What Are Some Cars That Have Low Repair Costs?

Last Updated on March 7, 2024

Many drivers are surprised by vehicle repair costs. A vehicle may seem cheap to buy and insure, only to surprise drivers with expensive repair costs.

Some cars are cheaper to repair than others. Domestic vehicles, for example, tend to be cheaper to repair than foreign cars.

When shopping for cars, it’s important to compare repair costs. Today, we’re highlighting some of the best cars with low repair costs.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has an estimated annual maintenance cost of around $576, making it one of the most affordable cars you can buy. If you have a newer Toyota Corolla, you can expect to pay less than $300 per year for annual maintenance, although that rate rises over time as the vehicle ages. At any age, however, the Toyota Corolla has some of the lowest annual repair and maintenance costs of any vehicle on our list.

Toyota Prius

There’s a reason so many rideshare drivers drive a Prius: it’s one of the cheapest cars to maintain and it has good mileage. If you drive a Prius long enough, you may need to pay for a costly battery replacement. Until then, however, the Prius delivers more than 50 mpg of mileage while having annual maintenance costs of around $601 per year, on average. For a newer Prius, you might pay under $200 per year in average maintenance costs, although that rate rises over time.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular vehicles in the United States. It makes sense that the Civic has a low total ownership cost, including low maintenance costs. Honda Civic owners experience few issues, on average. When issues do occur, spare parts are readily available. If you’re looking for a car with some of the cheapest average maintenance costs possible, then the Honda Civic is a great option. Expect to pay around $711 per year in average annual maintenance costs, with much cheaper costs on newer Honda Civics.

Honda Accord

The Honda Accord provides similar value to the Honda Civic, providing drivers with an affordable, quality vehicle with cheap maintenance expenses. The average Honda Accord driver pays around $732 per year for annual maintenance, on average. Like the Civic, the Accord has spare parts readily available at any repair shop, which means you shouldn’t need to wait long – or pay a fortune – for Honda Accord repairs.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is the third of four Honda vehicles on our list. the Honda CR-V has an average annual maintenance cost of $745 per year, which is much less than similar mid-sized vehicles. Expect to pay around $971 per year for annual maintenance on a 5-year-old Honda CR-V, with newer model year vehicles requiring much less maintenance (while being covered by the warranty). That’s hundreds of dollars less than similarly popular vehicles in this class, like the Ford Escape.

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is one of the safest and most popular minivans in America, and it’s no surprise to see the Odyssey make our list of vehicles with cheap maintenance expenses. Most minivans require little annual maintenance, but the Odyssey particularly shines. With an expected average annual maintenance of around $521 year, the Honda Odyssey provides an unbeatable value compared to other minivans. Like other Honda vehicles, parts are readily available at any repair shop due to the popularity of the Odyssey.

Nissan Pathfinder

The Nissan Pathfinder is a crossover SUV that isn’t the most popular vehicle in its market segment (which, admittedly, is crowded). However, the Nissan Pathfinder has some of the cheapest average annual repair costs of any vehicle. The Nissan Pathfinder costs around $636 per year for repairs and maintenance, on average, according to our research. Compared to other vehicles in this class, you’re saving hundreds per year in maintenance and repairs.

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is not one of the cheapest cars to repair overall, but it does have surprisingly cheap maintenance costs compared to other sports cars. The iconic vehicle has some of the cheapest average annual maintenance and repair costs in the sportscar segment, making it ideal for those who want strong performance without spending a fortune every year. Expect to pay around $699 per year for average maintenance on a 5-year-old Ford Mustang, according to our research.

Chevrolet Spark

The Chevrolet Spark is an affordable vehicle (with an MSRP of around $13,600) with cheap repair costs. At a price this low, the Chevrolet Spark has cheap repair costs because of its low-cost components. It has manual window and door locks, for example, and a low-powered motor. All of that adds up to cheap repair costs whether you get the base or upgraded model. The Chevrolet Spark excels at being a cheap and economical car, and it’s no surprise it makes our list of cars with cheap average repair costs.

Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen cars aren’t known for their rock-bottom repair costs, but the Volkswagen Jetta is still one of the cheapest cars to own overall. It’s the sedan version of the Golf, offering upgraded features and functionality at a slightly higher price. The latest version of the Volkswagen Jetta has one of the lowest overall ownership costs of any major vehicle. Although repair costs are slightly higher than other cars on our list (like many other German vehicles), the Volkswagen Jetta remains one of the best cars for those looking for competitive annual maintenance expenses.

Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is a cheap, multi-purpose vehicle with low running costs. It’s one of Kia’s best-known and most popular vehicles, and the cheap repair costs make it a favorite among those seeking low overall ownership expenses. The latest Kia model has average annual repair costs of around $454 per year, making it much cheaper than many other makes and models of vehicles on our list. Even after five or more years of ownership, the Kia Soul should continue offering competitive repair costs while delivering high dependability to drivers nationwide.

Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata has average annual maintenance costs of around $601 per year, making it one of the cheapest vehicles in its class for annual maintenance. The car has other popular selling points, including a surprisingly feature-rich interior and a 5-star NHTSA safety rating. With cheap car insurance, cheap repair costs, and a low overall cost of ownership, the Hyundai Sonata offers unbeatable value year after year.

Ford Edge

Popular and dependable, the Ford Edge has made cheap repair cost lists for the last decade. The latest models continue to offer average to low maintenance expenses. The Ford Edge really shines when compared to other vehicles in its segment, offering some of the lowest overall costs of ownership—including cheap repairs.

Toyota Camry

Toyota, like Honda, has a reputation for reliability and affordability. The newest Toyota Camry models continue to live up to that reputation, with some of the cheapest average maintenance and repair costs in the industry. Expect to pay around $587 per year in average annual repair costs for a five-year-old Toyota Camry, on average. Drivers of newer cars should have few maintenance costs overall.

Final Word on Cars With Cheap Repair Costs

Picking a car with cheap average annual maintenance costs is one of the smartest and easiest ways to save money. Cars with cheap maintenance costs also tend to have cheap car insurance.

By shopping around for cars with cheap repair costs, you can save thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle.