Auto Rádio: Car prices in Portugal compared with 10 years ago

Cars have never been this expensive. That is not just a feeling - it is a fact that the numbers back up. To prove it, we went back to an issue of Autohoje from 10 years ago - a weekly print magazine that no longer exists - and set the list prices of the then-new models against what those same models cost today.

We also looked at the used-car market to understand how the value of certain models has shifted over the past decade. What emerges is a mix of unexpected trends and a few missed opportunities.

Guilherme Costa, Miguel Dias and Fernando Gomes host this episode of Auto Rádio, a Razão Automóvel podcast supported by PiscaPisca.pt. They run through several real-world examples showing just how much car prices have climbed - in some cases rising by more than the inflation accumulated over the last 10 years.

The Dacia Sandero example

In addition to accumulated inflation - which, in Portugal, was around 26% between 2016 and 2026 - this Auto Rádio episode explains other reasons behind the jump in car prices. In many situations, the increase has been far greater than inflation.

One of the clearest illustrations is a model mentioned on Auto Rádio that is still among the most affordable new cars on the market: the Dacia Sandero.

In 2016, you could buy a Sandero TCe for 8990 euros, and that price was not even for the base version. Today, the entry-level Sandero starts at 14 950 euros. If you adjust the 2016 figure for the last 10 years of accumulated inflation, it comes out at just over 11 300 euros.

Even so, it remains one of the cheapest new cars on sale in Portugal - which helps put into perspective just how much the wider market has moved.

And what about the used-car market?

Used-car prices have also risen in eye-catching ways, although the picture differs a lot from model to model. Some cars have effectively become collectors’ pieces, and their values have continued to climb.

One example discussed was the ever-popular Renault 4L. We found a listing from 10 years ago for a low-mileage example at 1000 euros. Today, we came across another one - in immaculate condition and also with low mileage - advertised for 20 thousand euros.

On the other hand, no conversation about used cars is complete without depreciation. And when you consider what certain cars cost new in 2016, their prices as used cars 10 years later can still be surprising.

One of the cars highlighted was the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk7), which cost around 45 thousand euros in 2016 in Performance trim. What is it worth now as a used car? Find out by watching Auto Rádio and following the lively discussion.

See you on Auto Rádio next week

There is no shortage of reasons to watch or listen to the latest Auto Rádio episode, and the show returns next week on the usual platforms: YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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