When facing the purchase of a new car there are many aspects to take into account. From the technology and performance of the vehicle to its fuel efficiency. But are not the only ones. Nor should you overlook other additional outlays, whether taxes and insurance, or the costs associated with maintaining the car throughout its useful life.
In this sense, it is important to know which brands are more expensive or cheaper to maintain, since according to a study by Consumer Reports in the United States, some manufacturers tend to have higher maintenance costs than others. This conclusion is confirmed in a report prepared by this consumer association after analyzing the maintenance and repair costs of different brands over a certain period of time.
The data was obtained through responses from thousands of car owners, who indicated how much they paid out of pocket for car maintenance and repairs during the previous 12 months. It is important to note that the study focuses on the US market, so some brands that appear in the report are not marketed in Europe.
Consumer Reports notes that there are significant differences in costs as cars age. He also warns that in some cases the comparison with newer vehicles is confusing because some brands, such as BMW or Toyota, offer free maintenance periods in the first months.
He also emphasizes that, in general, cars need very little attention during the first years, when maintenance is limited to changing oil and tires. During this period, repairs - if necessary - are covered by the warranty, which normally lasts three years.
“The average difference in car maintenance between some brands can be thousands of dollars over a 10-year period,” explains Steven Elek, program leader for automotive data analysis at Consumer Reports. “Also, luxury vehicles tend to be quite expensive to maintain over time.”
Tesla is the manufacturer that records the lowest maintenance costs over a 10-year period, with $4,035 (about 3,782 euros), according to the report data. The brand of which Elon Musk is its founder and CEO also recorded the cheapest repair bills on average in the period from 1 to 5 years and in the period from 6 to 10 years. It must be taken into account, however, that replacing the battery would greatly disrupt these costs, since it can involve a significant outlay, since it is the most expensive component in electric vehicles.
Buick and Toyota were tied for second place, with an amount of $4,900 (about 4,590 euros) in repair costs over 10 years. The Japanese brand's cars are slightly cheaper to maintain during the period of 5 to 10 years, while those from Buick are cheaper in the first five years of life.
Lincoln follows closely with $5,040 (about 4,720 euros) during the first decade. Following the American brand are Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Honda and Kia, ranked from lowest to highest in terms of maintenance costs during the 10-year period.
Between the cheapest vehicles to maintain during the first decade and the most expensive there is an intermediate group. It is made up of Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Ram, Lexus, GMC, Subaru, Mini and Acura, with maintenance costs ranging between 6,000 and 8,000 dollars (approximately between 5,600 and 7,500 euros).
High-end cars are the ones that tend to have the highest maintenance costs. Infiniti, for example, had the lowest average, with 8,500 dollars (about 7,970 euros) in 10 years, while Volvo finished at 9,285 dollars (about 8,700 euros). Both BMW and Audi managed to be below 10,000 dollars (about 9,375 euros). These manufacturers are also not that far from other brands in terms of maintenance in the first five years.
However, the same cannot be said for the final group. In it we find Mercedes-Benz with an average of 10,525 dollars (about 9,870 euros) for 10 years and 2,850 dollars (about 2,670 euros) comparatively high within the first 5 years. These amounts are double what they represent for the Lincolns.
Porsche and Land Rover are even worse off. Owners of the German firm can expect to spend an average of $4,000 (about 3,750 euros) in maintenance within the first 5 years and a total of $14,090 (about 13,200 euros) over 10 years. Land Rover was even more expensive, ending up at $19,250 (about 18,040 euros) during the first decade of ownership.
