There’s a sweet spot in the automotive world: cars that are not only affordable to buy but also won’t break the bank when it comes to maintenance and, crucially, repairs. We’re not talking about bare-bones vehicles that compromise on everything. Today, even budget-friendly cars offer a good level of features and comfort. The real question is, which models will keep your running costs down, especially when unexpected issues arise?
This is where repair costs become a critical factor. While regular maintenance like oil changes is expected, the potential for major, expensive repairs can significantly impact your car ownership experience. To help you navigate this, we’ve compiled a list of the top 20 cars that stand out for their remarkably low repair costs.
Our ranking is based on data sourced from CarEdge, a leading authority on vehicle maintenance and repair expenses. They meticulously track factors like estimated annual and 10-year ownership costs, and the probability of needing a major repair. By focusing on the average total 10-year repair cost, we’ve identified the vehicles that offer the most peace of mind for your wallet in the long run. From compact economy cars to surprising entries from luxury brands and even sports cars, this list reveals the champions of cheap car repair.
20. Nissan Altima
- 10-Year Repair 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 with its signature Zero Gravity seats. Available in both front and all-wheel drive configurations, it also offers advanced driving aids like Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. Its presence on this list highlights that even family sedans can be surprisingly affordable when considering long-term repair expenses.
19. Toyota RAV4
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,531
- Annual Costs: $201 In Year One, $1,021 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.1%
Toyota’s immensely popular RAV4 compact SUV is known for its practicality and fuel efficiency, available in both standard gasoline and hybrid powertrains. Its reputation for reliability is further solidified by its low repair costs, making it a smart choice for those seeking an affordable and dependable SUV. The image shows a silver Toyota RAV4 parked on a paved area, representing its reliability and practicality.
18. Lexus ES 350
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,488
- Annual Costs: $217 In Year One, $989 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.1%
The Lexus ES 350 demonstrates that luxury and low repair costs can coexist. As the most repair-cost-effective luxury car on this list (excluding electric vehicles), the mid-size ES prioritizes comfort and refinement over sporty handling, making it a sensible choice for those desiring luxury without premium repair bills.
17. Nissan Sentra
- 10-Year Repair 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, received significant updates, making it a strong contender in its class. It blends practicality, efficiency, and comfort with low ownership costs, including manageable repair expenses. The image displays a red Nissan Sentra driving on a city street, showcasing its modern design and urban appeal.
16. Toyota C-HR
- 10-Year Repair 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 with its distinctive styling and positioning below the RAV4 in Toyota’s SUV lineup. Its front-wheel-drive configuration contributes to better fuel economy and reduced operating costs, including keeping repair expenses in check.
15. Honda Accord
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,412
- Annual Costs: $200 In Year One, $994 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.6%
The redesigned Honda Accord shares many qualities with the Civic, offering a refined driving experience and a range of models from well-equipped to luxurious. Its inclusion here reinforces Honda’s reputation for reliability and affordable long-term ownership, including reasonable repair costs. The image presents a white Honda Accord parked in front of a modern building, emphasizing its sophisticated design and broad appeal.
14. Mazda 3
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,409
- Annual Costs: $186 In Year One, $1,013 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.2%
The Mazda 3 compact car, now offering standard all-wheel drive, is known for its engaging driving dynamics and stylish design, available in both sedan and hatchback forms. Despite its sporty nature, it maintains surprisingly low repair costs, making it a fun and fiscally responsible choice.
13. Nissan Versa
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,331
- Annual Costs: $173 In Year One, $1,011 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 16.4%
The Nissan Versa sub-compact sedan is an excellent option for budget-conscious buyers. It offers appealing styling, adequate features for basic needs, and low ownership costs, including affordable repairs. Standard automatic emergency braking adds to its value, especially for new drivers seeking a cheap-to-repair car. The image features a blue Nissan Versa parked on a sunny street, highlighting its affordability and suitability for everyday driving.
12. Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- 10-Year Repair 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 compared to the Mirage hatchback, while maintaining the model’s reputation for being inexpensive to buy and own. This affordability extends to repair costs, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing budget-friendliness.
11. Honda Civic
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $5,245
- Annual Costs: $183 In Year One, $977 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 15.6%
The redesigned Honda Civic, available in sedan and hatchback variants, ranges from basic to sporty models. Known for its refinement and reliability, serving as the foundation for the Acura Integra, the Civic also boasts low repair costs, cementing its position as a smart and economical compact car. The image shows a silver Honda Civic hatchback driving on a winding road, emphasizing its sporty nature and well-rounded performance.
