Saving & Spending Home & Auto

15 Best Cars to Buy if You Hate to Spend Money on Maintenance

Save more with a car that doesn’t require much maintenance once you take it home.

smiling african american man driving car while wearing seatbelt during day time
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

The cost of a car isn’t just about how much you spend when you sign the lease or purchase it from a dealer.

Your costs can add up when you consider potential major repairs and regular maintenance to keep it running properly.

Here are the top 15 car models to consider if you want to find a low-maintenance car. Pair them with some smart car owner moves to spend less on the life of your car. 

Notes: All vehicle data comes from the car-buying resource CarEdge. A “major repair” is defined as an issue requiring $500 or more to fix.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

15. Volkswagen Golf

Glebiy/Adobe Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 finished in white

This German import may rely on its well-known engineering to keep it running smoothly. Maintenance and repair costs are expected to total $5,576 over 10 years.

The Golf is also 5.59% less likely to require a repair during that time than similar vehicles in the segment.

14. Mazda 3

vector_master/Adobe Red Mazda 3 car moving on the street

A Mazda 3 is expected to cost $5,409 in maintenance and repair costs during the first decade of its life, which is more than $1,600 lower than the industry average for sedans.

The model is also 5.28% less likely to need a major repair than similar vehicles in the segment.

13. Nissan Versa

art_zzz/Adobe Nissan Versa

If you own a Versa, you should expect to pay $5,331 for maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years of the vehicle’s lifespan.

You should also expect a 16.43% chance that the Versa will require a major repair, which is better than its counterparts in the segment.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

12. Honda Insight

gmstockstudio/Adobe Honda Insight on the streets of Batumi

If you buy a Honda Insight, you should expect to pay about $5,303 for maintenance and repairs over the first decade.

The car also has a 15.57% chance of requiring a major repair, which is almost 6% better than other vehicles in the segment.

11. Mitsubishi Mirage G4

walterericsy/Adobe Mitsubishi Mirage G4

Expect to pay an estimated $5,254 over the first 10 years of life for a Mitsubishi Mirage G4.

You also have a 16% chance of needing a major repair on your vehicle, which is better than similar vehicles in the segment.

10. Honda Civic

art_zzz/Adobe Honda Civic

As a Honda Civic owner, you should plan on paying $5,245 over 10 years, which is $1,851 less than other models in the segment.

You would also have only a 15.57% chance of needing a major repair, almost 6% better than similar vehicles.

9. Toyota Supra

TP71/Adobe sports car in urban setting

Want to pay less than $5,000 in maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years of your car? Buy a Toyota Supra, which will cost about $4,950 to maintain and repair during that time.

The Supra also has a 12.57% chance of requiring a repair, which is almost 9% better than other vehicles in the segment.

8. Mitsubishi Mirage

walterericsy/Adobe Mitsubishi mirage at East side

In the 10 years after buying a Mitsubishi Mirage, you should account for $4,939 in maintenance and repair expenses.

The Mirage will also have a 15.09% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 6.41% better than similar vehicles in the segment.

7. Honda Fit

Виталий Сова/Adobe Honda Fit Jazz is parked on the street

You’ll only need to budget $4,915 for maintenance and repair costs over the first 10 years of owning a Honda Fit.

There’s also less than a 15% chance of your vehicle requiring a major repair.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

6. Toyota Avalon

gmstockstudio/Adobe Toyota Avalon on the streets of Batumi

If you buy a Toyota Avalon, expect to pay $4,407 for maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years.

The vehicle also has an 11.89% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 9.61% better than similar vehicles in the segment.

5. Toyota Camry

Domagoj/Adobe Toyota Camry in white colour

The Toyota Camry has a reputation for being affordable, and that includes its maintenance and repair costs, which total around $4,203 over 10 years.

The Camry also has a low 11.89% chance of requiring a major repair during the first 10 years of the car.

4. Toyota Prius Prime

Sergio Yoneda/Adobe Blue Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

If you buy a Toyota Prius Prime, you can expect to pay $4,098 for maintenance and repairs for the first decade of its life.

The vehicle also has a low 11.22% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 10.28% better than similar vehicles.

3. Toyota Corolla

Gudellaphoto/Adobe Toyota Corolla 2011 model E15

Another affordable Toyota model is the Carolla, which will cost you only $4,087 in maintenance and repair costs during the first decade.

The Corolla is also less likely to need major repairs, with an 11.89% chance of requiring a repair that costs more than $500 in its first decade.

2. Toyota Yaris

art_zzz/Adobe Toyota Yaris

Another Toyota model, the Yaris, will cost $4,027 to own for the first ten years.

The car has an 11.89% chance of needing a major repair over 10 years, which is 9.61% better than other cars in the segment.

1. Toyota Prius

Felix Mizioznikov/Adobe Toyota Prius hybrid electric gas

The Toyota Prius tops the list, needing just $4,008 for maintenance and repair over its first decade. The industry average for other hatchback models is $2,756 more than the Prius.

The Prius also has an 11.22% chance of requiring a major repair, which is more than 10 percent better than similar vehicles in the segment.

Bottom line

Drobot Dean/Adobe attractive young woman driving car

If you’re buying a car on a budget, remember to consider anything you‘ll need for the vehicle on top of the initial costs.

Looking for ways to save money on car insurance can also help you save money over the life of your vehicle that you could put toward other bills or invest later.

  • You could save up to $600 with some companies
  • Compare dozens of providers in under 5 minutes
  • Fast, free and easy way to shop for insurance
  • Quickly find the perfect rate for you


Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.