It’s a common misconception that buying a used luxury car is a smart way to get a premium vehicle without the premium price tag. While the initial purchase price might be tempting, the reality of ownership, especially when it comes to maintenance and repairs, can quickly deflate that excitement. You might find yourself facing repair bills that rival, or even exceed, monthly car payments on a brand-new vehicle. Even without loan repayments, the cost of keeping some cars on the road can be surprisingly high, sometimes reaching hundreds of dollars each month just for upkeep. Typically, the older and seemingly cheaper the luxury car, the more you’ll likely spend to maintain it in running condition.
To shed light on this aspect of car ownership, we’ve compiled a list of 20 vehicles that, while often admired in their respective categories, are also notorious for being expensive to repair. This ranking is based on data from CarEdge, a reputable source for automotive maintenance cost information. Our list highlights vehicles with the highest average total maintenance costs over a 10-year period. Alongside the rankings, we provide insights into estimated annual maintenance expenses and the probability of encountering a major repair. As expected, the list is populated with luxury models from brands like BMW and Porsche, but you might be surprised to also find vehicles from Ram making an appearance.
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 often described as a four-door iteration of the iconic 911, is available in sedan, Turismo sport wagon, and hybrid variants. This vehicle delivers exceptional sports car performance while providing the comfort and luxury expected for up to four passengers. However, this blend of performance and luxury comes with elevated maintenance costs.
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 SUV, recognized for its distinctive boxy design and robust character, has cultivated a dedicated following among luxury car enthusiasts. While the AMG version offers exhilarating speed, even the standard G-Class model demands substantial financial commitment for ongoing maintenance to ensure its reliability and performance.
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, is known for its striking design and ability to navigate challenging terrains while providing a comfortable ride on paved roads. Equipped with a range of features and powerful engine options, the Velar’s sophisticated engineering contributes to higher repair expenses over time.
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 more compact and agile than the flagship Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport maintains Land Rover’s reputation for off-road capability. It also excels in on-road driving dynamics, offering a choice of turbocharged six-cylinder or supercharged V8 engines. This blend of performance and luxury in a sportier package contributes to its higher maintenance costs.
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%
The BMW X1, BMW’s more traditionally styled small SUV, merges sporty characteristics with everyday practicality. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations, and powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the X1’s complex engineering, typical of European luxury vehicles, leads to increased maintenance expenditures as it ages.
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 subcompact BMW X2 is essentially a sportier interpretation of the X1, featuring a more athletic exterior design. Mirroring its sibling, the X2 is offered in front-wheel or all-wheel-drive versions and is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Its sportier styling and BMW engineering contribute to similar long-term repair costs as the X1.
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 full-size Ram 1500 stands out as one of the more stylish pickup trucks available, offering numerous features and luxurious trims in higher-end models. Engine choices include V6 and V8 options, including a high-performance 702-horsepower supercharged V8 in the TRX trim. Despite being a non-luxury brand, the 1500’s advanced features and robust build contribute to higher repair costs compared to other trucks in its class.
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%
Offering a driving experience akin to the BMW 3 Series sedan but with enhanced space and practicality, the compact X3 SUV is consistently well-regarded, albeit a costly option among luxury crossovers. Its blend of performance and luxury SUV features results in elevated maintenance costs over time.
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%
Serving as the smaller counterpart to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Metris van shares similar versatility but also mirrors its larger sibling in terms of maintenance and repair expenses. Mercedes-Benz vans, designed for commercial use, often endure heavy-duty cycles, contributing to higher wear and tear and subsequent repair 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%
Positioned as a less extreme alternative to the X6 M, the standard X6 is the coupe-inspired version of the X5 SUV, featuring four doors and a sloping roofline. While offering a sporty driving experience, the X6 sacrifices some rear headroom and cargo capacity for its distinctive styling, and like other BMW SUVs, it comes with a higher maintenance price tag.
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 pioneering luxury off-road SUV, remains a symbol of style, comfort, and exceptional versatility, suitable even for royalty. Redesigned in recent years, the Range Rover’s sophisticated systems and luxury features contribute to its position among vehicles with higher repair costs.
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 is celebrated as one of the best all-around sports cars available, offered in numerous configurations to suit a wide range of driving preferences. However, the high performance and precision engineering that define the 911 also translate to higher maintenance and repair expenses, escalating over the vehicle’s lifespan.
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 bridges the gap between the smaller X3 and the larger X7 within BMW’s SUV lineup. It delivers strong performance from its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and offers a comfortable ride, establishing itself as a well-rounded luxury SUV, albeit one that is maintenance-intensive in the long run.
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 represents the brand’s largest and most luxurious SUV offering. While understated in its styling, the X7 provides three rows of seating and maintains a degree of sportiness, with engine options including turbocharged V6 and V8 variants. As the flagship SUV, the X7 incorporates advanced technologies and luxury features that contribute to higher repair costs.
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 is a leading large commercial van, available in various sizes and body configurations to meet diverse business needs. The prestige and engineering of the Mercedes-Benz brand, while valued, result in elevated maintenance and repair charges for the Sprinter van throughout its operational life.
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 M model signifies the highest performance version of the BMW X6 SUV. Featuring a more aggressively sloped, coupe-like roofline compared to the X5, the X6 M prioritizes sporty aesthetics and driving dynamics, which, combined with its high-performance components, lead to significant repair and maintenance expenditures.
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 adaptable commercial vehicles, well-suited for urban business operations. However, their demanding usage as work vehicles and robust build contribute to considerable upkeep expenses, impacting the overall cost of ownership.
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%
Mirroring its larger counterpart, the Porsche Macan compact SUV delivers impressive performance. Like the Cayenne, the Macan is expensive to maintain and repair, even surpassing Porsche’s sports cars in terms of upkeep costs. This reflects the high-performance engineering and luxury features packed into a smaller SUV format.
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 mid-size Porsche Cayenne lives up to its reputation as “the Porsche of SUVs.” With powerful engine options and responsive handling, it rivals many sports cars in performance. However, this high level of performance and luxury comes at a cost, with owners facing substantial 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 variants of the full-size Ram pickup truck, including the 2500-5500 series, are known for their toughness and capability in demanding tasks like towing and hauling. Despite their robust nature, these trucks are identified as the most expensive vehicles to maintain and keep operational, primarily due to the heavy-duty components and potential wear from demanding use.
FAQs
What Cars Are The Most Expensive To Maintain?
Generally, luxury and premium vehicles lead the list of most expensive cars to maintain, particularly European brands such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover. Among non-premium brands, larger vehicles like trucks, SUVs, and vans typically incur the highest maintenance and repair costs due to their size, complexity, and potential for heavy use.
What Brand Of Cars Are The Most Expensive To Fix?
Besides the brands highlighted in this list, other premium brands known for high repair costs include Audi, Cadillac, and Volvo. Additionally, some non-luxury brands such as Mitsubishi and Hyundai can also present higher repair expenses compared to more mainstream brands, often due to parts availability or specialized repair needs.
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, it is crucial to consult and adhere to the specific service intervals detailed in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, as these are tailored to your car’s make and model.
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
