The cost of owning a car can often extend beyond the price tag. The big question is whether you have the financial means to cover the costs of upkeep and gradual repairs throughout your car’s life.
To help consumers better understand how these costs increase over time and vary across brands, Consumer Reports conducted its annual survey for 2023. Survey respondents reported how much they spent on total car maintenance costs over the past 12 months.
The survey found that there is a clear correlation between a vehicle’s maintenance costs and its age, underscoring the fact that maintenance and repair expenses tend to climb as cars get older.
Newer cars are harder to compare because some brands, including BMW and Toyota, offer complimentary maintenance for new vehicles. Also, cars typically need less maintenance in the first few years beyond oil changes and tire rotations. Almost all new cars come with a warranty that lasts at least 3 years, and repairs (if needed) are covered under warranty. Once the free maintenance and warranty periods expire, our analysis shows that ownership costs can jump significantly.
“The difference in maintenance costs between brands for some vehicles can add up to thousands of dollars over a 10-year period,” says Steven Elek, Consumer Reports’s manager of automotive testing. “Luxury vehicles, in particular, tend to have higher maintenance costs over time.”
When comparing brands’ cumulative costs from years one through five and years six through 10, Consumer Reports found that Tesla has the lowest ownership costs. This further confirms that electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs than their internal combustion engine counterparts.
The second-ranked brand is Buick, which is owned by General Motors (GM). Toyota, the world’s top-selling automotive brand, is a newcomer to the No. 3 spot. The remaining two spots in the top five are occupied by Lincoln and Ford, two brands under the same corporate umbrella. The next five brands in the top 10 are Chevrolet, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, and Honda.
The dominance of domestic brands in the top 10 is apparent, with five automakers represented. These include Tesla, Buick, Lincoln, Ford, and Chevrolet. Japan has four brands in the mix: Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Honda. Hyundai is the only South Korean brand to make the top 10. Its corporate cousin, Kia, ranks No. 11.
In contrast, some German automakers rank among the highest in terms of maintenance costs. These include Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. The brand with the highest maintenance costs, however, is Land Rover, with close to $20,000 over 10 years.
| Rank | Brand | Maintenance Costs Over First 5 Years (USD) | Maintenance Costs Over Next 5 Years (USD) | Total Cost (USD) |
| 1 | Tesla | 580 | 3,455 | 4,035 |
| 2 | Buick | 900 | 4,000 | 4,900 |
| 3 | Toyota | 1,125 | 3,775 | 4,900 |
| 4 | Lincoln | 940 | 4,100 | 5,040 |
| 5 | Ford | 1,100 | 4,300 | 5,400 |
| 6 | Chevrolet | 1,200 | 4,350 | 5,550 |
| 7 | Hyundai | 1,140 | 4,500 | 5,640 |
| 8 | Nissan | 1,300 | 4,400 | 5,700 |
| 9 | Mazda | 1,400 | 4,400 | 5,800 |
| 10 | Honda | 1,435 | 4,400 | 5,835 |
| 11 | Kia | 1,450 | 4,400 | 5,850 |
| 12 | Dodge | 1,200 | 5,200 | 6,400 |
| 13 | Jeep | 1,100 | 5,300 | 6,400 |
| 14 | Chrysler | 1,600 | 4,900 | 6,500 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | 1,095 | 5,435 | 6,530 |
| 16 | Cadillac | 1,125 | 5,440 | 6,565 |
| 17 | Ram | 1,470 | 5,200 | 6,670 |
| 18 | Lexus | 1,750 | 5,000 | 6,750 |
| 19 | GMC | 1,400 | 5,800 | 7,200 |
| 20 | Subaru | 1,700 | 5,500 | 7,200 |
| 21 | Mini | 1,525 | 6,100 | 7,625 |
| 22 | Acura | 1,800 | 6,000 | 7,800 |
| 23 | Infiniti | 2,150 | 6,350 | 8,500 |
| 24 | Volvo | 1,785 | 7,500 | 9,285 |
| 25 | BMW | 1,700 | 7,800 | 9,500 |
| 26 | Audi | 1,900 | 7,990 | 9,890 |
| 27 | Mercedes-Benz | 2,850 | 7,675 | 10,525 |
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