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New car prices in Canada are up almost 60% in six years, and Lorraine Sommerfeld says that number didn't just change what people can afford. It changed how they feel about cars. Walking through a lot used to mean dreaming. Now it mostly means calculating.

What does it feel like when something you used to love turns into an appliance decision? Line up every sedan on the market and throw a sheet over them, Lorraine says, and you cannot tell them apart. Manufacturers stopped taking risks. The paint color options narrowed down to gray, black, or white.

The joy didn't evaporate by accident. Fear replaced it when prices made love unaffordable. And the vehicle most people keep refusing to consider might be the most honest thing on the lot.

Topics: new car prices Canada, car buying joy, minivan utility, dream car, car industry design, http://driving.ca

GUEST: Lorraine Sommerfeld | http://driving.ca

Originally aired on 2026-04-17