Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Maintain Over 10 Years

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu
top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years

The cost of owning a car is more than just your payment and monthly insurance premium. You have to maintain it, too.

And not all cars cost the same when it comes to maintenance, as some are significantly cheaper than others to maintain over a period of 10 years. CarEdge has a massive dataset of makes and models of the cars serviced, and the type of maintenance done. As a result, the company decided to use its data to understand which cars break down the most and which have the lowest maintenance costs.

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It might not be surprising to some, but the top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years are all Asian imports.

10. Honda Civic

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra Comparison

The Honda Civic comes in 10th place with a cost of $5,245 to maintain over 10 years. The Japanese automaker ranked 3rd overall (out of 19 automakers ranked) with an average cost of $7,827 across its lineup.


9. Toyota GR Supra

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
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Yes, really. The Toyota Supra is the only sports car to occupy this list—though far from the only Toyota. CarEdge suggests the two-seater should require just $4,950 in maintenance costs over a decade.


8. Mitsubishi Mirage

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage Review: Fitness for Purpose

It turns out one of the most affordable cars to buy new holds onto that reputation over the years. The little Mitsubishi Mirage should cost buyers just $4,939 over a decade of ownership, according to CarEdge.


7. Honda Fit

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years

It might be driving off into the sunset now, but the Honda Fit is still one of the most affordable vehicles to own long-term. The super-practical hatchback saw an average bill of $4,915 in the CarEdge study.


6. Toyota Avalon

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: 2021 Toyota Avalon AWD Review: All-Wheel Conundrum

It isn’t just small cars that are cheap to run. Toyota’s full-size Avalon sedan makes the list in 6th place overall, with a cost of just $4,407. That’s the biggest gap on the list (a little over $500 between the Avalon and Fit), but it’s about to close up—and get a whole lot more Toyota-like.


5. Toyota Camry

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: 2020 Toyota Camry TRD Review

Toyota continues its reputation of low-cost maintenance with the best-selling Camry. Over the course of 10 years, owners can expect to pay $4,203 in maintenance costs.


4. Toyota Prius Prime

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: 2021 Toyota Prius Prime Review: Easy to Live With, Hard to Love

The plug-in version of Toyota’s Prius, called the Prime, is next on the list. Capable of short trips on nothing but battery power, the Prius Prime should cost buyers just $4,098 over a decade. The next three entries on the list are all within 90 dollars, or about 75 cents per month.


3. Toyota Corolla

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years
SEE ALSO: 2021 Toyota Corolla L Review: Honest Work

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars of all time and it’s easy to see why when you take into account that it costs $4,087 to maintain over 10 years.


2. Toyota Yaris

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years

Another sub-compact hatchback about to disappear from dealerships, the Toyota Yaris is a cheap set of wheels to take care of for a decade. CarEdge found the average 10-year maintenance costs were $4,027.


1. Toyota Prius

top 10 cheapest cars to maintain over 10 years

And the cheapest car to maintain over 10 years? The Toyota Prius. The company’s wildly popular hybrid is also cheap to own, running just $4,008 to maintain over 10 years. It would be interesting to see if those costs rise once the batteries need replacing.


Recent Updates:

December 2, 2021 – Revamped list based on current rankings and new cars.

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Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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