The most and least affordable cars to run
According to the United States Census Bureau, nine in ten U.S. households have access to at least one vehicle (91.6%). [1] United States Census Bureau, 'Selected Housing Characteristics', 2024 https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2024.DP04 And for many, buying a car can be one of the most expensive purchases in their lifetime, but the costs don’t stop there. [2] Investopedia, 'The 2025 “American Dream” Now Costs More Than $5 Million', 2025 https://www.investopedia.com/2025-american-dream-costs-more-than-usd5-million-11796727
First conducted in 2024, this study considered the running costs of 50 top cars in 2026 to find out how much on average it costs to run a car, and the top models to choose if you want to minimize your annual expenditure. [3] U.S. News, 'Best Cars for 2026', 2026 https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings
To find out how much a car costs to run, the study took into account the average costs for four factors: annual fuel or energy costs, annual maintenance costs, annual insurance costs, and annual fees and taxes.
Separate from this, the study also analyzed the annual depreciation and the cost per month when bought with finance schemes. You can read more about these aspects later in the study.
Key statistics:
- It costs an average of $6,913 per year to run one of America’s top cars, $451 more than the 2024 average of $6,462 per year.
- It costs on average $1,727 to fuel a car in the study – $519 less than the average in 2024 and is no longer the biggest expense.
- In 2026, the FIAT 500e is the most affordable car to run per year ($3,557), followed by the Honda Civic Hybrid ($4,833) and the Hyundai Elantra N ($4,904).
- Porsche 911 ($10,832), Audi RS 7 ($10,334), and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ($10,265) models are the study’s most expensive cars to run per year.
- Taking the average cost from the different fuel types, hybrid cars are the most affordable cars to run annually ($5,734), compared to fully electric ($6,189) and gas ($7,025).
- The cars with the lowest depreciation value were the Nissan Versa ($2,472 per year), the Honda Civic ($2,504 per year), and the Mazda3 ($3,052 per year).
- In comparison, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class had the highest depreciation value in the study of $17,279 per year.
The average cost to run a car in the U.S.
Research shows that in 2025, the average cost of a new car was $49,077. [4] Insurify, 'Average Car Price in 2026: What Buyers Really Pay', 2026 https://insurify.com/car-insurance/knowledge/average-cost-car/ However, of the cars analyzed in the study, 23 vehicles were more expensive than that, ranging from $50,300 (Volvo V60) to $133,400 (Porsche 911).
However, when purchasing a new car, buyers shouldn’t just consider whether they can afford the upfront cost, but whether they can afford to run it too. The average car in this study costs $6,913 per year to run considering fuel and energy costs, insurance costs, maintenance costs, and annual fees and taxes. This is $451 more than the last time this study was conducted in 2024 ($6,462).
The average car in the study costs $6,913 per year to run, $451 more than the 2024 average of $6,462.
A quarter (25%) of all annual running costs go on fuel or energy costs, at an average of $1,727 a year. In 2024, the average annual amount spent on fuel or energy was $2,246, just over a third of all running costs. Although regular gasoline prices have increased by $0.352 per gallon since June 2024, to $3.831 per gallon in June 2026, [5] EIA, 'Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update', 2026 https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ the last time this study was conducted, only three electric cars were included in the comparison. In the 2026 study, four hybrid vehicles and six fully electric vehicles were included, which may explain why the price of fuel is lower on average.
Just over a quarter (26.3%) of costs are spent on maintenance and repairs ($1,817 in 2026 – an increase from $1,633 in 2024), almost a third (32.1%) of costs are spent on car insurance ($2,219 – an increase from $1,763 since 2024) and the remainder going on annual fees and taxes ($1,151 – an increase from $820 in 2024).
The average annual cost to run a car
| Expense | 2024 Cost | 2026 Cost | Percentage of annual costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel costs | $2,246 | $1,727 | 25% |
| Annual insurance costs | $1,763 | $2,219 | 32.1% |
| Annual maintenance costs | $1,633 | $1,817 | 26.3% |
| Annual fees and taxes | $820 | $1,151 | 16.6% |
| Total | $6,462 | $6,913 |
However, these costs are dependent on the type of fuel used in the car: gasoline, electricity, or hybrid (which uses two types of fuel). Taking an average of the electric, gasoline, and hybrid cars in the study, the total cost to run an electric car per year is $6,189, a hybrid car costs $5,734 to run, and a gasoline car costs $7,025 to run per year.
