When considering a new car, the initial purchase price is often the primary focus. However, savvy car owners know that the long-term costs of ownership, particularly repair expenses, can significantly impact your wallet. Understanding which brands typically incur higher repair bills can help you make informed decisions, whether you’re choosing a budget-friendly vehicle or planning for future maintenance. Consumer Reports has conducted an in-depth analysis to reveal the brands that are most and least expensive to maintain over a 10-year period.
According to Steven Elek, who oversees auto data analytics at Consumer Reports, the variations in maintenance costs across different brands can be substantial. “The difference to maintain a car, on average, between some brands can be thousands over a 10-year time frame,” Elek notes. This difference becomes particularly pronounced when comparing luxury vehicles, which often come with higher maintenance demands.
Expensive car repair concept
Alt text: An abstract image representing expensive car repair costs, symbolizing high maintenance bills for certain car brands.
Consumer Reports’ analysis divided vehicle ownership into two periods: the first five years and years six through ten. Interestingly, Tesla emerged as the brand with the lowest overall maintenance costs across the board. On the other end of the spectrum, a cluster of European luxury brands consistently ranked as the most expensive to repair. These marques include Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo. Within this luxury group, there are still notable differences. Audi and BMW, while expensive, tend to be less costly to maintain over a decade compared to Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Land Rover.
For those considering a luxury vehicle, domestic brands like Lincoln and Buick present a more economical option in terms of maintenance and repair. These brands ranked surprisingly close to Tesla in terms of low maintenance costs, outperforming many mainstream and other luxury brands. Elek points out, “If you are considering a luxury model, it may be wise to purchase one from a domestic brand that may have lower maintenance and repair costs. For example, over 10 years, Mercedes-Benz models are more than double the cost to maintain and repair as those from Lincoln.”
Understanding these brand-specific cost differences is crucial for budgeting and future car purchases. By being aware of which cars are the most expensive to repair, you can either choose a more affordable brand to maintain or proactively budget for the anticipated higher expenses associated with certain makes. This knowledge empowers car buyers to make financially sound decisions when it comes to vehicle ownership.
