When considering the true cost of car ownership, it’s not just about the initial price tag or fuel efficiency. The expense of replacement parts and maintenance plays a significant role, especially as vehicles age. While “cheap cars” might conjure images of unreliable vehicles, this list focuses on something different: cars that are inherently inexpensive to maintain and repair due to readily available and reasonably priced parts.
These aren’t necessarily the cheapest cars to buy upfront, but they are vehicles known for their reliability and lower long-term running costs, including parts. This selection includes everything from economical compacts to surprisingly affordable luxury and performance models, all based on data highlighting the lowest predicted maintenance and repair expenses.
Data sourced from CarEdge provides insights into vehicle maintenance costs, including estimated annual and 10-year expenses, and the likelihood of major repairs. This list is ranked according to the lowest average total 10-year maintenance cost, offering a strong indication of models where parts are likely to be more affordable and accessible.
20. Nissan Altima
- 10-Year Cost: $5,561
- Annual Costs: $196 In Year One, $1,034 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.4%
The Nissan Altima, a mid-size sedan, is known for its comfortable ride and spacious interior. Its presence on this list suggests that replacement parts for common maintenance and repairs are reasonably priced, contributing to its lower overall running costs. The Altima’s popularity means parts are widely available, potentially making it a budget-friendly option for long-term ownership.
19. Toyota RAV4
- 10-Year Cost: $5,531
- Annual Costs: $201 In Year One, $1,021 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.1%
As Toyota’s best-selling SUV, the RAV4’s inclusion here is noteworthy. Its reputation for reliability extends to affordable parts. The sheer volume of RAV4s on the road ensures a robust aftermarket parts supply, likely driving down prices for common components and making repairs less expensive over time.
18. Lexus ES 350
- 10-Year Cost: $5,488
- Annual Costs: $217 In Year One, $989 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.1%
Surprisingly, a Lexus makes this list. The ES 350, a luxury sedan, boasts lower maintenance costs than many non-luxury cars. This could indicate that while it’s a premium vehicle, its parts, possibly shared with Toyota models, are not prohibitively expensive. Its reliability also means fewer parts are likely needed over its lifespan.
17. Nissan Sentra
- 10-Year Cost: $5,441
- Annual Costs: $184 In Year One, $1,022 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.4%
The Nissan Sentra’s improved design and focus on practicality contribute to its appeal as a budget-conscious compact car. Its low maintenance costs likely translate to affordable replacement parts. Being a mass-market sedan, parts availability for the Sentra is expected to be excellent and prices competitive.
16. Toyota C-HR
- 10-Year Cost: $5,425
- Annual Costs: $190 In Year One, $1,101 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.1%
The Toyota C-HR, a subcompact SUV, stands out for its distinctive styling and fuel efficiency. Its low maintenance costs suggest that parts, while perhaps less common than RAV4 parts, are still reasonably priced. Toyota’s overall reputation for affordable parts supports the C-HR’s position on this list.
15. Honda Accord
- 10-Year Cost: $5,412
- Annual Costs: $200 In Year One, $994 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.6%
The Honda Accord, a long-standing favorite in the mid-size sedan segment, is recognized for its reliability and affordability. Honda’s commitment to efficient manufacturing and widespread model sales means parts for the Accord are plentiful and generally inexpensive, keeping repair bills lower.
14. Mazda 3
- 10-Year Cost: $5,409
- Annual Costs: $186 In Year One, $1,013 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.2%
The Mazda 3 offers a sporty driving experience in a compact package. While Mazda is known for its engineering, the Mazda 3’s presence here indicates that its parts are not overly expensive. Its growing popularity ensures a decent supply of aftermarket and OEM parts, contributing to manageable repair costs.
13. Nissan Versa
- 10-Year Cost: $5,331
- Annual Costs: $173 In Year One, $1,011 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.4%
The Nissan Versa is explicitly positioned as an affordable subcompact car. Its low maintenance costs directly reflect its design for budget-conscious buyers. Parts for the Versa are likely to be among the cheapest available, reflecting its status as an entry-level vehicle focused on minimizing ownership expenses.
12. Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- 10-Year Cost: $5,254
- Annual Costs: $175 In Year One, $991 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.0%
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan, like its hatchback sibling, is built for economy. Its extremely low maintenance costs point to very affordable parts. Mitsubishi, while a smaller brand in the US, focuses on value, and this is reflected in the low cost of keeping a Mirage G4 running.
11. Honda Civic
- 10-Year Cost: $5,245
- Annual Costs: $183 In Year One, $977 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.6%
The Honda Civic is a benchmark for compact cars, renowned for its reliability and efficiency. Its consistent presence on “cheapest to maintain” lists solidifies its reputation for affordable parts. Civic’s widespread popularity ensures a massive market for both OEM and aftermarket parts, driving down prices across the board.
10. Toyota Supra
- 10-year cost: $4,950
- Annual Costs: $220 In Year One, $872 By Year 10
- Chance of needing a major repair: 12.6%
The Toyota Supra, a sports car, is an unexpected entry. Its surprisingly low maintenance costs, despite being a performance vehicle, could be attributed to shared components with BMW and Toyota’s efficient parts supply chain. While some specific Supra parts might be premium, general maintenance parts appear to be reasonably priced.
