Maintenance bills vary widely from one model to the next, and the gap adds up over years of ownership. Rankings from Slashgear, CarEdge, Motor1 and Street Insider put a mix of electric, hybrid and gasoline vehicles at the cheap end of the scale. The twelve models below each come with the figure that earned the spot.
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1. Tesla Model 3: Cheapest of the Lot
The Model 3 sits at the top of Slashgear’s cheapest-to-maintain ranking, with $3,587 in maintenance and repair costs projected across ten years of ownership. No other vehicle on that list posts a lower ten-year total.
Few moving parts and no oil changes are the usual explanation for numbers like this. The projection covers upkeep and repairs only, so purchase price, insurance and depreciation sit outside the figure. Shoppers weighing a first electric car can treat the result as one data point among several, rather than a promise about any particular car.
2. Tesla Model Y: Sixth Place Finish
Slashgear ranks the Model Y sixth on its repair-cost list, at about $4,732 in maintenance and repairs over ten years. That total runs higher than the Model 3’s, yet it still lands inside the top six.
A taller crossover body does not automatically bring heavy upkeep bills, according to this ranking. Real-world costs still depend on mileage, climate and accident history, so the figure works best as a rough guide. Placing two Tesla models in the top seven also hints at how much the drivetrain, rather than the badge alone, shapes the long-term bill.
3. Mitsubishi Mirage: Budget Gas Champion
Among gasoline-only cars, the Mirage posts the lowest total in Slashgear’s maintenance cost ranking: $4,939 over ten years, good for seventh place overall.
A small subcompact with a simple engine keeps parts and labor modest, which suits buyers who value low running costs over power or features. The ranking says nothing about fuel economy or resale value, both of which add to the true cost of ownership. Anyone comparing it with the electric entries above should keep that scope in mind.
4. Honda Civic: Steady Compact
Slashgear ranks the Civic eighth cheapest, with ten-year maintenance costs of $5,245 across a decade.
A gasoline compact finishing in the top eight shows that electric cars do not own the low end of the upkeep scale. The estimate is a projection, so any individual car may land well above or below it. Buyers still need to account for the model year, trim and driving habits when judging whether the number applies to a specific car.
5. Nissan Leaf: Second of 186
CarEdge lists the Leaf second cheapest of 186 models in its ten-year maintenance ranking, at $3,216 in total.
Only one model in the entire table costs less to keep running. That total is lower than the Slashgear figure for the Model 3, though the two rankings draw on different data and are not directly comparable. Buyers should still check battery warranty terms, since a pack replacement is a different category of expense from routine servicing.
6. Toyota Prius: Hybrid Near the Bottom
CarEdge’s maintenance table puts the Prius seventh from the cheap end, at $4,359 over ten years, with the plug-in Prius Prime close behind at $4,427.
Pairing a gasoline engine with an electric motor still produces a low projected bill. The small gap between the two versions suggests the plug-in hardware adds little to expected upkeep. Hybrids pair two power sources, so their showing here is a useful counterweight to worries about complex repairs.
7. Toyota Camry: Family Sedan Value
CarEdge’s ten-year cost table lists the Camry at $4,580, making it the twelfth cheapest of 186 models.
A midsize family sedan landing in that group shows low upkeep is not limited to small cars. As with every number here, the estimate is built from averages and offers no guarantee for any single vehicle. The ranking is best read as a comparison between vehicles rather than a forecast of what a particular owner will pay at the shop.
8. Honda Accord: Mid-Table, Still Cheap
CarEdge puts the Accord thirty-seventh cheapest of 186 models at $5,807 over ten years, according to its maintenance ranking. The same table shows a Ram 1500 at $19,201 over the decade.
The gap between those two entries shows how widely maintenance costs vary by vehicle type. It also explains why the Accord’s mid-table showing still counts as inexpensive. Readers shopping among midsize sedans can use the figure as a baseline, then compare quotes from local shops before committing.
9. Toyota Corolla: RepairPal’s Top Pick
Motor1, citing the RepairPal Repair Cost Index from April 2018, called the Corolla the cheapest vehicle to maintain and repair, at an average of $341 a year.
That figure is annual rather than ten-year, and it dates from 2018, so it should not be set directly beside the CarEdge totals. The ranking still shows why the nameplate is a common suggestion for frugal buyers. Older data can still be informative about relative costs between vehicles, but dollar amounts from that year have likely shifted since.
10. Honda Odyssey: Cheap Minivan
RepairPal data reported by Motor1 in 2018 names the Odyssey the cheapest minivan to maintain and fix, at an estimated $403 a year.
Minivans carry sliding doors and large cabins, features that can complicate repairs, yet this one stays inexpensive. The number is an annual estimate from 2018, so current costs may differ. Families weighing a minivan can use the number as a starting point, then check current labor rates and parts prices in their own area.
11. Nissan Altima: Everyday Sedan
Street Insider’s maintenance cost list, updated in July 2023, counts the Altima among the least expensive cars to maintain, at $483 a year.
Annual averages like this smooth out large one-off repairs, so a single major job could outweigh years of savings. The figure remains a useful way to compare the Altima with other midsize sedans. The list also reflects typical use, so heavy mileage or neglected servicing could push an individual car well above the quoted amount.
12. Toyota 4Runner: Cheapest SUV
The 4Runner is the cheapest SUV on Street Insider’s list, at $514 a year in maintenance and repairs.
Rugged SUVs are often assumed to be expensive to keep, so an annual figure of that size runs against the expectation. It is an average, and heavy off-road use would likely change the picture. Buyers considering one should still compare the number against current quotes, since parts and labor prices have moved since the list was updated.
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