10. Toyota Supra
- 10-year repair cost: $4,950
- Annual Costs: $220 In Year One, $872 By Year 10
- Chance of needing a major repair: 12.6%
The Toyota Supra, sharing components with the BMW Z4, is surprisingly affordable to maintain and repair, especially for a performance car. Its distinctive styling and unexpectedly low running costs make it an intriguing option for enthusiasts seeking a sports car that won’t drain their wallet with repair bills.
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9. Mitsubishi Mirage
- 10-Year Repair 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. While its three-cylinder engine might be underpowered, it excels in fuel economy and low ownership costs, including very reasonable repair expenses, solidifying its place among the cheapest cars to repair. The image depicts a green Mitsubishi Mirage parked in a suburban setting, highlighting its compact size and suitability for city driving.
8. Tesla Model Y
- 10-Year Repair 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 and Tesla’s signature performance in a more versatile package. Surprisingly, it also boasts very low repair costs, typical of electric vehicles with fewer mechanical components compared to gasoline cars.
7. Tesla Model S
- 10-Year Repair 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 car market, offering style, speed, and comfort. Its long range and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network make it a practical EV, and its low repair costs further enhance its value proposition compared to traditional internal combustion engine rivals. The image shows a black Tesla Model S driving on a highway, portraying its sleek design and long-distance capability.
6. Toyota Avalon
- 10-Year Repair 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, is the larger sibling of the Camry, sharing many mechanical components, including the V6 engine. It provides a spacious cabin, comfortable ride, and Lexus-like refinement with Toyota’s renowned reliability and low repair costs.
5. Toyota Camry
- 10-Year Repair 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 mid-size sedan. Offering a V6 engine option in a class that increasingly favors four-cylinders, the Camry is a dependable and affordable choice, particularly when considering potential repair expenses over its lifespan. The image presents a silver Toyota Camry driving on a coastal highway, emphasizing its reliability and suitability for everyday driving and longer journeys.
4. Toyota Prius Prime
- 10-Year Repair 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 (PHEV) version of the Prius, bridges the gap between gasoline and fully electric cars. Its ability to run on battery power for shorter distances before switching to hybrid mode contributes to excellent fuel economy and, importantly, low repair costs, typical of hybrid powertrains known for their efficiency and reliability.
3. Toyota Corolla
- 10-Year Repair Cost: $4,087
- $148 In Year One, $755 By Year 10
- Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 11.9%
The Toyota Corolla, a consistently popular choice for practical car buyers, prioritizes efficiency and reliability over flashy features. Its enduring reputation for dependability translates directly to low repair costs, making it a smart and economical compact car choice. The image displays a blue Toyota Corolla parked in a city environment, showcasing its practicality and urban adaptability.
2. Toyota Prius
- 10-Year Repair 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 impressive EPA ratings. Beyond fuel savings, Prius owners also benefit from remarkably low maintenance and repair costs, making it a top contender for those seeking the cheapest cars to repair and operate.
1. Tesla Model 3
- 10-Year Repair 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, tops our list as the car with the lowest overall expected maintenance and repair costs in the market today. Its electric powertrain inherently reduces the need for many traditional repairs, with most service visits primarily involving tire rotations. For owners prioritizing minimal repair expenses, the Model 3 is the clear frontrunner. The image features a white Tesla Model 3 parked in front of a modern house, emphasizing its popularity and accessibility as an electric vehicle.
FAQs
What Car Brand Is The Cheapest To Maintain?
While “maintain” and “repair” are closely linked, brands like Toyota and Honda consistently rank among the cheapest to maintain, and this often translates to lower repair costs as well. Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi also demonstrate strong performance in low repair costs across many models. In the luxury segment, Lexus and Tesla stand out for their reliability and lower ownership costs, including repair expenses, compared to other premium brands.
What Car Lasts The Longest?
Toyota models frequently dominate lists of longest-lasting vehicles. The Toyota Sequoia and Toyota Land Cruiser are often cited as examples of cars with exceptional longevity, with many exceeding 300,000 miles. This inherent durability also often contributes to lower long-term repair costs.
How Long Will Most Cars Last?
With proper maintenance, most modern cars can last well over 200,000 miles, with some reaching or surpassing 300,000 miles. The average age of a passenger vehicle in the US is around 12 years, with typical mileage accumulation suggesting they already have between 144,000 and 180,000 miles on them, highlighting the potential lifespan of cars today.
Cheapest Cars To Repair
- 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
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