Compare Vehicle Ownership Costs
Ranking the Ongoing Costs of Car Ownership
Buying a car is a major financial commitment, but the sticker price is just the beginning. Without careful planning, the ongoing costs of ownership can quickly drain your budget.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve modeled estimated 5-year ownership costs for a growing set of popular new-vehicle models. Our estimates break down the five biggest expenses you will face off the lot: Financing, Insurance, Maintenance and repairs, Fuel and Depreciation. Whether you are evaluating your current ride or shopping for your next one, you can easily compare models to see which are budget-friendly and which are unexpectedly expensive.
Dive into the data below to uncover the true long-term cost of the vehicles on your shortlist.
Brands
Brands with the Cheapest 5 Year Ownership Costs
Average estimated 5-year cost to own across each brand’s models priced under $30,000.
Toyota
$33,650
5-Yr Cost to Own
Volkswagen
$33,800
5-Yr Cost to Own
Honda
$34,450
5-Yr Cost to Own
Hyundai
$35,700
5-Yr Cost to Own
Mazda
$36,250
5-Yr Cost to Own
Mini
$36,500
5-Yr Cost to Own
Subaru
$37,200
5-Yr Cost to Own
Kia
$37,600
5-Yr Cost to Own
Fiat
$38,500
5-Yr Cost to Own
Nissan
$38,950
5-Yr Cost to Own
Chevrolet
$39,000
5-Yr Cost to Own
Ford
$39,400
5-Yr Cost to Own
Vehicles
Cars with the Cheapest 5 Year Ownership Costs
Individual models ranked by estimated 5-year cost to own — financing, insurance, maintenance, fuel, and depreciation combined.
| Rank | Model | Segment | New Price | 5-Yr Cost to Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Corolla (2026) | Sedan | $23,500 | $32,100 |
| 2 | Honda Civic (2026) | Sedan | $24,600 | $33,000 |
| 3 | Hyundai Elantra (2026) | Sedan | $22,800 | $33,200 |
| 4 | Volkswagen Jetta (2026) | Sedan | $23,500 | $33,800 |
| 5 | Mazda Mazda3 (2026) | Sedan | $24,700 | $34,600 |
| 6 | Toyota Camry (2026) | Sedan | $28,400 | $35,200 |
| 7 | Honda Accord (2026) | Sedan | $29,300 | $35,900 |
| 8 | Mini Cooper (2026) | Hatchback | $28,000 | $36,500 |
| 9 | Subaru Forester (2026) | SUV | $29,200 | $37,200 |
| 10 | Kia Sportage (2026) | SUV | $28,500 | $37,600 |
| 11 | Mazda CX-5 (2026) | SUV | $29,800 | $37,900 |
| 12 | Nissan Altima (2026) | Sedan | $26,900 | $38,100 |
| 13 | Hyundai Tucson (2026) | SUV | $28,900 | $38,200 |
| 14 | Fiat 500X (2026) | SUV | $28,000 | $38,500 |
| 15 | Chevrolet Equinox (2026) | SUV | $28,100 | $39,000 |
| 16 | Ford Escape (2026) | SUV | $29,200 | $39,400 |
| 17 | Nissan Rogue (2026) | SUV | $29,600 | $39,800 |
Cost-to-own figures are CarMatch estimates from our own ownership-cost model, shown for comparison. They are replaced with verified valuation & cost data as those data sources come online.