upper class Americans is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. This vehicle was rated as the best electric SUV by Kelly Blue Book, and costs anywhere between $41,000 to $57,000 for new models made between 2022 and 2025. It can also travel up to around 320 miles on a full charge. However, for those who prefer a similar but smaller sized electric vehicle, they're likely to go with the Hyundai Ioniq 6 instead. It was rated as the best electric vehicle by Kelly Blue Book, and costs anywhere between $39,000 to $52,000 for newer models produced between 2023 and 2025. It can also travel close to an impressive 350 miles on a full charge.

Another very popular electric vehicle amongst upper class Americans is the Kia EV6. It was rated as the 8th-best long distance electric vehicle by Kelly Blue Book, as it can travel roughly 320 miles on a full charge. Outside of this, it has a starting price of roughly $42,000 to $44,000 for newer models made between 2022 and 2025. However, for those looking to upgrade to a sportier version of this vehicle, the GT model of the Kia EV6 costs between $55,000 to $65,000 and has a top speed of 160 mph.

Last but not least, while the Toyota Prius has been a beloved, environmentally-friendly vehicle by all different classes of Americans since the first model was introduced in 2001, newer models in particular have become highly sought after by wealthier Americans. Toyota shocked the world when it released a sleek and sporty new design for this classic hybrid vehicle in 2023. Since then, it has been rated by Kelly Blue Book as the number one best hatchback for both 2023 and 2024, but also the number one most fuel efficient hatchback in 2025 as well. It is the most affordable car on this entire list, with prices ranging from $28,000 to $36,000 for different models of this vehicle produced between 2023 and 2025. It is also incredibly fuel efficient, getting anywhere from 49 to 57 mpg.