Expensive Cars That Are Surprisingly Cheap to Own

Some expensive cars in the U.S. are surprisingly cheap to own—strong resale, low maintenance, or high efficiency can make 5-year total cost lower than "cheaper" cars. Here's how to compare total cost.

TL;DR Expensive to buy ≠ expensive to own. Compare total cost of ownership—purchase + depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance—over 5 years. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see which expensive cars are cheap to own.

Why Some Expensive Cars Are Cheap to Own

• Strong resale — Toyota, Honda, trucks hold value well; depreciation cost over 5 years can be lower (as % of purchase) than some cheaper cars that depreciate fast.
• Low maintenance — reliable brands often have lower repair cost; total cost over 5 years can be lower than a "cheap" car with high repair cost.
• Efficiency — hybrids and efficient models have lower fuel cost; over 5 years that can offset a higher sticker.
• Lower insurance — some "expensive" cars (e.g., safe, low-theft) have moderate insurance; total cost can be comparable to cheaper cars with high insurance.

See total cost at autopremo.com.

How to Compare

Use total cost of ownership over 5 years: purchase/loan + depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership. Compare "expensive" cars to "cheap" cars—sometimes the expensive car has lower total cost. Don't assume sticker = total cost.

Compare total cost at autopremo.com.

Bottom Line

Some expensive cars are cheap to own—strong resale, low maintenance, or efficiency can make total cost lower than cheaper cars. Use autopremo.com to compare total cost of ownership so you don't assume "expensive" means "expensive to own."