The average annual cost to run a car per fuel type
| Expense | Electric | Gasoline | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel costs | $829 | $1,910 | $1,228 |
| Annual maintenance | $1,606 | $1,864 | $1,714 |
| Annual insurance | $2,423 | $2,155 | $1,829 |
| Annual fees & taxes | $1,331 | $1,096 | $963 |
| Total per year | $6,189 | $7,025 | $5,734 |
The most affordable car models to run
Considering the cars analyzed, the FIAT 500e is the least expensive car to run in 2026, with an annual running cost of $3,557. In 2024, Tesla’s Model 3 was the least expensive car to run, with an annual running cost of $5,061.
FIAT 500e is the least expensive car to run in 2026, with an annual running cost of $3,557.
Compared to gasoline, energy costs for this electric car come to $779 per year – the third smallest amount in the analysis, only beaten by the Lucid Air and Tesla Model 3 ($699 each). Annual maintenance costs are also among the lowest of the cars analyzed, totaling $1,275. This is 29.8% below the study average of $1,817. Alongside the lower energy and maintenance costs, this vehicle has the cheapest insurance costs in the study, totalling $779 per year.
The Honda Civic Hybrid model claims the title of the 2nd least expensive car in the study, with an average running cost of $4,833. The annual fuel costs are among some of the lowest in the study ($996), and fees and taxes total $613, among the top 10 for most affordable.
Placing third is the Hyundai Elantra N, at $4,904. This car had the 4th lowest annual maintenance costs ($1,278), the 11th lowest insurance costs ($1,661), and the 5th lowest annual fees and taxes ($564).
Completing the top five are the Nissan Versa ($4,949) and the Toyota Camry ($5,031).
The top five least expensive car models to run per year:
- FIAT 500e: $3,557
- Honda Civic Hybrid: $4,833
- Hyundai Elantra N: $4,904
- Nissan Versa: $4,949
- Toyota Camry: $5,031
The 20 most affordable cars to run in the U.S.
| Rank | Brand | Model | Type | Annual Fuel Cost | Annual Maintenance | Annual Insurance | Annual Fees & Taxes | Annual Running Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Brand Fiat | Model 500e | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $779 | Annual Maintenance $1,275 | Annual Insurance $779 | Annual Fees & Taxes $724 | Annual Running Cost $3,557 |
| Rank 2 | Brand Honda | Model Civic | Type Hybrid | Annual Fuel Cost $996 | Annual Maintenance $1,683 | Annual Insurance $1,541 | Annual Fees & Taxes $613 | Annual Running Cost $4,833 |
| Rank 3 | Brand Hyundai | Model Elantra | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,400 | Annual Maintenance $1,278 | Annual Insurance $1,661 | Annual Fees & Taxes $564 | Annual Running Cost $4,904 |
| Rank 4 | Brand Nissan | Model Versa | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,558 | Annual Maintenance $1,579 | Annual Insurance $1,425 | Annual Fees & Taxes $387 | Annual Running Cost $4,949 |
| Rank 5 | Brand Toyota | Model Camry | Type Hybrid | Annual Fuel Cost $966 | Annual Maintenance $1,681 | Annual Insurance $1,745 | Annual Fees & Taxes $640 | Annual Running Cost $5,031 |
| Rank 6 | Brand Honda | Model Accord | Type Hybrid | Annual Fuel Cost $1,017 | Annual Maintenance $1,699 | Annual Insurance $1,610 | Annual Fees & Taxes $721 | Annual Running Cost $5,047 |
| Rank 7 | Brand Honda | Model Civic | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,324 | Annual Maintenance $1,682 | Annual Insurance $1,509 | Annual Fees & Taxes $548 | Annual Running Cost $5,062 |
| Rank 8 | Brand MINI | Model Cooper | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,509 | Annual Maintenance $1,329 | Annual Insurance $1,543 | Annual Fees & Taxes $709 | Annual Running Cost $5,090 |
| Rank 9 | Brand Kia | Model K4 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,421 | Annual Maintenance $1,498 | Annual Insurance $1,635 | Annual Fees & Taxes $538 | Annual Running Cost $5,092 |
