Owning a car comes with a lot of responsibilities, and one of the biggest concerns for any car owner is the potential for hefty repair bills. Unexpected breakdowns and regular maintenance can quickly drain your wallet. If you’re looking to minimize these costs, choosing a car known for its reliability and low repair expenses is a smart move. Fortunately, several models stand out in this regard, offering peace of mind alongside affordability.
This article dives into some of the cheapest cars to repair, highlighting models that excel in keeping maintenance costs down. We’ve compiled this list based on data from CarEdge, a trusted source for vehicle maintenance and repair cost information. Their data analyzes factors like estimated annual and 10-year maintenance costs, and the probability of needing major repairs. By ranking vehicles by their average total 10-year maintenance cost, we bring you the top 20 cars that are kindest to your budget when it comes to repairs.
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, provides a comfortable and spacious ride without breaking the bank on repairs. Known for its reliability, the Altima offers a balance of performance and practicality, making it a sensible choice for those seeking to minimize long-term ownership costs. Its reputation for dependability contributes to lower repair needs over its lifespan.
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 is a popular compact SUV renowned for its reliability and fuel efficiency. Toyota’s strong reputation for building dependable vehicles shines through in the RAV4, leading to fewer unexpected repairs and lower overall maintenance costs. Whether you opt for the standard gas model or the hybrid, the RAV4 is designed for longevity and reduced repair frequency.
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%
As the luxury arm of Toyota, Lexus inherits the brand’s dedication to reliability. The Lexus ES 350 stands out as the most affordable luxury car to maintain on this list. While offering premium comfort and features, the ES 350 benefits from Toyota’s engineering, resulting in fewer repairs and lower maintenance expenses compared to other luxury sedans.
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 has stepped up its game in the compact car segment, offering a blend of style, comfort, and affordability. Its reputation for reliability and efficient engineering translates to lower repair costs over time. The Sentra is designed to be a practical and dependable daily driver, minimizing unexpected maintenance needs.
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, offers unique styling and Toyota’s hallmark reliability in a smaller package. Being front-wheel drive contributes to its fuel efficiency and also simplifies the drivetrain, potentially leading to fewer repairs compared to all-wheel-drive SUVs. Its design focuses on practicality and efficiency, which extends to lower maintenance needs.
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 is a long-standing favorite in the mid-size sedan category, known for its reliability and well-rounded performance. Honda’s engineering prowess is evident in the Accord’s durability, resulting in fewer trips to the repair shop and lower long-term ownership costs. Its reputation for longevity and dependability makes it a smart choice for budget-conscious car owners.
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 stands out for its sporty driving dynamics and premium feel in the compact car class. Despite its engaging performance, the Mazda 3 maintains a respectable record for reliability. Mazda’s focus on quality engineering contributes to lower repair incidents, making the Mazda 3 a fun-to-drive yet cost-effective option.
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 an excellent choice for those prioritizing affordability. As a subcompact sedan, the Versa is designed to be economical in every aspect, including maintenance and repairs. Its straightforward engineering and focus on basic transportation contribute to its lower repair costs, making it a budget-friendly option for new drivers or those seeking to minimize car 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 is the embodiment of affordable and basic transportation. Mitsubishi has a reputation for building robust and simple cars, which often translates to lower repair costs. The Mirage G4 is designed for efficiency and economy, prioritizing essential features and minimizing complexity that could lead to expensive repairs.
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 legendary nameplate known for its reliability and longevity in the compact car market. Honda’s commitment to quality engineering and durable components makes the Civic a car that consistently ranks high for low repair costs. Its reputation for dependability is well-earned, making it a smart choice for drivers seeking to avoid unexpected repair bills.
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%
Surprisingly, the Toyota Supra, a performance sports car, makes this list. While sharing components with BMW, the Supra benefits from Toyota’s reliability engineering. Its lower chance of major repair and reasonable maintenance costs for a sports car demonstrate Toyota’s commitment to dependability even in their performance models.
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 quintessential basic, affordable car. Its simple design and engineering contribute to its low purchase price and even lower repair costs. While not the most powerful or feature-rich car, the Mirage excels at being a cost-effective and reliable mode of transportation, minimizing unexpected repair expenses.
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, an electric SUV, showcases the lower maintenance nature of electric vehicles. EVs generally have fewer moving parts compared to gasoline cars, reducing the potential for breakdowns and repairs. Tesla’s Model Y benefits from this inherent advantage of electric powertrains, leading to lower predicted repair costs over its lifespan.
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, further demonstrates the cost-saving potential of EVs in terms of maintenance and repairs. With even fewer mechanical complexities than gasoline cars, the Model S is projected to have significantly lower repair costs over 10 years. The simplicity of its electric powertrain contributes directly to reduced maintenance needs.
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, while discontinued, remains a testament to Toyota’s engineering and reliability in larger sedans. Sharing many components with the Camry, the Avalon offers Lexus-like comfort with Toyota’s renowned dependability. Its robust build and reliable mechanicals contribute to its low repair costs and long-term value.
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 low operating costs in the mid-size sedan segment. Toyota’s unwavering focus on quality and durability is embodied in the Camry, resulting in consistently low repair costs and high owner satisfaction. Its reputation for longevity and minimal maintenance needs makes it a perennial favorite for practical car buyers.
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, combines the fuel efficiency of a hybrid with extended electric driving range. Toyota’s hybrid technology is known for its reliability, and the Prius Prime benefits from this, resulting in even lower repair costs than many gasoline cars. The electric components and Toyota’s hybrid expertise contribute to its impressive maintenance record.
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 global icon of reliability and practicality in the compact car class. Toyota’s commitment to building dependable and long-lasting vehicles is perfectly exemplified by the Corolla. Its simple yet robust engineering translates to exceptionally low repair costs and a history of minimal maintenance issues, making it a top choice for budget-conscious drivers.
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, the original hybrid icon, not only excels in fuel economy but also in minimizing repair costs. Toyota’s hybrid technology is mature and highly reliable, leading to fewer breakdowns and lower maintenance needs compared to conventional gasoline cars. The Prius’s reputation for dependability and low running costs is well-deserved.
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 ultimate in low repair costs. As a fully electric vehicle, the Model 3 inherently requires less maintenance than gasoline cars due to its simpler powertrain. Tesla’s focus on electric technology has resulted in a car with exceptionally low predicted repair expenses, primarily needing tire rotations and minimal scheduled service.
FAQs
What Car Brand Is The Cheapest To Maintain?
While specific models vary, Toyota and Honda are consistently recognized as brands with the lowest maintenance costs across their lineups. Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi also frequently offer models with very competitive repair expenses. In the luxury segment, Lexus and Tesla stand out for their reliability and lower ownership costs compared to other premium brands.
What Car Lasts The Longest?
Toyota models often dominate lists of longest-lasting vehicles. The Toyota Sequoia and Toyota Land Cruiser are frequently cited as examples of cars that can reach 300,000 miles or more with proper care.
How Long Will Most Cars Last?
With proper maintenance, most modern cars can easily exceed 200,000 miles. Many vehicles can even reach 300,000 miles or more. The average age of cars on the road in the US is around 12 years, with average mileage between 144,000 and 180,000 miles, showing the longevity of today’s vehicles.
Cheapest Cars To Maintain: Top 20 List
- 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
