The Least Expensive Cars to Own
Just because a vehicle has a low price doesn't mean it will cost you less than a higher-priced vehicle. Factors such as depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and repair end up costing buyers way more than the actual price of a vehicle.
Over a five-year period, if you can keep your ownership costs below $30,000, you're in the top 5% when it comes to saving money.
Kelley Blue Book just released a list of the most fuel-efficient vehicles that will cost you around $30,000 or less over a five-year period. Note that these are all base models with no additional options included.
| Vehicle | Fuel Economy | Pricing | Cost to Own | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Model | Trim | City | Comb | Hwy | MSRP | Average Paid | 5-Year Cost |
| Nissan | Versa | Sedan 4D | 30 | 33 | 38 | $11,770 | $11,093 | $25,818 |
| Hyundai | Accent | GLS Sedan 4D | 30 | 33 | 40 | $13,320 | $12,657 | $27,743 |
| Kia | Soul | Sport Wagon 4D | 29 | 32 | 36 | $14,650 | $14,111 | $28,131 |
| Toyota | Yaris | Hatchback 2D | 30 | 33 | 38 | $14,875 | $14,009 | $28,167 |
| Mazda | MAZDA2 | Sport Hatchback 4D | 29 | 32 | 35 | $15,325 | $15,153 | $28,457 |
| Ford | Fiesta | Sedan 4D | 29 | 33 | 40 | $13,995 | $13,488 | $28,639 |
| Honda | Fit | Hatchback 4D | 28 | 31 | 35 | $15,945 | $15,441 | $29,370 |
| Hyundai | Elantra | GLS Sedan 4D | 29 | 33 | 40 | $16,120 | $15,519 | $29,498 |
| Kia | Rio | Hatchback 4D | 30 | 33 | 40 | $14,150 | $13,513 | $29,862 |
| Scion | xD | Hatchback 4D | 27 | 29 | 33 | $16,075 | $15,689 | $29,913 |
| Honda | Civic | DX Coupe 2D | 28 | 32 | 39 | $16,375 | $15,386 | $29,928 |
| Honda | Insight | Hatchback 4D | 41 | 42 | 44 | $19,120 | $18,382 | $30,647 |
| Mazda | MAZDA3 | SV Sedan 4D | 27 | 31 | 39 | $15,995 | $14,789 | $30,784 |
| Toyota | Corolla | Sedan 4D | 27 | 30 | 34 | $16,890 | $15,877 | $30,807 |
| Volkswagen | Jetta | Sedan 4D | 24 | 27 | 32 | $16,135 | $15,167 | $30,868 |
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
January 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Jan 16, 2025
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared January 2025 Jan 16, 2025
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Jan 16, 2025
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Jan 16, 2025
- Best 0% Finance Deals January 2025 Jan 09, 2025
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Jan 09, 2025
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Jan 09, 2025
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Jan 09, 2025
- Best Car Deals by Category Jan 02, 2025
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Jan 02, 2025
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Jan 02, 2025
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Jan 02, 2025
December 2024
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Dec 26, 2024
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Dec 26, 2024
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Dec 26, 2024
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Dec 26, 2024
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars December 2024 Dec 19, 2024
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Dec 19, 2024
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Dec 12, 2024
- Best Lease Deal Ever - $62 per Month Dec 05, 2024
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Dec 05, 2024
