Saving & Spending Home & Auto

10 Best Fuel-Efficient Cars to Buy If You Hate To Spend Money on Maintenance

The best vehicles might save you money on gas and maintenance.

man driving in car to office
Updated July 2, 2025
Fact checked

Shopping for a car with a low price tag is one smart money move for car buyers who want to keep more money in their wallets

But if you're trying to lower your car costs, you need to consider other factors beyond the sticker price. Ongoing costs such as gas and repairs and maintenance can also make your car more expensive.

Here are some car options experts have praised as saving you money in these key areas.

Editor's note: Unless noted, all fuel economy numbers are for 2024 models and come from the U.S. Department of Energy. All maintenance estimates are from CarEdge.

Get instant access to hundreds of discounts

Over 50? Join AARP today— because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks like discounts on travel, dining, and even prescriptions.

Get 25% off membership — just $15 for your first year with auto-renewal — and a free gift if you join today.

Become an AARP member now

Volkswagen Golf

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver wearing helmet driving volkswagen golf

The Volkswagen Golf gives you a combined 25 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

The Golf will cost you an estimated $5,410 in maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years. It also has a 15.91% chance of needing a major repair during that time, 5.59% better than similar vehicles in this segment.

Nissan Versa

Courtesy of Car and Driver red nissan versa displayed outdoors

The Nissan Versa offers a combined 35 city miles per gallon in the city and on the highway, making it a fuel-efficient option.

The Versa also averages $5,331 in repair and maintenance costs over its first 10 years of life. During that time, it has a 16.43% chance of needing a major repair, 5.07% better than other vehicles in its segment.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Courtesy of Car and Driver mitsubishi mirage with blurred background

Check out the Mitsubishi Mirage, which can get you a combined 39 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

The Mirage also scores well in terms of maintenance and repair, coming in at an average of $4,939 for the first 10 years. That is $1,825 lower than the average for hatchbacks.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

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

Sign up for a free debt assessment here

Honda Civic

Courtesy of Car and Driver honda civic car with driver

The Honda Civic offers a combined 48 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

In addition to saving you money at the gas pump, the Civic will also cost you $5,245 in maintenance and repair for the first 10 years of ownership, which is $1,851 less than the average for the segment.

Nissan Sentra

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver driving nissan sentra

The Nissan Sentra can save you money at the pump, with its combined rating of 34 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

Expect to spend $5,441 to cover maintenance and repair costs for a Sentra in the first 10 years of ownership, which is $1,655 below the average for sedans.

Mazda 3

Courtesy of Car and Driver mazda 3 parked on road

The Mazda 3 is a fun sedan that offers good gas mileage as well. It gets an average of 31 miles per gallon combined in the city and on the highway.

You can expect to spend $5,409 in maintenance and repair costs during the first 10 years of your Mazda 3 ownership, which is $1,687 below the average for vehicles in the segment.

Subaru Impreza

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver driving blue subaru impreza

If you're looking for an affordable car, the Subaru Impreza may check the right boxes. The vehicle's base price is $22,995, and it offers a combined 30 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

Maintenance and repair costs are also impressive, with Impreza owners paying $5,900 during the first 10 years of ownership, $1,196 below the segment average.

Chevrolet Malibu

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver driving chevrolet malibu on street

According to Edmunds, the Chevrolet Malibu gets a combined 31 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

You can also expect to pay $6,460 in maintenance and repair costs over the first 10 years of the vehicle's lifespan, which is $636 below the average for sedans.

Toyota Prius

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver driving toyota prius at sunset

The Toyota Prius is a great example of a car that offers great fuel mileage and low maintenance costs all in one vehicle.

The Prius gets a combined 57 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

It's also cheap to maintain, with an estimated $4,008 in repair and maintenance costs during the first 10 years of the vehicle. That is $2,756 below the industry average for vehicles in its class.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with a debit card

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

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

Learn more about the Discover Cashback Checking account

Honda Accord

Courtesy of Car and Driver driver driving blank honda accord

The Honda Accord is another sedan that can boost your bank account by saving you money at the gas pump. It offers a combined 32 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway.

You can also save money on vehicle maintenance. The Accord costs $5,412 in maintenance and repairs over 10 years, which is $1,684 less than other models in the segment.

Bottom line

Drobot Dean/Adobe happy young friends driving car

If you want to get ahead financially, it's important to factor in all the potential costs of owning a car.

When you account for all costs — from the sticker price to gas and maintenance bills — the cars on this list offer good, affordable choices for people who want to save a buck.

  • 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


Must-Read Buzz

Financebuzz logo

Thanks for subscribing!

Please check your email to confirm your subscription.