Least Expensive New Cars to Own
August 23, 2012
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 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and Ryde Shopper are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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
April 2021
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Apr 08, 2021
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Apr 08, 2021
- Best 0% Finance Deals March 2021 Apr 08, 2021
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Apr 08, 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Apr 01, 2021
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Apr 01, 2021
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy Apr 01, 2021
- Luxury Lease Deals Under $500/mo Apr 01, 2021
March 2021
- Best Car Deals by Category Mar 25, 2021
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Mar 25, 2021
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Mar 25, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Mar 25, 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Mar 18, 2021
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Mar 18, 2021
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Mar 18, 2021
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Mar 18, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Mar 11, 2021
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars Mar 04, 2021
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Mar 04, 2021
- Biggest Discounts on Leftover Models Mar 04, 2021
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Mar 04, 2021
February 2021
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Feb 25, 2021
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!