Car models that cost owners the least to maintain over 10 years
The American magazine Consumer Reports recently published a list of car models with the lowest maintenance and repair costs. This result is compiled based on data of each model over 10 years. Among the least expensive models, many names come from Toyota and Lexus.
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| Repair and maintenance costs are one of the factors consumers often look into before buying a car. Photo: Khanh Linh |
This result is compiled by Consumer Reports based on data of each car model that has been available for 10 years, so cars that do not have enough data for 10 years are not considered.
Additionally, vehicles with low repair costs but low ratings in other areas were also excluded. In addition to repairs, Consumer Reports also looked at issues like fuel economy and tire replacement costs.
Specifically, in the list of cars with the lowest maintenance and repair costs in 10 years in the US, the Nissan Leaf has the lowest cost, at 1,190 USD. In second place is the D-class sedan model quite familiar to the Vietnamese market - Toyota Camry with a cost in 10 years of 2,510 USD.
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| The 2023 Nissan Leaf has the lowest maintenance costs. Photo: Nissan |
The next models in the list are Lexus ES Hybrid with a cost of $3,015; Toyota RAV4 with $2,970; Ford Edge with $3,190; Lexus RX with $4,065. At the bottom of the list is Buick Enclave with $4,365.
Vehicles are evaluated based on their 10-year repair costs compared to the segment average. For example, in the three-row SUV segment, the average repair cost is $5,155, while the average cost over 10 years for electric vehicles is $2,320.
Electric cars have fewer moving parts than gasoline cars and do not require engine oil or transmission changes, making them cheaper to maintain and repair than gasoline cars.
Car warranties are getting longer and more comprehensive. Most cars have a full warranty for at least the first three years and the engine is warranted for at least five years. Some brands, such as Kia, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi, have engine warranties of up to 10 years or at the time the car reaches 100,000 miles. Electric car battery warranties are at least eight years or 100,000 miles.
Although the Nissan Leaf electric car has the lowest maintenance and repair costs, after 10 years, the possibility of having to replace the battery pack is very high and this will be a significant expense.
