Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
Least Expensive New Cars to Own
August 23, 2012
When buying a new car, most people overlook the long-term costs.
Everyone focuses on the price, when in reality, they should really be focusing on things such as depreciation cost, fuel costs, insurance, financing, maintenance, and repair.
For example, you could save more than $7,000 over 5 years by buying a Toyota Highlander instead of a Ford Explorer, even though the Explorer is $3,000 cheaper. This comes from research done by Consumer Reports. The following is their list of the best and worst cars to own when it comes to long-term ownership costs.
Make, model & type | Cost/yr over 5 years | |
---|---|---|
Small cars | ||
Best | Toyota Prius C | $5,000 |
Worst | Chevrolet Cruze Eco | $7,500 |
Family sedans | ||
Best | Toyota Camry Hybrid | $6,500 |
Worst | Volkswagen Passat (V6) | $9,250 |
Upscale cars | ||
Best | Buick Verano (2.4) | $7,750 |
Worst | Chrysler 300 C | $11,500 |
Luxury cars | ||
Best | Hyundai Genesis 4.6 | $11,000 |
Worst | BMW 750Li | $21,500 |
Small SUVs | ||
Best | Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.) | $7,000 |
Worst | Cadillac SRX | $11,750 |
Midsized SUVs | ||
Best | Chevrolet Equinox/GMC Terrain (4-cyl.) | $8,000 |
Worst | Jeep Grand Cherokee (V8) | $12,750 |
Large & Luxury SUVs | ||
Best | Ford Flex V6 | $10,500 |
Worst | Cadillac Escalade (base) | $17,250 |
Sporty cars & convertibles | ||
Best | Mini Cooper Hatchback Base | $5,750 |
Worst | Jaguar XK | $19,000 |
Wagons & minivans | ||
Best | Toyota Prius V | $6,000 |
Worst | Volvo XC70/Chrysler Town & Country | $10,750 |
Light-duty pickups | ||
Best | Toyota Tacoma (V6) | $8,500 |
Worst | Chevrolet Avalanche | $13,000 |
Signup for The Weekly Newsletter
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
May 2024
- Best Car Deals by Category May 30, 2024
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars for 2024 May 30, 2024
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs May 30, 2024
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates May 30, 2024
- Best Memorial Day Car Deals 2024 May 23, 2024
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory May 23, 2024
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs May 23, 2024
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals May 23, 2024
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals May 16, 2024
- Cars With the Largest Rebates May 16, 2024
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy May 16, 2024
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks May 16, 2024
- Best 0% Finance Deals May 2024 May 12, 2024
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals May 09, 2024
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals May 09, 2024
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars May 09, 2024
- Biggest Price Drops on New Cars (Spring 2024) May 02, 2024
- Best Car Deals Around the Country May 02, 2024
- Real Prices of Compact Cars May 02, 2024
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy May 02, 2024
April 2024
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Apr 25, 2024
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Apr 18, 2024
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Apr 18, 2024
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Apr 04, 2024
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!