| Rank 10 | Brand Mazda | Model Mazda3 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,534 | Annual Maintenance $1,552 | Annual Insurance $1,605 | Annual Fees & Taxes $518 | Annual Running Cost $5,208 |
| Rank 11 | Brand Dodge | Model Charger Daytona | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $911 | Annual Maintenance $1,364 | Annual Insurance $1,907 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,117 | Annual Running Cost $5,298 |
| Rank 12 | Brand Tesla | Model Model 3 | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $699 | Annual Maintenance $1,378 | Annual Insurance $2,370 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,017 | Annual Running Cost $5,464 |
| Rank 13 | Brand Hyundai | Model Ioniq 6 | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $884 | Annual Maintenance $1,271 | Annual Insurance $2,284 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,037 | Annual Running Cost $5,476 |
| Rank 14 | Brand Acura | Model Integra | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,486 | Annual Maintenance $1,705 | Annual Insurance $1,606 | Annual Fees & Taxes $699 | Annual Running Cost $5,496 |
| Rank 15 | Brand Honda | Model Accord | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,464 | Annual Maintenance $1,843 | Annual Insurance $1,604 | Annual Fees & Taxes $598 | Annual Running Cost $5,509 |
| Rank 16 | Brand Volkswagen | Model GTI | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,726 | Annual Maintenance $1,336 | Annual Insurance $1,663 | Annual Fees & Taxes $815 | Annual Running Cost $5,540 |
| Rank 17 | Brand Kia | Model K5 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,584 | Annual Maintenance $1,666 | Annual Insurance $1,768 | Annual Fees & Taxes $704 | Annual Running Cost $5,722 |
| Rank 18 | Brand Hyundai | Model Sonata | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,756 | Annual Maintenance $1,404 | Annual Insurance $1,891 | Annual Fees & Taxes $724 | Annual Running Cost $5,776 |
| Rank 19 | Brand Mazda | Model MX-5 Miata | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,610 | Annual Maintenance $1,719 | Annual Insurance $1,767 | Annual Fees & Taxes $700 | Annual Running Cost $5,797 |
| Rank 20 | Brand Ford | Model Mustang | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,756 | Annual Maintenance $1,608 | Annual Insurance $1,888 | Annual Fees & Taxes $837 | Annual Running Cost $6,089 |
The most expensive car models to run
Of the 50 car models on this list, which are the most expensive to run?
The Porsche 911 is the most expensive car to run in the analysis, with an annual running cost of $10,832 – $3,919 higher than the study average of $6,913. The Porsche 911 has the highest annual maintenance costs, at $3,149, the highest fees and taxes ($2,530) and the 5th highest insurance costs $2,906.
In comparison, when the study was last conducted in 2024, the research found that the Chevrolet Tahoe was the most expensive car to run, costing $8,644 at the time, $2,188 less than the Porsche 911.
The Porsche 911 is the most expensive car to run in the study: costing $10,832 a year.
The Audi RS 7 is next up with an annual running cost of $10,334. The annual gas costs ($2,684) and annual fees and taxes ($2,359) are higher than average, the most expensive aspects of owning an Audi RS 7 are the annual insurance costs ($3,438 – the 2nd highest in the study). However, maintenance costs ($1,852) are the 14th highest in the study.
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the third most expensive model in the list. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has an annual running cost of $10,265 and has the 4th highest annual maintenance cost in the study at $2,743, but the highest fuel costs per year at $2,928.
Completing the top five are the Chevrolet Corvette ($10,213) and the Lucid Air ($10,049).
The top five most expensive car models to run per year:
- Porsche 911: $10,832
- Audi RS 7: $10,334
- Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: $10,265
- Chevrolet Corvette: $10,213
- Lucid Air: $10,049
The 20 most expensive cars to run in the U.S.
