The ManicaPost
You think you’ve just met the car of your dreams — it corners well and has great fuel economy and is loaded with all the latest safety features.
But before you take the plunge, there’s one more thing you should carefully consider: how much it costs to maintain and repair.
The difference in routine maintenance and repair costs can be huge among vehicles that are otherwise very similar in price, type, and fuel economy.
So choosing wisely can save you thousands over the long run.
“We analysed data from our Annual Auto Survey, where respondents told us about maintenance and repair costs,” says Steven Elek, who oversees Consumer Reports’ auto data analytics program.
“Over a 10-year period, some vehicles can be twice as expensive to maintain as others in the same category.”
And cars that are expensive to maintain early on become markedly more expensive as they get older.
A reliable new car will run well for years without much more than regular oil changes and occasional tire and brake replacements.
But somewhere after 120 000 kilometres, manufacturers start to recommend replacing things like spark plugs, coolant, and timing belts.
These jobs can quickly become expensive if you buy an older car, especially if you purchase a model with higher-than-average maintenance costs.
These include regular check-ups such as oil changes and tyre rotations, as well as the cost to replace things like brakes, drive belts, and lightbulbs, which all eventually wear out as mileage piles on. (The longer you hold on to a car, the more important these numbers are, because these costs only increase over time.)
Expensive maintenance and repair costs can eat into the savings offered by a fuel-efficient and reliable car.
The most important thing to know is that you can have it all — a trustworthy car with great fuel economy that is less expensive to keep on the road for many years.
Here are some truths that we uncovered.
Hybrid cars cost the least to maintain:
Hybrids will not only save money on fuel but also cost less to maintain than their conventional rivals.
They don’t require regular oil, filter, and fluid changes – a big part of the maintenance and repair budget for a vehicle.
Cars with sport and premium trims cost more to buy – and to repair:
The larger wheels that come with sport and premium trims give your car a flashier look but come with more expensive tyres that are more likely to sustain damage from potholes and other road hazards.
You can buy the 2023 Toyota RAV4 with either 17-inch or 19-inch wheels.
Replacing the 19s with a set of the same original equipment tyres will cost over $200 more – a difference that could snowball if you hit a lot of potholes that damage the wheels.
High-tech features that come with premium trims such as massaging seats and adaptive suspensions are nice to have, but the more complex the features, the more likely they are to fail, says longtime master technician Mike Crossen.
And that can cost you The optional adaptive suspension on the Audi Q5 can cost around $2,000 to repair. – www.consumerreports.org.
