It’s no secret that car ownership comes with ongoing expenses, and repair costs can be a major concern for many drivers. While the initial price tag of a vehicle is important, considering the long-term cost of parts and maintenance is crucial for budget-conscious individuals. Gone are the days when basic cars meant sacrificing essential features. Today, you can find reliable and well-equipped vehicles that are also remarkably affordable to maintain.
This article dives into the world of cars with the cheapest parts and overall lowest maintenance costs. We’re not just talking about bare-bones models; this list includes a range of vehicles, from efficient economy cars to even a few surprising luxury and sports models. These are cars that offer reliability without breaking the bank when it comes to upkeep.
To bring you this list, we’ve analyzed data from CarEdge, a leading source for vehicle maintenance and repair cost information. Their data encompasses estimated annual and 10-year ownership costs, along with the probability of needing major repairs. We’ve ranked the top 20 cars based on the lowest average total 10-year maintenance cost, revealing which models truly stand out for their affordability in the long run.
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 sedan, a mid-size offering, provides a comfortable and spacious cabin, featuring Nissan’s acclaimed Zero Gravity seats. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, the Altima also offers advanced driving assistance features like ProPilot Assist, making it a well-rounded and practical choice with reasonable parts costs for its class.
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%
The Toyota RAV4, a consistently popular small crossover SUV, is known for its spaciousness, comfort, and fuel efficiency. Available with a standard gasoline engine or an optional hybrid powertrain, the RAV4 boasts Toyota’s legendary reliability. This reputation extends to affordable parts and straightforward maintenance, making it a smart choice for owners looking to minimize running costs.
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%
The Lexus ES 350 distinguishes itself as the luxury vehicle with the lowest maintenance and repair expenses among non-electric models. While it may not be the sportiest in its segment, the ES prioritizes comfort and luxury, offering a serene driving experience coupled with the peace of mind that comes with relatively inexpensive parts for a premium car.
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, a compact sedan, underwent a significant update in recent years, transforming it into a strong contender in its class. It combines practicality, efficiency, comfort, and Nissan’s reputation for reliability. Owners benefit from low ownership costs, including affordable parts, making the Sentra a sensible and economical option.
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 with a distinctive style, positions itself below the RAV4 in Toyota’s SUV lineup. Uniquely offered in front-wheel drive only, the C-HR maximizes fuel economy and minimizes operating costs. This focus on efficiency extends to its parts and maintenance, contributing to its overall affordability.
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, recently redesigned, shares many of the positive attributes of the smaller Civic, including a refined driving experience. The Accord range offers models from well-equipped to almost luxurious, all while maintaining Honda’s renowned reliability and reasonable parts costs, making it a consistently dependable and budget-friendly choice.
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, a compact car available in both sedan and hatchback forms, now comes standard with all-wheel drive. Known for its engaging driving dynamics, nimble handling, and responsive power, the Mazda 3 also surprises with its affordability when it comes to parts and maintenance, offering a fun-to-drive experience without excessive running 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, an affordable subcompact sedan, is an excellent option for those on a tight budget. Stylishly designed and more than adequate for basic transportation needs, the Versa is also inexpensive to own and operate. With standard automatic emergency braking across all models, the Versa is a safe and economical choice, especially appealing to first-time car buyers concerned about part affordability.
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 offers a traditional trunk alternative to the Mirage hatchback. It maintains the Mirage’s core appeal of being cheap to purchase and own. For buyers prioritizing a sedan body style and ultra-low running costs, including affordable parts and simple maintenance, the Mirage G4 is a practical choice.
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, redesigned, is available as both a sedan and hatchback, ranging from basic to sporty trims. It’s known for its refinement and serves as the foundation for the Acura Integra. The Civic’s well-deserved reputation for reliability extends to affordable parts and straightforward maintenance, making it a consistently top pick for value-conscious buyers.