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9. Mitsubishi Mirage
- 10-Year Cost: $4,939
- Annual Costs: $163 In Year One, $933 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.1%
The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback is the epitome of basic, affordable transportation. Its incredibly low maintenance costs are a key selling point, directly linked to the affordability of its parts. Designed for economy, the Mirage prioritizes keeping running costs, including parts, as low as possible.
8. Tesla Model Y
- 10-Year Cost: $4,732
- Annual Costs: $217 In Year One, $813 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.7%
The Tesla Model Y, a popular electric SUV, features surprisingly low maintenance costs. Electric vehicles inherently have fewer moving parts, reducing the need for some traditional maintenance. While specific Tesla parts can be expensive, the overall data suggests that routine parts and maintenance are less costly than comparable gasoline vehicles.
7. Tesla Model S
- 10-Year Cost: $4,566
- Annual Costs: $267 In Year One, $708 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 8.6%
The Tesla Model S, a pioneering electric sedan, also demonstrates low maintenance costs. Like the Model Y, its electric drivetrain reduces the need for many traditional parts. This lower 10-year cost suggests that despite being a luxury EV, the Model S benefits from reduced parts replacement and maintenance compared to gasoline luxury cars.
6. Toyota Avalon
- 10-Year Cost: $4,407
- Annual Costs: $180 In Year One, $787 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.9%
The Toyota Avalon, a larger sedan related to the Camry, benefits from Toyota’s reputation for reliability and affordable parts. Sharing many mechanical components with the Camry contributes to its lower maintenance costs and likely ensures that parts are readily available and reasonably priced, even for a larger car.
5. Toyota Camry
- 10-Year Cost: $4,203
- Annual Costs: $160 In Year One, $766 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.9%
The Toyota Camry is synonymous with reliability and affordability. Its consistently low maintenance costs are a testament to the availability and affordability of its parts. As one of the best-selling sedans globally, the Camry enjoys a vast parts market, keeping repair costs down and making it a smart choice for budget-conscious owners.
4. Toyota Prius Prime
- 10-Year Cost: $4,098
- Annual Costs: $164 In Year One, $736 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.2%
The Toyota Prius Prime, a plug-in hybrid, further demonstrates the Prius family’s commitment to low running costs. Its hybrid system is known for reliability, and its low maintenance costs suggest that parts, even for the hybrid components, are not excessively expensive. Toyota’s hybrid expertise contributes to the Prius Prime’s affordability in the long run.
3. Toyota Corolla
- 10-Year Cost: $4,087
- $148 In Year One, $755 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.9%
The Toyota Corolla is a perennial leader in affordable and reliable transportation. Its incredibly low maintenance costs are directly linked to the affordability and abundance of its parts. The Corolla’s global sales volume ensures a massive parts ecosystem, making it incredibly cheap to repair and maintain over its lifespan.
2. Toyota Prius
- 10-Year Cost: $4,008
- Annual Costs: $155 In Year One, $727 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.2%
The Toyota Prius hybrid is renowned for its fuel efficiency and, as this list shows, its low maintenance costs. Its hybrid technology is robust, and parts for the Prius, including hybrid-specific components, are surprisingly affordable. Toyota’s long-term experience with hybrids has resulted in efficient manufacturing and accessible parts pricing.
1. Tesla Model 3
- 10-Year Cost: $3,587
- Annual Costs: $169 In Year One, $610 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 8.6%
Topping the list is the Tesla Model 3, showcasing the lowest predicted maintenance and repair costs of any car. Electric vehicles inherently require less maintenance, and the Model 3 exemplifies this. While some body or specific electronic parts might be Tesla-specific and potentially pricier, the overall data indicates that routine parts and general maintenance are exceptionally affordable for this EV.
FAQs
What Car Brand Is The Cheapest For Parts?
While specific models vary, Toyota and Honda consistently rank as brands with generally affordable parts due to their reliability and high production volumes. Nissan and Mitsubishi also offer models with low parts costs. Among luxury brands, Lexus and Tesla stand out for having lower ownership costs, which implies reasonably priced parts relative to other premium marques.
What Makes Car Parts Cheap?
Several factors influence car part prices. High production volume and shared platforms across models (like within Toyota or Honda) lead to economies of scale, reducing manufacturing costs. Brand reputation for reliability also means parts are designed for longevity, reducing frequent replacements. Aftermarket parts availability further drives down prices, particularly for popular models.
How Can I Find Cheap Car Parts?
Numerous options exist for finding affordable car parts. Online retailers often offer competitive pricing. Local auto parts stores provide convenience and sometimes price matching. Salvage yards are a source for used parts, which can be significantly cheaper. Comparing prices across different vendors is always recommended to find the best deals.
Cheapest Cars To Maintain (and Find Parts For)
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota RAV4
- Lexus ES 350
- Nissan Sentra
- Toyota C-HR
- Honda Accord
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Versa
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Supra
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model S
- Toyota Avalon
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Prius Prime
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Prius
- Tesla Model 3
Source: CarEdge.com
