Owning a car brings a sense of freedom and convenience, but it also comes with responsibilities, including maintenance and repairs. While the initial purchase price is a significant factor, the long-term cost of keeping a vehicle running smoothly can be surprisingly high, especially for certain models. You might be tempted by the allure of a used luxury vehicle, attracted by its initial affordability compared to its brand-new price tag. However, the reality is that premium vehicles, while offering superior comfort and performance, often come with a hefty price tag when it comes to repairs. Even if you avoid car payments by buying used, you could find yourself facing substantial monthly expenses just to keep it on the road. The older and initially cheaper the luxury car, paradoxically, the more you’re likely to spend on maintaining it in good working order.
To shed light on this often-overlooked aspect of car ownership, we’ve compiled a list of 20 vehicles that stand out as the most expensive to maintain. This ranking, based on data from CarEdge, is determined by the average total 10-year maintenance cost for each vehicle. This comprehensive data includes estimated annual maintenance expenses and the probability of encountering a major repair. As expected, our list features a significant number of luxury and premium vehicles from brands like BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz. However, you might be surprised to find some models from Ram also making an appearance, demonstrating that expensive repairs aren’t solely limited to high-end marques. Let’s delve into the details and uncover which vehicles are most likely to strain your budget when it comes to repairs.
20. Porsche Panamera
- 10-Year Cost: $16,531
- Annual Costs: $666 In Year One, $2,963 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 45.0%
The Porsche Panamera masterfully blends the exhilarating performance of a sports car with the practicality and comfort of a luxury sedan. Available in sedan, Sport Turismo wagon, and hybrid versions, the Panamera delivers a driving experience akin to the iconic 911, but with added space and luxury for up to four passengers. However, this blend of performance and luxury comes at a cost, with Panamera owners facing significant maintenance expenses over a 10-year period.
19. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- 10-Year Cost: $16,561
- Annual Costs: $721 In Year One, $2,898 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 42.7%
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, with its distinctive boxy design and rugged off-road capabilities, has cultivated a dedicated following among affluent enthusiasts. Whether you opt for the high-performance AMG variant or the standard model, the G-Class demands considerable financial resources for upkeep. Its complex engineering and premium components contribute to its high repair costs, making it an expensive vehicle to maintain in the long run.
18. Land Rover Range Rover Velar
- 10-Year Cost: $16,755
- Annual Costs: $588 In Year One, $3,120 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%
The Land Rover Range Rover Velar, a midsize SUV characterized by its striking design, seamlessly combines off-road prowess with on-road refinement. Capable of tackling challenging terrains while providing a comfortable ride on paved roads, the Velar comes generously equipped and offers a range of potent engines. However, like other Land Rovers, the Velar is known for its higher maintenance demands, translating to substantial repair bills over its lifespan.
17. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- 10-Year Cost: $16,989
- Annual Costs:$611 In Year One, $3,143 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%
Slightly smaller and more agile than the flagship Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport maintains the brand’s reputation for exceptional off-road capability. Equally adept on city streets and rugged trails, the Sport offers a choice of powerful turbocharged six-cylinder and supercharged V8 engines. Despite its sporty nature and luxurious features, the Range Rover Sport shares the higher maintenance costs associated with the Land Rover brand, making it a vehicle that requires a significant repair budget.
16. BMW X1
- 10-Year Cost: $17,516
- Annual Costs: $555 In Year One, $3,341 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
BMW’s X1, a traditionally styled compact SUV, blends sporty driving dynamics with everyday practicality. Available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the X1 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, offering a balance of performance and efficiency. While it’s BMW’s entry-level SUV, the X1 still carries the brand’s higher maintenance costs, accumulating to a significant sum over a decade of ownership.
15. BMW X2
- 10-Year Cost: $17,602
- Annual Costs: $563 In Year One, $3,350 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
The BMW X2, a subcompact SUV, is essentially a sportier iteration of the X1, boasting a more athletic exterior design. Sharing the same engine and drivetrain options as its more conventional sibling, the X2 offers a similar driving experience but with a more coupe-like aesthetic. Despite its smaller size, the X2’s maintenance costs are comparable to the X1, reinforcing the trend of higher repair expenses for BMW vehicles.
