Top 10 cheapest car brands to maintain long-term

When purchasing a vehicle, one of the most significant factors to consider is the long-term cost of ownership.

Maintenance and repair expenses can quickly add up over the years, impacting your overall budget.

Consumer Reports 2023 Annual Survey provides valuable insights into the out-of-pocket expenses for maintenance and repairs across various car brands, categorized by the age of the vehicles.

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According to Consumer Reports, here are the top 10 cheapest car brands to maintain long-term.

1. Tesla

Contrary to common assumptions about electric vehicles being expensive to maintain, Tesla emerges as the most cost-effective option for the 1-to-5-year age range, with an average annual cost of $580. However, as Teslas age beyond 5 years, maintenance costs notably increase, totaling $4,035 for the 6-to-10-year category.

2. Buick

Buick ranks second in affordability for the 1-to-5-year age range, with an average annual cost of $900. As the vehicles age, the 6-to-10-year cost rises to $4,000, resulting in a total of $4,900.

3. Toyota

Toyota, popular for its reliability, boasts a reasonable maintenance cost of $1,125 for the 1-to-5-year age range. This figure increases slightly to $3,775 for the 6-to-10-year category, amounting to a total of $4,900.

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4. Lincoln

Lincoln vehicles exhibit a favorable 1-to-5-year maintenance cost of $940, though slightly higher than Toyota’s. Beyond this age range, the cost escalates to $4,100 for 6-to-10-year-old vehicles, summing up to $5,040.

5. Ford

With an average annual maintenance cost of $1,100 for 1-to-5-year-old vehicles, Ford presents a competitive option. However, as the cars age, the cost increases to $4,300 for the 6-to-10-year range, totaling $5,400.

6. Chevrolet

Chevrolet vehicles also offer relatively affordable maintenance, with a cost of $1,200 for the 1-to-5-year age range. The subsequent 6-to-10-year period sees an increase to $4,350, resulting in a total of $5,640.

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7. Hyundai

Hyundai demonstrates consistent affordability in maintenance, with costs of $1,140 and $4,500 for the 1-to-5-year and 6-to-10-year age ranges, respectively. The total cost of the vehicle maintenance amounts to $5,640.

8. Nissan

Nissan vehicles exhibit a slightly higher maintenance cost compared to some competitors, with expenses of $1,300 and $4,400 for the 1-to-5-year and 6-to-10-year age ranges, respectively, totalling $5,700.

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9. Mazda

Mazda maintains a competitive edge in maintenance costs, with figures of $1,400 and $4,400 for the 1-to-5-year and 6-to-10-year categories, respectively. The total cost over time amounts to $5,800.

10. Honda

While Honda vehicles are renowned for their reliability, they rank lower in terms of long-term maintenance costs. With expenses of $1,435 and $4,400 for the 1-to-5-year and 6-to-10-year age ranges, respectively, the total cost accumulates to $5,835.