Least and Most Expensive Cars to Keep on the Road
Consumer Reports members reveal how much they spend on repair and maintenance
Though the first-generation Nissan Leaf EV didn’t get pulses racing with driving excitement, it cost owners almost nothing to keep running and earned top reliability scores. Other vehicles are a better blend of low running costs, high reliability, and smile-inducing owner satisfaction.
Consumer Reports Consumer Reports
Least Expensive
2011 model-year cars, trucks, and SUVs to maintain and repair
Model
10 Yrs.
Model
10 Yrs.
BMW BMW
Most Expensive to Maintain and Repair
European luxury cars tend to cost the most to keep in good working order, so even a low-priced used model could prove expensive in the long run. About half the models on this list have subpar reliability, so fixes may be costly and frequent.
Most Expensive
2011 model-year cars and SUVs to maintain and repair
10 Yrs.
10 Yrs.
10 Yrs.
Model
10 Yrs.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the June 2021 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.