Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
Cars With the Lowest Ownership Costs
March 27, 2014
In the case of cars, what at first may seem like a great deal can sometimes turn into a money pit due to the high cost of maintenance and ownership. While you may pay little to get the car, suddenly you're draining your bank account on gas, insurance, maintenance and other fees.
On the flipside, there are those cars that are just a dream to own and if you can get them at a great deal, all the better!
To help you navigate these murky waters, Consumer Reports recently released a list of the vehicles they consider the most and least expensive to own. On the least expensive list are the likes of the Toyota Prius C Two, Honda Civic Si, and Chevrolet Traverse. While on the most expensive list are the Nissan Armada Platinum, Dodge Dart Aero, and Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium.
As always, I recommend you use TrueCar No Haggle and CarsDirect to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.
Least Expensive to Own
| Category | Vehicle | 5-Year Owner Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Subcompact Cars | Toyota Prius C Two | $24,600 |
| Compact Cars | Toyota Prius Four | $28,200 |
| Midsized Sedans | Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | $31,800 |
| Large Cars | Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited | $41,400 |
| Upscale Sedans | Buick Verano Leather (2.4) & Lexus CT 200h Premium | $37,800 |
| Luxury Sedan | Lexus ES300h | $42,000 |
| Sporty Cars | Honda Civic Si (manual) | $34,800 |
| Small SUVs | Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium | $34,200 |
| Midsized SUVs | Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4 | $36,600 |
| Large SUVs | Chevrolet Traverse | $51,000 |
| Compact Luxury SUVs | Mini Cooper Countryman S | $37,800 |
| Midsized & Large Luxury SUVs | Buick Enclave CXL | $54,600 |
Most Expensive to Own
| Category | Vehicle | 5-Year Owner Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Subcompact Cars | Hyundai Veloster (base, manual) | $32,400 |
| Compact Cars | Dodge Dart Aero (1.4T) | $37,200 |
| Midsized Sedans | Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium (V6) | $45,600 |
| Large Cars | Chrysler 300C | $55,800 |
| Upscale Sedans | Lexus IS 250 (AWD) | $54,000 |
| Luxury Sedan | BMW 750Li | $106,200 |
| Sporty Cars | Porsche Boxster 2.7 (manual) | $64,200 |
| Small SUVs | Volkswagen Tiguan SEL | $48,000 |
| Midsized SUVs | Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (V8) | $57,000 |
| Large SUVs | Nissan Armada Platinum | $72,000 |
| Compact Luxury SUVs | Cadillac SRX Luxury &Mercedes-Benz GLK350 | $57,000 |
| Midsized & Large Luxury SUVs | Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec | $78,000 |
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
September 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Sep 18, 2026
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared September 2026 Sep 18, 2026
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars September 2026 Sep 18, 2026
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Sep 18, 2026
- Best 0% Finance Deals September 2026 Sep 04, 2026
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Sep 04, 2026
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Sep 04, 2026
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Sep 04, 2026
August 2026
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Aug 28, 2026
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Aug 28, 2026
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Aug 28, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Aug 28, 2026
- Best Car Deals by Category Aug 21, 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Aug 21, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Aug 21, 2026
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Aug 21, 2026
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Aug 14, 2026
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Aug 06, 2026
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
