These 10 Cars Cost the Least To Own in the First 5 Years

The average new car costs $48,334, though many vehicles cost much more or less than that. But the cost of a vehicle isn’t all about its purchase price — many other factors can increase the overall expense.

According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the five-year cost to own a vehicle includes everything you’d need to pay in the first 5 years of having that car. This includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, repairs, state fees, financing and depreciation. Even if two cars have the same purchase price, these factors can quickly make one vehicle much more expensive than the other. If you’re trying to find an affordable car, here are some of the most affordable vehicles to own in the first 5 years — according to KBB.

• Fuel costs: $3,144
• Maintenance: $3,115
• Insurance: $24,900
• Repairs: $2,510
• Financing: $6,475
• State fees: $5,054
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $45,248
• Depreciation: $23,972
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $69,220

• Fuel costs: $8,462
• Maintenance: $3,716
• Insurance: $13,860
• Repairs: $1,822
• Financing: $7,294
• State fees: $5,652
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $40,886
• Depreciation: $23,951
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $64,837

• Fuel costs: $8,015
• Maintenance: $2,611
• Insurance: $16,380
• Repairs: $1,221
• Financing: $6,666
• State fees: $5,194
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $40,087
• Depreciation: $34,305
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $74,392

• Fuel costs: $7,921
• Maintenance: $3,872
• Insurance: $8,760
• Repairs: $1,768
• Financing: $4,631
• State fees: $3,707
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $30,659
• Depreciation: $15,150
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $45,809

• Fuel costs: $11,274
• Maintenance: $3,539
• Insurance: $6,600
• Repairs: $1,755
• Financing: $6,205
• State fees: $4,857
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $34,230
• Depreciation: $16,112
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $50,342

• Fuel costs: $3,223
• Maintenance: $3,228
• Insurance: $4,320
• Repairs: $3,411
• Financing: $4,283
• State fees: -$4,045
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $14,420
• Depreciation: $20,002
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $34,422

• Fuel costs: $7,474
• Maintenance: $3,872
• Insurance: $19,380
• Repairs: $1,799
• Financing: $3,814
• State fees: $3,111
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $39,450
• Depreciation: $14,531
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $53,981

• Fuel costs: $9,935
• Maintenance: $3,872
• Insurance: $17,400
• Repairs: $1,804
• Financing: $4,748
• State fees: $3,795
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $41,554
• Depreciation: $14,461
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $56,015

• Fuel costs: $8,770
• Maintenance: $3,010
• Insurance: $12,600
• Repairs: $1,895
• Financing: $5,601
• State fees: $4,415
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $36,291
• Depreciation: $19,399
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $55,690

• Fuel costs: $11,679
• Maintenance: $3,037
• Insurance: $9,900
• Repairs: $1,885
• Financing: $9,407
• State fees: $7,197
• Total out-of-pocket expenses: $43,105
• Depreciation: $34,407
• 5-Year Cost to Own: $77,512

GOBankingRates also spoke with Nigel Tunnacliffe, an automotive expert and co-founder at Coastline Academy, to get his take on vehicles that cost the least in the first few years of ownership.

Here’s what he said:

Toyota Corolla Hybrid — $23,000 to $27,140

“The Toyota Corolla delivers some of the best value in its class, performing at an exceptionally high level across virtually every important category,” said Tunnacliffe.

This vehicle has excellent fuel economy and low maintenance costs.

“When combined with its fairly low up-front price, the long-term value is difficult to outperform,” said Tunnacliffe.

Kia Soul — $21,315 to $25,316

“The Kia Soul is a great choice for an affordable subcompact SUV. As far as family vehicles go, it strikes a great balance between affordability and comfort,” said Tunnacliffe. “It is a very well-built vehicle, delivering reliable fuel economy over a long time. Designed for everyday use and built to last, it is the kind of car that you can expect to gain an impressive amount of mileage on.”

Hyundai Elantra — $22,775 to $29,615

The Hyundai Elantra is versatile and affordable — especially for city driving.

“It mainly earns a spot on this list because the lower-priced options still sport good enough fuel economy and a wide array of amenities to make the vehicle competitive with other more expensive cars,” said Tunnacliffe. “Its fuel economy is good, but suffers somewhat on highways, meaning that it might not be the best nor most cost-effective option for drivers who need to frequently go beyond city limits. As a commuter vehicle, however, it is a solid, affordable choice.”

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for illustrative purposes only and might not feature exact models, base models or the cars’ specific trim levels.