| Rank | Brand | Model | Type | Annual Fuel Cost | Annual Maintenance | Annual Insurance | Annual Fees & Taxes | Annual Running Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Brand Porsche | Model 911 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,247 | Annual Maintenance $3,149 | Annual Insurance $2,906 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,530 | Annual Running Cost $10,832 |
| Rank 2 | Brand Audi | Model RS 7 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,684 | Annual Maintenance $1,852 | Annual Insurance $3,438 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,359 | Annual Running Cost $10,334 |
| Rank 3 | Brand Cadillac | Model CT5-V Blackwing | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,928 | Annual Maintenance $2,743 | Annual Insurance $2,780 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,814 | Annual Running Cost $10,265 |
| Rank 4 | Brand Chevrolet | Model Corvette | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,415 | Annual Maintenance $2,855 | Annual Insurance $2,798 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,146 | Annual Running Cost $10,213 |
| Rank 5 | Brand Lucid | Model Air | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $699 | Annual Maintenance $2,590 | Annual Insurance $4,655 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,106 | Annual Running Cost $10,049 |
| Rank 6 | Brand Audi | Model S8 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,478 | Annual Maintenance $1,843 | Annual Insurance $3,382 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,106 | Annual Running Cost $9,809 |
| Rank 7 | Brand Mercedes-Benz | Model S-Class | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,858 | Annual Maintenance $2,829 | Annual Insurance $2,975 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,116 | Annual Running Cost $9,778 |
| Rank 8 | Brand BMW | Model M5 | Type Hybrid | Annual Fuel Cost $2,165 | Annual Maintenance $1,824 | Annual Insurance $2,706 | Annual Fees & Taxes $2,228 | Annual Running Cost $8,923 |
| Rank 9 | Brand Audi | Model S7 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,147 | Annual Maintenance $1,876 | Annual Insurance $2,901 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,587 | Annual Running Cost $8,512 |
| Rank 10 | Brand Cadillac | Model CT4-V Blackwing | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,543 | Annual Maintenance $2,365 | Annual Insurance $2,379 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,208 | Annual Running Cost $8,495 |
| Rank 11 | Brand Genesis | Model G90 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,195 | Annual Maintenance $1,821 | Annual Insurance $2,723 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,662 | Annual Running Cost $8,401 |
| Rank 12 | Brand Porsche | Model Boxster | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,013 | Annual Maintenance $2,562 | Annual Insurance $2,227 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,429 | Annual Running Cost $8,230 |
| Rank 13 | Brand Audi | Model S6 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,147 | Annual Maintenance $1,794 | Annual Insurance $2,816 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,406 | Annual Running Cost $8,163 |
| Rank 14 | Brand Porsche | Model Cayman | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,013 | Annual Maintenance $2,513 | Annual Insurance $2,212 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,385 | Annual Running Cost $8,123 |
| Rank 15 | Brand Audi | Model A7 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,858 | Annual Maintenance $1,763 | Annual Insurance $2,623 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,342 | Annual Running Cost $7,586 |
| Rank 16 | Brand Mercedes-Benz | Model E-Class | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,694 | Annual Maintenance $2,295 | Annual Insurance $2,333 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,244 | Annual Running Cost $7,567 |
| Rank 17 | Brand Audi | Model A6 Allroad | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $1,858 | Annual Maintenance $1,703 | Annual Insurance $2,620 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,347 | Annual Running Cost $7,529 |
| Rank 18 | Brand Honda | Model Civic Type R | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,715 | Annual Maintenance $1,902 | Annual Insurance $1,949 | Annual Fees & Taxes $912 | Annual Running Cost $7,478 |
| Rank 19 | Brand Audi | Model A6 | Type Gasoline | Annual Fuel Cost $2,230 | Annual Maintenance $1,713 | Annual Insurance $2,398 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,028 | Annual Running Cost $7,369 |
| Rank 20 | Brand BMW | Model i7 | Type Electric | Annual Fuel Cost $1,002 | Annual Maintenance $1,756 | Annual Insurance $2,539 | Annual Fees & Taxes $1,988 | Annual Running Cost $7,286 |
The most and least expensive car brands to run
Of the 11 brands in the study that featured more than one vehicle in the list, the research found that Hyundai is the least expensive car brand to run, averaging at $5,385 per year. On the other hand, Cadillacs are the most expensive ($9,380).
Other car brands on the list of least expensive to run are Kia ($5,407) and Mazda ($5,503). Whereas Porsche ($9,062) and Mercedes ($8,672) ranked as the second and third most expensive car brands to run.
How much does the average car cost to run per brand?
