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The Most Expensive Car Brands to Maintain

Learn which car brands and models cost the most to maintain in Australia.
  Written by 
Adrian Edlington
Adrian Edlington is PR & Communications Manager at Savvy. With a keen interest in personal finance, car loans, the mortgage industry, cost of living pressures, electric vehicles and renewable technology, Adrian's research includes conducting primary data surveys and analysis of up-to-the-minute secondary Australian data sources. His work on behalf of Savvy has been featured on ABC.net.au The Conversation, the Sydney Morning Herald, AFR, News.com.au, The Age, Herald Sun, Adelaide Now, SBS On The Money, 7News, Car Expert, Which Car, Drive.com.au, Auto Talk, CleanTechnica, The Latch, Newcastle Herald, The Examiner, Illawarra Mercury, Professional Planner, New Idea, Canberra Times, Bendigo Advertiser, The Courier, Evee.com.au, MSN, The Australian, Stockhead, Yahoo Lifestyle, Smart Company, Yahoo Finance, Money Management, Proactive Investors, Glam Adelaide, Your Life Choices, Investor Daily, Real Estate Business, Homely.com.au, Money Mag, Yahoo News, Elite Agent, The West, Crikey.com.au, Yahoo Sports, AIB.edu.au, Domain.com.au, Nine.com.au, Mortgage Business, The New Daily, MPAMag, and NestEgg.com.au. In his spare time, Adrian enjoys mountain biking and business podcasts.
Our authors
 
  Reviewed by 
Bill Tsouvalas

Reviewer

Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors

Published on December 3rd, 2020

Last updated on April 30th, 2024



Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.
BMW is the most expensive car brand to maintain

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Though you may have your heart set on a certain vehicle, the costs to keep it in top working order can be prohibitive. What are the most expensive car brands to maintain? By thinking long term, you could save a lot of money in fuel, tyres, and servicing.

Which car brands are the most expensive to run?

According to the most recent data, BMW tops the list as the most expensive car brand to maintain, followed by Mercedes-Benz, based on estimates of total car maintenance over 10 years.

RankBrand CostRankBrand CostRankBrand Cost
1BMW$26,36411Acura$14,51021GMC$11,551
2Mecedes-Benz$19,10612Infiniti$13,77022Volkswagen$11,551
3Cadillac$18,51213Ford$13,47423Nissan$11,257
4Volvo$18,51214Kia$13,03024Mazda$11,112
5Audi$18,36215Land Rover$13,03025Mini$11,112
6Saturn$18,36216Chevrolet$13,03026Mitsubishi$10,965
7Mercury$17,76717Buick$12,73427Honda$10,669
8Pontiac$17,47118Jeep$12,29028Lexus$10,373
9Chrysler$15,69319Subaru$12,14229Scion$9,484
10Dodge$15,69320Hyundai$12,14230Toyota$8,150

Source: Yourmechanic.com *Based on estimates of total car maintenance over 10 years **All prices converted from USD to AUD; accurate as of 15/09/22

While the most expensive brands to maintain may come as little surprise, in this article, we’ll be looking at mainstream or mass-market cars, which form the majority of vehicles sold in Australia.

To determine the maintenance costs of each car, we are using RACV data from 2021.

Please note that fuel costs, interest rates, and other goods and services have risen significantly since 2021 due to a combination of economic factors.

We’ll look at average loan repayments; registration in Metro Victoria as a baseline and average comprehensive car insurance; average fuel costs; servicing; and tyres per month, as an average. We’ll also break down the top three most expensive cars by category, and also show you the least expensive car to run in that category.

Orange Mercedes SUV

How much do Australians spend on maintaining their cars?

According to the Australian Automobile Association in Q2 of 2022, the average Australian household spends $1,583 on car servicing (including tyres) per year, which comprises about 8% of yearly transport costs. Canberrans have the highest costs at $2,104, with Adelaide having the cheapest servicing at $1,320.