14. Ram 1500
- 10-Year Cost: $17,677
- Annual Costs: $567 In Year One, $3,362 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.8%
The Ram 1500, a full-size pickup truck, stands out in the market for its stylish design, abundant features, and luxurious interiors, particularly in higher trim levels. Engine options range from efficient V6s to powerful V8s, including the supercharged 702-horsepower V8 in the performance-oriented TRX trim. Interestingly, the Ram 1500, while not a luxury brand, also appears on this list of expensive cars to repair, highlighting that high maintenance costs aren’t exclusive to premium marques.
13. BMW X3
- 10-Year cost: $17,771
- Annual Costs: $574 In Year One, $3,361 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
Often praised for its engaging driving dynamics, reminiscent of the 3 Series sedan, the BMW X3 compact SUV offers increased space and practicality. A highly-rated choice in the luxury crossover segment, the X3 delivers a refined driving experience, albeit with a higher price tag for maintenance. Its sophisticated engineering and reliance on premium parts contribute to its elevated repair costs over the long term.
12. Mercedes-Benz Metris Van
- 10-Year cost: $18,045
- Annual Costs: $582 In Year One, $3,454 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 56.7%
The Mercedes-Benz Metris Van, the smaller sibling to the Sprinter, offers similar versatility in a more compact package. While smaller, the Metris mirrors the Sprinter in terms of maintenance and repair expenses, proving to be almost as costly to keep running. This suggests that Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicles, despite their utility, also come with premium maintenance costs.
11. BMW X6
- 10-Year Cost: $18,148
- Annual Costs: $618 In Year One, $3,404 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
The BMW X6, a coupe-like alternative to the X5 SUV, offers a sportier aesthetic with its sharply raked roofline. While not as extreme as the high-performance X6 M, the standard X6 still delivers a fun-to-drive experience. However, this style-focused SUV sacrifices some rear headroom and cargo space for its sleek profile, and like other BMW SUVs, it comes with elevated maintenance costs.
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10. Land Rover Range Rover
- 10-Year Cost: $18,228
- Annual Costs: $735 In Year One, $3,267 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%
The Land Rover Range Rover, the original luxury off-road SUV, is renowned for its impressive capability and opulent features. Redesigned in recent years, the Range Rover continues to be a stylish, comfortable, and highly versatile luxury vehicle, favored by discerning drivers. However, its complex systems and premium components contribute to its position among the most expensive cars to repair, a factor to consider despite its many desirable qualities.
9. Porsche 911
- 10-Year Cost: $18,231
- Annual Costs: $780 In Year 10, $3,208 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 47.6%
The iconic Porsche 911, celebrated as one of the best all-around sports cars available, comes in a wide array of configurations to suit various driving preferences. From track-focused models to comfortable grand tourers, the 911 offers a flavor for almost every sports car enthusiast. However, owning a 911 is a costly affair, with maintenance expenses escalating over time, making it a vehicle that demands a significant financial commitment beyond its purchase price.
8. BMW X5
- 10-Year Cost: $18,389
- Annual Costs: $642 In Year One, $3,428 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
The BMW X5 occupies a sweet spot in BMW’s SUV lineup, positioned between the smaller X3 and the larger X7. Offering a blend of performance from its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a comfortable ride, the X5 is a well-rounded luxury SUV. However, its complexity and premium nature translate to higher maintenance demands, placing it among the more expensive vehicles in its class to maintain.
7. BMW X7
- 10-Year Cost: $18,550
- Annual Costs: $658 In Year One, $3,444 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
The BMW X7, the brand’s largest and most luxurious SUV, prioritizes comfort and spaciousness. While not overtly flashy, the X7 provides three rows of seating and a surprisingly sporty driving experience for its size, with a choice of turbocharged V6 and V8 engines. As BMW’s flagship SUV, the X7 understandably comes with premium maintenance costs, reflecting its advanced technology and luxurious appointments.
6. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
- 10-Year Cost: $18,634
- Annual Costs: $621 In Year One, $3,513 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 56.7%
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, a leading choice in the large commercial van segment, is available in numerous configurations to meet diverse business needs. While appreciated for its versatility and robust build, the Sprinter’s Mercedes-Benz badge also implies higher maintenance and repair expenses. Businesses relying on Sprinter vans should factor in these elevated upkeep costs into their operational budgets.
5. BMW X6 M
- 10-Year Cost: $18,900
- Annual Costs: $693 In Year One, $3,479 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%
The BMW X6 M represents the high-performance pinnacle of the X6 SUV range. Building upon the standard X6’s coupe-like design, the X6 M boasts even more aggressive styling and significantly enhanced performance. However, this added performance comes at a price, not only in terms of initial cost but also in increased maintenance and repair expenses. The high-performance components and complex engineering of the X6 M contribute to its position as one of the most expensive SUVs to maintain.
4. Ram ProMaster City/Cargo Van
- 10-Year Cost: $19,870-$20,061
- Annual Costs: $621 In Year One, $3,845 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 63.2%
The Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City vans are practical commercial vehicles well-suited for urban environments and small businesses. Their versatility and cargo capacity make them valuable tools, but their high maintenance costs can impact a business’s financial performance. The ProMaster series highlights that even non-luxury commercial vehicles can incur substantial repair expenses.
3. Porsche Macan
- 10-Year Cost: $20,137
- Annual Costs: $679 In Year One, $3,786 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 60.9%
Similar to its larger sibling, the Cayenne, the Porsche Macan compact SUV delivers impressive performance. Often lauded for its sporty handling and potent engine options, the Macan lives up to the Porsche name. However, like the Cayenne, it is also expensive to repair and maintain, surprisingly costing even more than Porsche’s renowned sports cars in some maintenance aspects.
2. Porsche Cayenne
- 10-Year Cost: $20,552
- Annual Costs: $721 In Year One, $3,827 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 60.9%
The Porsche Cayenne, a mid-size SUV, has earned the moniker “the Porsche of SUVs” due to its exceptional performance capabilities. With powerful engine options and agile handling, the Cayenne can rival many traditional sports cars in terms of driving dynamics. However, this performance comes at a premium, with Cayenne owners facing significant ongoing expenses for maintenance and repairs.
1. Ram 2500-5500
- 10-Year Cost: $25,134-$25,844
- Annual Costs: $778 In Year One, $4,889 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 79.2% (highest among all ranked models)
The heavy-duty versions of the Ram pickup truck, the 2500-5500 series, are built to be robust and highly capable for demanding tasks like towing and hauling. Renowned for their toughness and workhorse capabilities, these Ram trucks are essential for many businesses and individuals. However, they also top our list as the most expensive vehicles to maintain, incurring the highest repair costs over a 10-year period.
FAQs
What Cars Are The Most Expensive To Maintain?
Luxury and premium vehicles generally lead the list of most expensive cars to maintain, particularly European brands such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover. Beyond premium brands, large trucks, SUVs, and vans typically exhibit higher maintenance and repair costs compared to smaller, more economical vehicles.
What Brand Of Cars Are The Most Expensive To Fix?
Besides the brands already highlighted in this list, Audi, Cadillac, and Volvo are also considered expensive premium brands when it comes to repairs. Interestingly, some non-luxury brands like Mitsubishi and Hyundai are also noted for higher repair costs than average, indicating that brand perception isn’t the only factor determining maintenance expenses.
How Often Should I Maintain My Car?
While general recommendations suggest oil changes every 5,000 to 7,500 miles and annual servicing or every 12,000 miles, these are broad guidelines. For the most accurate maintenance schedule tailored to your specific vehicle, it is always best to consult your owner’s manual and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals.
Most Expensive Cars To Maintain
- Porsche Panamera
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Land Rover Range Rover Velar
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- BMW X1
- BMW x2
- Ram 1500
- BMW X3
- Mercedes-Benz Metris Van
- BMW X6
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Porsche 911
- BMW X5
- BMW X7
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
- BMW X6 M
- Ram ProMaster City/Cargo Van
- Porsche Macan
- Porsche Cayenne
- Ram 2500-5500
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