| Rank | Brand | Average fuel costs | Average annual maintenance | Average annual insurance | Annual fees & taxes | Total average per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Brand Hyundai | Average fuel costs $1,347 | Average annual maintenance $1,318 | Average annual insurance $1,945 | Annual fees & taxes $775 | Total average per year $5,385 |
| Rank 2 | Brand Kia | Average fuel costs $1,502 | Average annual maintenance $1,582 | Average annual insurance $1,701 | Annual fees & taxes $621 | Total average per year $5,407 |
| Rank 3 | Brand Mazda | Average fuel costs $1,572 | Average annual maintenance $1,636 | Average annual insurance $1,686 | Annual fees & taxes $609 | Total average per year $5,503 |
| Rank 4 | Brand Honda | Average fuel costs $1,503 | Average annual maintenance $1,762 | Average annual insurance $1,643 | Annual fees & taxes $678 | Total average per year $5,586 |
| Rank 5 | Brand Toyota | Average fuel costs $1,533 | Average annual maintenance $1,823 | Average annual insurance $1,782 | Annual fees & taxes $635 | Total average per year $5,773 |
| Rank 6 | Brand BMW | Average fuel costs $1,567 | Average annual maintenance $1,696 | Average annual insurance $2,521 | Annual fees & taxes $1,705 | Total average per year $7,489 |
| Rank 7 | Brand Genesis | Average fuel costs $2,084 | Average annual maintenance $1,760 | Average annual insurance $2,529 | Annual fees & taxes $1,383 | Total average per year $7,755 |
| Rank 8 | Brand Audi | Average fuel costs $2,060 | Average annual maintenance $1,714 | Average annual insurance $2,701 | Annual fees & taxes $1,391 | Total average per year $7,866 |
| Rank 9 | Brand Mercedes | Average fuel costs $1,776 | Average annual maintenance $2,562 | Average annual insurance $2,654 | Annual fees & taxes $1,680 | Total average per year $8,672 |
| Rank 10 | Brand Porsche | Average fuel costs $2,091 | Average annual maintenance $2,741 | Average annual insurance $2,448 | Annual fees & taxes $1,781 | Total average per year $9,062 |
| Rank 11 | Brand Cadillac | Average fuel costs $2,736 | Average annual maintenance $2,554 | Average annual insurance $2,580 | Annual fees & taxes $1,511 | Total average per year $9,380 |
The average car depreciation values
Separate from the running costs, the study also considered two other ways your car might impact your finances: depreciation, and a monthly finance option.
Car depreciation is the rate at which your car loses value. Several factors contribute to depreciation, these include wear and tear, market demand, and the economic climate. [6] KBB, 'How To Beat Car Depreciation', 2025 https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/how-to-beat-car-depreciation/ Considering all cars analyzed in the study, the average yearly depreciation figure is $7,499.
If you are looking to resell your car in the near future, then you should consider the cars with the smallest depreciation values. These were the Nissan Versa ($2,472 per year), the Honda Civic ($2,504 per year), and the Mazda3 ($3,052 per year).
On the other hand, which models had the highest depreciation rates?
Bought new, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a market-suggested retail price of around $117,750. But this car model also had the greatest yearly depreciation value in the study at $17,279.
The Audi RS 7 is not only the study’s second most expensive car to run but has the 2nd highest depreciation value of $17,092 a year. And the BMW i7 has the third highest depreciation value at $16,816 a year.
Last time the study was run in 2024, the Tesla Model S had the highest depreciation value of $9,071 per year and the Subaru Crosstrek had the lowest depreciation value of $2,603 per year.
The car models with the greatest depreciation values
| Rank | Car | Yearly Depreciation Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | $17,279 |
| 2 | Audi RS 7 | $17,092 |
| 3 | BMW i7 | $16,816 |
| 4 | Audi S8 | $16,099 |
| 5 | BMW M5 | $15,526 |
| 6 | Lucid Air | $14,776 |
| 7 | Genesis G90 | $13,186 |
| 8 | Audi S7 | $11,887 |
| 9 | Chevrolet Corvette | $10,351 |
| 10 | Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing | $9,988 |
The car models with the lowest depreciation values
| Rank | Car | Yearly Depreciation Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Versa | $2,472 |
| 2 | Honda Civic | $2,504 |
| 3 | Mazda3 | $3,052 |
| 4 | Honda Accord | $3,063 |
| 5 | Toyota Camry | $3,090 |
| 6 | Honda Civic Hybrid | $3,139 |
| 7 | Toyota GR86 | $3,337 |
| 8 | Kia K4 | $3,422 |
| 9 | Hyundai Elantra N | $3,539 |
| 10 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | $3,708 |
The most and least expensive cars on finance
According to recent reports, nearly 86 million Americans (about one in four) carry auto loan debt. [7] CNBC, 'Car payments squeeze Americans as auto debt hits $1.68 trillion, report finds', 2026 https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/06/car-payments-squeeze-americans.html The average cost of a financed car in the study was $1,739 per year – and this ranged between $516 for a Nissan Versa and $3,913 for a Porsche 911.
