- In this report
- Overview
- Ownership costs
- Best & worst values
- Best new vehicles under $25,000
- Highest scoring American vehicles
- Best & worst fuel economy
- Best city/highway mpg
- Best & worst acceleration
- Best & worst in safety performance
- Best & worst visibility
- Highs & lows of testing
- Most overlooked cars
- Most fun to drive
- Best for comfort
- Best off-road
- Best & worst three-row vehicles
- Also in This Issue
This article was featured in the April 2011 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine.
- Featured Reports
- Top Picks 2011
- Who makes the best cars?
- Most reliable used cars
- Best & worst cars
- Best new car values
- New car preview
- Distracted driving
See the April 2011 Issue
Ownership costs
Last reviewed: February 2012
Our owner-cost estimates include six major elements: depreciation, fuel economy, insurance, interest on financing, maintenance and repair, and sales tax. They provide an estimate of how much a vehicle will likely cost you to own over the first five years, a typical ownership period.
Least expensive overall
| Category | Make & model | Cost over first five years |
|---|---|---|
| Small hatchbacks | Honda Fit Sport (manual) | $26,250 |
| Small sedans | Toyota Corolla (base, manual) | 26,500 |
| Family sedans | Hyundai Sonata GLS (2.4) | 33,500 |
| Upscale sedans | Buick Regal CXL (2.4) | 39,250 |
| Luxury sedans | Hyundai Genesis 4.6 | 54,250 |
| Sporty cars | Mini Cooper (base) | 28,250 |
| Wagons | Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (manual) | 31,000 |
| Minivans | Toyota Sienna LE (4-cyl.) | 40,250 |
| Small SUVs | Toyota RAV4 (base, 4-cyl.) | 34,500 |
| Midsized SUVs | Hyundai Santa Fe GLS (4-cyl.) | 38,500 |
| Luxury SUVs | BMW X3 xDrive28i | 50,000 |
| Large SUVs | Ford Flex SEL | 50,000 |
| Compact pickups | Toyota Tacoma TRD (V6) | 40,750 |
| Full-sized pickup truck | Toyota Tundra SR5 (5.7L V8) | 52,750 |
Most expensive overall
| Category | Make & model | Cost over first five years |
|---|---|---|
| Small hatchbacks | Audi A3 2.0T | 39,250 |
| Small sedans | Chevrolet Cruze 1LT (1.4T) | 36,250 |
| Family sedans | Mazda6 s Grand Touring (V6) | 44,250 |
| Upscale sedans | BMW 335d | 52,250 |
| Luxury sedans | BMW 750Li | 106,750 |
| Sports cars | Mercedes-Benz S550 | 109,750 |
| Wagons | Volvo XC70 | 52,750 |
| Minivan | Chrysler Town & Country Touring-L | 52,250 |
| Small SUVs | Volkswagen Tiguan SEL | 47,000 |
| Midsized SUVs | Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (V8) | 61,750 |
| Luxury SUVs | Cadillac Escalade (base) | 84,750 |
| Large SUVa | Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ (5.3) | 73,750 |
| Compact pickups | Nissan Frontier SV (V6) | 45,750 |
| Full-sized pickups | Chevrolet Avalanche LT (5.3L V8) | 63,000 |