Which light cars are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport$524.08$157.83$82.57$22.50$9.00$795.97
Volkswagen Polo Trendline 70TSI$509.90$168.16$93.38$48.25$11.27$830.95
Mazda 2 G15 Pure$542.88$143.35$89.31$59.00$10.33$844.86

If you have deep pockets, the Mazda 2 G15 Pure is the one for you, coming in at $844.86 to run per month. The Polo and Yaris are distant second and third – though still edging closer to $1,000 than many other light cars. The least expensive light car to run is the MG3 Core 1.5 four-speed hatch, at a mere $626.50 per month.

Which small cars are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Mazda 3 G20 Pure $592.78 $147.22 $104.47 $60.30 $10.33 $915.11
Skoda Scala Ambition 1.5 Turbo $665.23 $166.08 $102.71 $46.70 $11.67 $992.39
Hyundai Iconiq Premium Hybrid $835.86 $164.81 $57.29 $25.42 $12.33 $1,095.72

This one really bowled us over – the Hyundai hybrid cost the most to run per month out of the lot – though you’ll be saving money after you’re free and clear of the loan with that fuel cost ending up costing half as much as the competition. There’s not much in it between the Skoda and the Hyundai – but the extra $100 per month may pay for itself in the long run. The least expensive car to run is the Kia Cerato S 2.0 Hatch at $802.25 – though it has the highest fuel bill in this class, at $124.69.

Which medium cars are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Mazda 6 Sport 2.5 $744.74 $160.07 $117.95 $60.55 $14.33 $1,097.64
Honda Accord VTi-X 1.5 Turbo $1,107.10 $187.60 $109.53 $46.48 $16.60 $1,467.31
Honda Accord VTi-X 2.0 Hybrid $1,167.08 $188.35 $72.46 $45.17 $16.60 $1,489.65

It would seem that Mazda once again show up in the most expensive list, with the Mazda 6 Sport 2.5L weighing in at $1,097.64 – the Honda Accord VTi-X models tip the scales with $400 or so price bumps, but the Hybrid may prove the most cost-effective in the long run, using 25% less fuel than its 1.5L Turbo counterpart. The Toyota Camry 2.5L auto sedan is one of Australia’s best-selling cars for a reason: it’s also the cheapest to run at $1,003.74 per month.

Light Blue Hyundai small SUV

Which small SUVs are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES$668.44$179.49$123.01$28.92$21.27$1,021.12
Toyota C-HR GXL$669.67$200.13$123.26$21.08$15.27$1,029.41
Subaru XV 2.0i AWD$656.44$163.27$136.59$60.87$16.33$1,033.50

An all-new line-up emerges in the small SUV category with the Subaru XV just coming in as the most expensive by about four dollars. The gap widens to seven dollars between the Toyota and Mitsubishi – but the cheapest to run, the base model of the Hyundai Venue 1.6 2WD auto, is almost in a league of its own: $793.23.

Which medium SUVs are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Hyundai Tucson Elite $928.03 $157.44 $101.04 $37.42 $19.27 $1,243.19
Honda CR-V VTi-L 1.5 Turbo $873.24 $197.55 $124.69 $46.55 $19.27 $1,261.29
Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport $902.78 $169.48 $96.23 $91.07 $13.27 $1,272.82

Mazda re-enters the charts as one of the most expensive medium SUVs to run at $1,272.82 per month. Hyundai, which is usually at the cheaper end also makes an appearance at third most expensive. The top-selling Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid is the cheapest to maintain at $1,117.64.

Which large SUVs are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Mazda CX-9 Sport AWD 2.5 Turbo $1,052.67 $191.10 $148.28 $74.42 $21.67 $1,488.13
Toyota Kluger GX 3.5 V6 AWD $1,084.32 $195.02 $164.34 $61.25 $20.33 $1,525.26
Hyundai Palisade 2.2 Turbo Diesel AWD $1,307.94 $170.46 $117.07 $45.25 $23.67 $1,664.39

The luxury model Hyundai Palisade 2.2L Turbo Diesel – which is surprisingly the cheapest when it comes to fuel consumption, tips the scale in repayments and overall costs. Servicing for the Mazda is the highest, while fuel for the beastly Toyota Kluger tops the chart. The cheapest large SUV to maintain is the Subaru Outback 2.5L AWD, at $1,224.78.