You can find the least and most expensive monthly finance costs below:
The least expensive yearly finance costs:
| Rank | Brand | Model | Yearly finance costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan | Versa | $516 |
| 2 | Mazda | Mazda3 | $702 |
| 3 | Kia | K4 | $744 |
| 4 | Honda | Civic | $744 |
| 5 | Hyundai | Elantra N | $808 |
| 6 | Honda | Accord | $849 |
| 7 | Honda | Civic Hybrid | $862 |
| 8 | Toyota | Camry | $896 |
| 9 | Toyota | GR86 | $898 |
| 10 | FIAT | 500e | $939 |
The most expensive yearly finance costs:
| Rank | Brand | Model | Yearly finance costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porsche | 911 | $3,913 |
| 2 | Audi | RS 7 | $3,754 |
| 3 | BMW | M5 | $3,488 |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz | S-Class | $3,436 |
| 5 | Chevrolet | Corvette | $3,341 |
| 6 | Audi | S8 | $3,297 |
| 7 | Lucid | Air | $3,249 |
| 8 | BMW | i7 | $3,089 |
| 9 | Cadillac | CT5-V Blackwing | $2,803 |
| 10 | Genesis | G90 | $2,631 |
Methodology
Vehicle selection was drawn from the US News & World Report car rankings (cars.usnews.com), which served as the seedlist for identifying representative models across segments including subcompact, compact, electric, and luxury electric categories.
The car, depreciation costs, and finance costs were calculated using the calculator provided by the American Automobile Association (AAA). For the purposes of the study, a 50/50 highway-to-city drive ratio and 15,000 miles driven per year were used as out of the options (10,000, 15,000, and 20,000), this is the closest to the average miles driven in the USA according to Car and Driver. Fuel costs were set at $2.953 per gallon for gasoline vehicles, and electricity was priced at $0.176 per kWh for electric vehicles.
According to the AAA FAQ on the online calculator, the depreciation value is defined as follows:
Depreciation is the difference between the vehicle purchase price and the estimated trade-in value at the end of five years at the designated miles driven per year. MSRP is different from the vehicle purchase price, which is the actual price paid for the vehicle and considers things like discounts and rebates.
Depreciation is vehicle specific. Certain vehicle types or specific models and configurations may depreciate differently depending on their popularity, which drives trade-in value. The depreciation values used are projections based on past trade-in and sales data for similar vehicles.
According to the AAA FAQ on the online calculator, the finance value is calculated as follows:
The finance cost is the amount paid in interest on the loan used to purchase a vehicle. Finance costs are based on a five-year loan, with 15% down and a typical interest rate for the selected state. The loan amount includes taxes and the first year’s license fees.
A medium-price range trim for each car model was used in the study. The trim used for each model and the product source can be found in the following list:
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a4/a4-sedan/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a4/a4-allroad/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a6/a6-allroad/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a7/rs7/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/e-tron-gt/rs-e-tron-gt/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a3/s3/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a6/a6-sedan/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/q7/sq7/2026/overview/
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a8/s8-sedan/2026/overview/
- https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3-series/3-series-sedan/bmw-3-series-sedan.html
- https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/bmw-i-series/i7/bmw-i7-limousine.html
- https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m-series/m5-series/bmw-m5-sedan.html
- https://brochures.cadillac.com/2025/ct4-v-series/
- https://brochures.cadillac.com/2025/ct5-v-series/specs-models/
- https://www.chevrolet.com/performance/corvette#eray
- https://www.dodge.com/2025/charger.html
- https://www.fiatusa.com/models/500e-icona
- https://www.genesis.com/worldwide/en/models/luxury-sedan-genesis/g90/highlights.html
- https://automobiles.honda.com/civic-type-r
- https://www.hyundaicanada.com/en/showroom/2025/elantra
- https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/ioniq-6
- https://www.kia.com/us/en/k5
- https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/passengercars/models/saloon/e-class/overview.html
- https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/passengercars/models/saloon/s-class-w223/overview.html
- https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/cars/versa-sedan.html
- https://www.porsche.com/uk/models/911/carrera-cabriolet-models/911-carrera-cabriolet/
- https://www.porsche.com/uk/models/718/718-models/718-boxster/
- https://www.porsche.com/uk/models/718/718-models/718-cayman/
- https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/brz/2025.html
- https://www.tesla.com/model3/design#overview
- https://www.vwmarin.com/2025-volkswagen-gti
- https://www.acura.com/cars/integra
- https://www.audiusa.com/en/models/a6/a6-sedan/2026/overview/
- https://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/
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- https://lucidmotors.com/air-grand-touring
- https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/mazda3-sedan
- https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/mx-5-miata
- https://www.miniusa.com/model/2-door.html
- https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/camry
- https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/gr86
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