It’s a widely held belief that a used car is always a better deal than a new one. That may not be the case any more, as used car prices have grown over the past few years. At the same time, new cars have been offered with heavy incentives, lowering purchase prices by thousands of dollars.

Used car prices have exploded over the past five years. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Guide, the average price for a used pickup truck between one and five-years-old rose from about $15,000 to $18,000 between January 2005 and July 2009. Used cars between one and five-years-old rose from $10,500 to $13,200. Used SUVs saw an even more dramatic rise in price. Between January 2009 and July 2010, the average price for a used SUV rose from $13,000 to $22,000.

Used vehicles aren’t better than they were a few years ago. In fact, they have more miles on them than before. Tom Webb of Manheim Consulting said that “the average mileage on vehicles sold at auction has risen in every market segment over the past two years,” according to AOL Autos.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is just one example of the great deals available on new cars. Starting at $13,230, the Fiesta is less expensive than many used cars, and it gets 40-mpg.

So if you’re looking to save money when changing vehicles, buying used may not be the best choice. Check out the available incentives on new cars, because you may be able to afford much more car than you thought.