The Cheapest Vehicles to Own Over 5 Years

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

Not all vehicles are created equal, and some are cheaper to own and maintain than others.

Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of its fifth annual 5-Year Cost to Own Awards, which recognizes vehicles with the lowest projected ownership costs. The 5-Year Cost to Own information takes into account depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs as well as state fees.

For 2016, the 5-Year Cost to Own brand winner went to Hyundai, while the Luxury Brand award went to Acura. Strangely enough, neither automakers won in the individual vehicle categories.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cheapest Cars of 2015

According to Kelley Blue Book, Hyundai has a low Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, fuel, maintenance and repair costs across its entire model lineup, as well as mid-range depreciation and insurance cost. Leading the way for the Korean automaker is the Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Tucson and Veloster models.

For Acura, it currently has the lowest average Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, depreciation and fuel costs of any luxury brand, and ranks competitively in insurance and maintenance costs. The company noted the ILX, MDX, RLX and TLX help drive the brand’s success.

“­­New-car shoppers usually pay a lot of attention to how much a car will cost upfront; however, sometimes an even more expensive car on the front end can actually save you money during the first five years of ownership by having low total ownership costs,” said Dan Ingle, vice-president of vehicle valuations, industry solutions and international for Kelley Blue Book. “Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own information evaluates the other out-of-pocket expenses drivers will incur beyond the initial purchase price, which helps consumers choose the vehicle that best fits their needs and their long-term budget, helping save money down the road.”

See all the category winners below.

Subcompact Car: Nissan Versa


Compact Car: Toyota Corolla


Sporty Compact Car: Ford Focus ST


Mid-Size Car: Toyota Camry


Full-Size Car: Chevrolet Impala


Entry-Level Luxury Car: Buick Verano


Luxury Car: Volvo S80


High-End Luxury Car: Lexus LS


Sports Car: Chevrolet Camaro


High-Performance Car: Ford Mustang GT


Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car: Toyota Prius c


Plug-in Vehicle: Chevrolet Volt


Compact SUV/Crossover: Honda HR-V


Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited


Full-Size SUV/Crossover: Ford Explorer


Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover: Buick Encore


Luxury Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: Lexus RX


Luxury Full-Size SUV/Crossover: Buick Enclave


Mid-Size Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab


Full-Size Pickup Truck: Ford F-150 Regular Cab


Minivan/Van: Dodge Grand Caravan


Hybrid SUV/Crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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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