It’s tempting to focus solely on the sticker price when buying a new car, but savvy car buyers know that the initial cost is only part of the story. Long-term expenses like maintenance and repairs can significantly impact your budget. Fortunately, there are many new cars on the market today that are not only affordable to buy but also remarkably cheap to keep running. We’re not talking about stripped-down, bare-bones vehicles; these are modern cars equipped with the features you want and need, offering reliability without breaking the bank when it comes to upkeep.
This list isn’t just about the cheapest cars in the most basic sense. It’s about identifying vehicles that offer excellent value by minimizing your long-term costs. From fuel-efficient compact cars to surprisingly affordable luxury models and even sporty options, we’ve compiled a list of cars that excel in keeping your repair bills low.
To bring you this data-driven ranking, we utilized information from CarEdge, a trusted source for vehicle maintenance and repair cost data. CarEdge provides comprehensive insights, including estimated annual and 10-year maintenance costs, as well as the probability of needing a major repair. We’ve ranked the top 20 vehicles based on their average total 10-year maintenance costs, revealing the new cars that are truly the cheapest to repair and maintain.
Top 20 Cheapest New Cars to Repair and Maintain
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 is a dependable mid-size sedan that provides a comfortable and spacious ride. Known for its comfortable “Zero Gravity” seats and available with all-wheel drive, the Altima is a practical choice that keeps maintenance costs in check. Its solid engineering contributes to its lower long-term expenses.
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 hugely popular compact SUV, and for good reason. It’s spacious, fuel-efficient (especially the hybrid version), and boasts Toyota’s legendary reliability. This reputation for dependability directly translates to lower maintenance and repair bills over the years.
Alt text: Silver Toyota RAV4 SUV parked on a paved road, recognized for its low maintenance 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 stands out as the luxury car with the lowest maintenance costs on this list. While prioritizing comfort and a smooth ride over sporty handling, the ES 350 inherits Toyota’s reliability, ensuring fewer trips to the repair shop and lower ownership costs for a luxury vehicle.
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 is a compact sedan that has made significant strides in recent years. It’s now considered a strong contender in its class, offering a blend of practicality, fuel efficiency, and comfort. Its focus on reliability and efficient design contributes to its low maintenance costs.
Alt text: Red Nissan Sentra compact car, known for its affordability and low repair expenses.
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 is a subcompact SUV with a distinctive style. Being front-wheel drive only, it prioritizes fuel economy and lower running costs. Toyota’s engineering and build quality ensure that the C-HR remains affordable to maintain throughout its lifespan.
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, a perennial favorite in the mid-size sedan segment, is known for its reliability and refined driving experience. Sharing many qualities with the Honda Civic, the Accord delivers a comfortable and dependable ride, resulting in lower maintenance demands and costs over time.
Alt text: Blue Honda Accord sedan, recognized for its reliability and reasonable maintenance costs.
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 is a compact car praised for its engaging driving dynamics and available all-wheel drive. Offered in both sedan and hatchback versions, the Mazda 3 balances driving enjoyment with practical ownership, including manageable maintenance costs thanks to Mazda’s focus on quality.
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 affordable subcompact sedan that’s perfect for budget-conscious buyers. Despite its low price point, it’s well-styled and equipped with essential features like automatic emergency braking. Its simplicity and efficient engineering contribute to its low ownership and maintenance costs.
Alt text: White Nissan Versa subcompact sedan, highlighted for its affordability and low upkeep 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 offers a traditional trunk in a subcompact package, providing an alternative to the Mirage hatchback. It’s designed for affordability in both purchase price and running costs, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing budget and low maintenance.
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 benchmark compact car, available in sedan and hatchback forms, known for its refinement and reliability. Serving as the foundation for the Acura Integra, the Civic benefits from Honda’s engineering and reputation for long-lasting vehicles, translating to lower repair and maintenance costs.
Alt text: Silver Honda Civic hatchback, celebrated for its reliability and economical maintenance costs.
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 Toyota Supra, a performance car icon, shares components with the BMW Z4 but boasts unique styling and surprisingly low maintenance costs for its class. Toyota’s involvement in its engineering ensures that even this sporty model is relatively affordable to maintain.
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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 is the epitome of basic, affordable transportation. While its three-cylinder engine is modest, it excels in fuel economy and low ownership costs. Its simple design and engineering contribute to its impressive ranking for low maintenance and repair expenses.
Alt text: Orange Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback, known as a very affordable and low maintenance subcompact car.
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 long-range capability and Tesla’s signature performance. Electric vehicles inherently have fewer moving parts than gasoline cars, which contributes to lower maintenance needs. Tesla’s efficient design further minimizes long-term running costs.
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 EV market with its style, performance, and range. As an electric vehicle, the Model S benefits from reduced maintenance requirements compared to traditional combustion engine cars. This, combined with Tesla’s engineering, results in surprisingly low repair costs for a luxury EV.
Alt text: Gray Tesla Model S electric sedan, recognized for its innovative technology and low maintenance demands among luxury EVs.
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, though discontinued, shares its mechanical foundation with the Camry and offers a larger, more luxurious experience. Benefitting from Toyota’s reliable engineering and components, the Avalon provides Lexus-like comfort with remarkably low maintenance costs for a large sedan.
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. A mainstay in the mid-size sedan segment, the Camry’s reputation for longevity and minimal maintenance is well-earned, making it a smart choice for buyers seeking long-term value and low repair bills.
Alt text: White Toyota Camry sedan, famous for its reliability and affordable long-term maintenance.
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 electric driving with hybrid efficiency. Toyota’s hybrid technology is well-proven for reliability, and the Prius Prime benefits from this, offering even lower maintenance costs than many gasoline-only vehicles due to reduced engine wear in electric mode.
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 consistently popular compact car known for its practicality and dependability. While not flashy, the Corolla excels at providing reliable and efficient transportation with minimal fuss and low maintenance requirements, making it a top choice for cost-conscious buyers.
Alt text: Beige Toyota Corolla sedan, a practical and reliable car known for its very low maintenance expenses.
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 a leader in fuel efficiency, achieving exceptional MPG figures. Beyond fuel savings, the Prius also rewards owners with remarkably low maintenance and repair costs. Toyota’s hybrid system is engineered for longevity and reduced wear and tear, contributing to its top ranking in this category.
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 tops the list as the car with the lowest overall expected maintenance and repair costs. As an electric vehicle, it inherently requires less maintenance than gasoline cars. Routine service is often limited to tire rotations, further minimizing ownership costs and making the Model 3 a leader in affordable long-term car ownership.
Alt text: White Tesla Model 3 electric car, recognized as the new car with the cheapest repair and maintenance costs.
FAQs
What Car Brand Is The Cheapest To Maintain?
Toyota and Honda are consistently recognized as brands with the lowest maintenance costs. However, other brands like Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi also offer many models with impressively low repair costs. In the luxury segment, Lexus and Tesla stand out for their reliability and lower cost of ownership compared to other premium brands.
What Car Lasts The Longest?
Toyota SUVs like the Sequoia and Land Cruiser are known for their exceptional longevity, with many vehicles exceeding 300,000 miles with proper care.
How Long Will Most Cars Last?
With diligent maintenance, most modern cars can reliably reach over 200,000 miles, and some even achieve 300,000 miles or more. The average vehicle age in the US is around 12 years, with typical mileage between 144,000 and 180,000 miles, demonstrating the durability of today’s vehicles.
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