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 current generation Toyota Supra shares components with the BMW Z4. Despite its performance car status, the Supra is surprisingly inexpensive to maintain, especially considering its sporty nature. This unexpected affordability in parts and maintenance makes the Supra a unique proposition in the sports car market.
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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 embodies basic, affordable transportation. Its small three-cylinder engine might be underpowered, but it’s adequate for city driving. Key strengths include excellent fuel economy and remarkably low ownership costs, largely due to the cheap parts and simple mechanics that keep maintenance expenses down.
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, the crossover version of the Model 3, offers a long electric range of up to 330 miles. Like all Teslas, it delivers strong performance with the added practicality of increased cargo space. Surprisingly, Tesla models, including the Model Y, are demonstrating lower maintenance costs than many gasoline cars, partly due to fewer moving parts and efficient systems. This translates to cheaper parts and less frequent servicing.
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 revolutionized the electric vehicle market with its stylish design, rapid acceleration, and comfortable ride. With a long range and access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, the Model S can travel as freely as traditional gasoline cars, but with potentially lower running costs, including maintenance. The lower chance of major repair and reduced service needs contribute to the surprisingly affordable long-term ownership of the Model S, especially considering its luxury status.
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, now discontinued, is the larger sibling of the Camry, sharing many mechanical components, including the V6 engine. It offers a spacious cabin, a smooth and comfortable ride, and a Lexus-like level of refinement. Crucially, it also shares Toyota’s reputation for reliability and affordable parts, resulting in low overall maintenance costs, despite its larger size.
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%
Low operating costs and long-term reliability are hallmarks of the Toyota Camry, a mid-size sedan. It remains one of the few models in its class to still offer a V6 engine option alongside the standard four-cylinder. The Camry’s strong reputation for dependability and readily available, affordable parts makes it a consistently smart choice for buyers prioritizing low maintenance costs.
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, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Prius, bridges the gap between gasoline-only and fully electric vehicles. It can run on electric power for an initial range before switching to hybrid mode, achieving excellent fuel economy. Like the standard Prius, the Prime benefits from Toyota’s engineering for reliability and affordable parts, contributing to its low 10-year maintenance costs.
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, a perennial favorite among practical car shoppers, prioritizes function and reliability over flashy design. It efficiently and dependably gets the job done, and part of its appeal lies in its affordability, including inexpensive parts and straightforward maintenance, making it a consistently economical choice.
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 exceptional fuel efficiency, achieving top-tier MPG ratings in city and highway driving. Beyond fuel savings, Prius owners also benefit from affordable maintenance and repair costs. Toyota’s focus on reliability and readily available, cheap parts makes the Prius a leader in overall low running costs.
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%
The Tesla Model 3, smaller than the Model S, boasts the lowest projected overall maintenance and repair costs of any car currently on the market. Routine service visits often involve just tire rotations. The electric powertrain of the Model 3 inherently requires less maintenance than traditional gasoline engines, resulting in fewer parts replacements and lower long-term expenses. This makes the Tesla Model 3 not only a technologically advanced vehicle but also surprisingly economical in terms of parts and maintenance.
FAQs
What Car Brand Is The Cheapest To Maintain?
Toyota and Honda are consistently recognized as brands with the cheapest maintenance costs. However, many models from Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi also demonstrate low repair expenses. Among luxury brands, Lexus and Tesla stand out for their excellent reliability ratings and lower cost of ownership compared to the average premium brand, indicating cheaper parts and less frequent repairs.
What Car Lasts The Longest?
The Toyota Sequoia and Toyota Land Cruiser are known for their exceptional longevity, with many vehicles exceeding 300,000 miles with proper care. This long lifespan often correlates with durable parts and robust engineering.
How Long Will Most Cars Last?
With regular maintenance, most modern cars can last well over 200,000 miles, and some can reach 300,000 miles or more. The average age of passenger vehicles in the United States is around 12 years, with average mileage between 144,000 and 180,000 miles, demonstrating the increased lifespan and durability of today’s vehicles and their components.
Cheapest Cars To Maintain
- 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