Which all-terrain 4×4 are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Ford Everest Ambiente 3.2 Turbo Diesel $1,156.64 $181.78 $136.32 $33.52 $16.33 $1,524.58
Toyota Prado GX 2.8 Turbo Diesel $1,248.09 $197.40 $126.70 $69.56 $16.33 $1,658.08
Nissan Y62 Patrol V8 Petrol $1,645.23 $291.61 $268.92 $107.23 $24.33 $2,337.33

Is it any surprise the Nissan Patrol with its beefy V8 engine guzzles the most fuel at $268.92? It’s also expensive to own, costing a whopping $2,337.33 to run each month, including loan repayments. Servicing is far and away the biggest expense too! The Ford Everest is almost eight hundred dollars cheaper to run by comparison. If you want the cheapest in class, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX is almost one thousand dollars less dear than the Nissan at $1,367.32.

Nissan Patrol 4 wheel drive

Which electric vehicles (EVs) are the most expensive to run

ModelRepaymentsRego / InsuranceFuelServicingTyresTotal
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES 2.1 $1,020.35 $182.59 $32.02 $35.75 $21.27 $1,291.97
Nissan Leaf EV $1,049.84 $188.27 $53.44 $30.73 $14.60 $1,336.87
Hyundai Kona Elite EV $1,266.03 $158.54 $40.94 $17.75 $11.93 $1,495.19

Now we come to the electric vehicles – which all have minuscule fuel and servicing requirements compared to their petrol driven cousins. The Outlander and Kona are both SUVs – and have slightly elevated running costs in comparison. However, when you factor out the repayments, EVs are far cheaper to run. The MG ZS EV is the cheapest of the lot, costing $1,128.33 to run each month.

Are hybrids and electric vehicles cheaper in the long term?

Savvy CEO Bill Tsouvalas says that sticking to smaller cars or hybrids can keep costs down – and despite the higher loan repayments, will reap rewards later.

“The most expensive cars in this list, when they’re hybrids or electric vehicles, is the loan repayment component. Servicing and fuel become almost trivial compared to petrol or diesel-powered cars, which is something you should keep in mind when shopping for new cars.”

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  Written by 
Adrian Edlington
Adrian Edlington is PR & Communications Manager at Savvy. With a keen interest in personal finance, car loans, the mortgage industry, cost of living pressures, electric vehicles and renewable technology, Adrian's research includes conducting primary data surveys and analysis of up-to-the-minute secondary Australian data sources. His work on behalf of Savvy has been featured on ABC.net.au The Conversation, the Sydney Morning Herald, AFR, News.com.au, The Age, Herald Sun, Adelaide Now, SBS On The Money, 7News, Car Expert, Which Car, Drive.com.au, Auto Talk, CleanTechnica, The Latch, Newcastle Herald, The Examiner, Illawarra Mercury, Professional Planner, New Idea, Canberra Times, Bendigo Advertiser, The Courier, Evee.com.au, MSN, The Australian, Stockhead, Yahoo Lifestyle, Smart Company, Yahoo Finance, Money Management, Proactive Investors, Glam Adelaide, Your Life Choices, Investor Daily, Real Estate Business, Homely.com.au, Money Mag, Yahoo News, Elite Agent, The West, Crikey.com.au, Yahoo Sports, AIB.edu.au, Domain.com.au, Nine.com.au, Mortgage Business, The New Daily, MPAMag, and NestEgg.com.au. In his spare time, Adrian enjoys mountain biking and business podcasts.
Our authors
 
  Reviewed by 
Bill Tsouvalas

Reviewer

Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors

Published on December 3rd, 2020

Last updated on April 30th, 2024



Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.

The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.

Approval for car loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.

The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.

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