Top 20 Most and Least Expensive Cars to Maintain

As you begin the car shopping journey, you are initially looking at the price of the vehicle. While you are busy searching for the biggest bargain, you might have forgotten to consider how much it will cost to maintain the vehicle. What looks like a deal might be a money pit in disguise. With a little research, you can find the most and least expensive cars to maintain.

Using research done by CarEdge, I found the vehicles that are going to cost you the most in maintenance, and some that are truly bargain-basement options.

10 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain

It’s obvious that both BMW and FCA are automakers that aren’t focused on keeping maintenance costs down. Between the two companies, seven of these ten expensive vehicles to maintain are from them. My ranking is based on the cost of maintenance versus the cost of the vehicle.

Here are the most expensive cars to maintain:

1. Ram 1500

Overall, light duty trucks tend to cost a minimal amount for maintenance, but that’s not the case with the Ram 1500. Versus the competition, the Ram 1500 will cost the most over ten years.

Ram 1500 MSRP: $32,795
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $18,072
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 55.1%

2. BMW X1

Most drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a BMW X1 aren’t interested in a bargain, but the cost of maintenance is going to break the bank. Over ten years, you are going to spend nearly half of what the vehicle cost when it was new.

BMW X1 MSRP: $35,400
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $17,691
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 49.9%

3. BMW X2

Falling right in line is the X2. Service rates are high and parts cost a fortune. The only reason that this car’s overall percentage is lower is that the starting price is higher than the X1.

BMW X2 MSRP: $36,600
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $17,764
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 48.5%

4. Jeep Renegade

The Renegade is going to cost a good chunk of change to get serviced. It’s more expensive than a larger Ford Expedition. Considering it’s such a small SUV, owners aren’t getting much bang for their buck.

Jeep Renegade MSRP: $22,850
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $10,177
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 44.5%

5. Chevrolet Spark

When you purchase a Chevy Spark, you don’t expect it to cost so much to maintain, but it does. Sure, it’s not the same level of expense as some other options, but when compared with the cost to purchase, it’s a hefty equation.

Chevrolet Spark MSRP: $13,600
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $6,038
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 44.3%

6. Dodge Journey

The Journey hasn’t won awards for anything important, proving to be one of the vehicles no one really wants to drive. If you are on the fence, the cost of maintenance should deter you further.

Dodge Journey MSRP: $23,675
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $10,133
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 42.8%

7. Hyundai Venue

The Venue was released for the first time in 2020, but the maintenance is costing owners a fortune already. Larger and more expensive vehicles don’t cost this much.

Hyundai Venue MSRP: $18,750
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $7,834
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 41.7%

8. BMW X3

It’s been clear that BMW isn’t interested in keeping costs down and the consumers are paying for it. The X3 fits right in with the rest of the lineup with excessive maintenance costs.

BMW X3 MSRP: $43,000
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $17,878
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 41.5%

9. Jeep Compass

The Compass is cheaper than the Renegade, but will cost nearly as much to maintain. While other SUVs tend to cost about 20 to 25 percent of the purchase price over ten years, the Compass is far from the typical course.

Jeep Compass MSRP: $24,495
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $10,127
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 41.3%

10. Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Driving a luxury brand is going to cost you. Not only are the parts for Mercedes vehicles expensive, but you will pay a top price for a qualified mechanic.

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class MSRP: $34,250
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $13,911
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 40.6%

10 Least Expensive Cars to Maintain

When it comes to finding the least expensive vehicles to maintain, Toyota and Honda are the clear-cut winners. Unlike the expensive car list, I will look at this roundup based on the total ten-year maintenance cost.

Here are the least expensive cars to maintain:

1. Toyota Yaris

The Yaris lineup is ending in the United States, but that doesn’t negate the cost-saving vehicle that it is. Owners looking to get behind the wheel for less are still flocking to this Toyota.

Toyota Yaris MSRP: $17,750
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $4,033
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 22.7%

2. Toyota Corolla

Toyota continues to provide low-cost vehicles that are dependable. On top of that, the Corolla continues to be a favorite among drivers.

Toyota Corolla MSRP: $20,025
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $4,083
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 20.3%

3. Toyota Prius

The Prius might be known as the start of the hybrids, but it’s worth so much more. In fact, owners are saving on not only fuel, but also maintenance over ten years.

Toyota Prius MSRP: $24,525
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $4,098
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 16.7%

4. Toyota Camry

The Camry is the big brother to the Corolla, but the maintenance costs aren’t much more expensive. You can own this vehicle for over ten years and spend just about the same amount.

Toyota Camry MSRP: $25,045
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $4,211
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 16.8%

5. Toyota Avalon

As the luxury-minded sedan in the lineup, the Avalon is still cheap to maintain. In fact, you aren’t going to spend much more to take care of this car versus the other Toyota cars.

Toyota Avalon MSRP: $36,125
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $4,409
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 12.2%

6. Honda Fit

The Honda Fit has received a lot of attention because of the space-saving design and extreme comfort. However, the low cost of maintenance should be another highlight.

Honda Fit MSRP: $16,190
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $5,033
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 31.0%

7. Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mirage is hailed as a cheap car for budget-conscious owners. To top that off, the maintenance isn’t going to cost a lot either.

Mitsubishi Mirage MSRP: $14,295
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $5,062
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 35.4%

8. Honda Civic

After decades of being a popular car, the Civic continues to be a top choice. Additionally, this model is going to cost next to nothing to maintain over ten years.

Honda Civic MSRP: $21,250
10-Year Average Maintenance/Repair Costs: $5,250
Maintenance Cost vs. New Price: 24.7%