These Cars Cost an Arm and a Leg to Maintain
Some cars look cool but drain your wallet with repairs and upkeep. If you’ve wondered which cars cost a fortune after you buy them, you’re in luck. In this list, we’re ranking the 35 most expensive cars to maintain. Before you buy your dream car, scroll through. Your bank account will thank you.
Nissan Versa
The Versa may be budget-friendly to buy, but the repair bills add up fast. From brake jobs to transmission problems, small things pile up over time. It’s cheap up front, sure, but not so cheap over the years as repair costs run into the thousands. It is one of the most expensive cars to maintain.
MINI Hardtop
MINIs look fun and sporty, but their maintenance is anything but a joyride. They have quirky engineering, and that means higher repair costs. Even routine things like oil changes or suspension work cost more than you’d expect. You’ll pay out around $5,760 for maintenance.
Honda Civic Si
Honda’s Civic Si is sporty, but it needs a bit more TLC than a regular Civic. Why? Its performance parts cost more, and you’ll likely go through tires and brakes faster if you drive it like it’s meant to be driven. More money usually means more money for upkeep.
Mazda3 Hatchback
The Mazda3 Hatchback is one of the more stylish cars on our list, but its premium feature comes with a price. Its fancy tech and sensors drive up maintenance, with owners shelling out around $5,687 a year to keep their cars running smoothly.
Honda Civic
Honda is known for its reliability, and the Civic is hands down one of the most reliable cars out there. But even reliable cars need care. Over 10 years, things like brake replacements, transmission service, and aging electronics cost you.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
The Mirage might be tiny and save you money at the pump, but not always in the long run. It often needs attention, especially with suspension and brake issues. And, it’s not built like a tank, so cheap parts break more often.
Honda Civic Hatchback
It’s a Civic, yes, but the hatchback version of the Honda Civic adds a bit of complexity with more moving parts and a unique rear design. This means repairs can cost more, especially if you sustain rear-end damage - that hatch is not cheap to replace.
Chevrolet Blazer EV
Chevrolet’s Blazer EV is new and full of high-tech gadgets. But all that tech just means more can go wrong. Battery systems, sensors, and software updates all need specialized equipment to repair, and you could easily pay around $5,403 over 10 years.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Mach-E is Ford’s electric muscle car - and, boy, is it powerful! It’s also not cheap to maintain. It uses a lot of sensors and software that aren’t cheap to fix if they suddenly glitch. Oh, and don’t get us started on the specialized tires.
Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi’s regular Mirage is simple and low-cost at first glance, but tends to wear down faster than other cars. It has cheap materials, needs frequent small fixes, and a not-so-smooth ride that’ll cost you around $5,319 in maintenance and repairs.
Toyota GR Supra
The Supra is built for performance, and that means expensive parts and more frequent service. Tires, brakes, and fluids need more attention. And since it shares the same DNA with BMW, you’re paying BMW-level repair prices for even the simplest repairs.
Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is a big electric SUV loaded with screens, sensors, and pretty impressive battery tech. It’s great for families, but keeping all that high-tech stuff running smoothly isn’t cheap. From software updates to specialized mechanics, it’s the pricey parts that make the EV9 an expensive investment.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
As far as electric cars go, Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N is one of the best - until you realize how fast you go through tires and brake pads. It’s a high-performance car, which means high-performance repair costs, too. Over ten years, your IONIQ will cost you $5,265.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
A throwback electric van? Yes, please! Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz is cool, but super complicated. It’s fairly new to the market, which means early issues with a tech-filled interior. Retro looks often come with modern headaches, and maintenance doesn’t come cheap.
Chevrolet Equinox EV
The Chevrolet Equinox EV is one of the more solid EVs around, but it still comes with big surprises. Things like battery cooling systems, software quirks, and sensor issues cost way more than regular gas-powered models, and parts are not always widely available.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 is an award-winning EV. And, like many others, it’s full of gadgets that can break. Keeping up with battery care, brake systems, and touchscreens means a lot of trips to the shop. Electric doesn’t always mean cheap, and you can expect to pay around $5,043 over time.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 turns heads. But it also costs a fair amount to maintain. We’re talking $5,029 to keep things like the fast-charging battery, custom parts, and advanced tech systems running. It also hasn’t been around long enough for cheaper aftermarket fixes.
Toyota Crown
Luxury always costs more. And this cannot be truer when you look at the maintenance costs of the Toyota Crown. This luxury hybrid has high-end suspension systems and cool fancy driver assist features that cost a pretty penny to maintain.
Subaru Solterra
The Solterra is a reliable car, but it’s still new territory for the brand. That means fewer mechanics know how to fix it. Things like battery servicing, tech upgrades, and unique parts are more expensive than gas-powered Subarus.
Toyota GR86
Toyota’s GR86 is all about fun driving. Until your brakes, tires, and clutch parts start giving in. Make no mistake, this is not just your everyday driver - it’s a little track car that needs a lot of maintenance. Most owners spend around $4,821 on maintenance.
Volkswagen ID. 4
The Volkswagen ID.4 is an electric SUV that is super practical, but not cheap to maintain. Repairs for things like power inverters, onboard chargers, and sensors are expensive. Finding service centers with EV training is just another challenge you’ll find.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai’s Kona Electric is great around town, but maintenance isn’t as cheap as you’d think. Battery system care, repairs on electronics, and tire replacements all need to be factored in. There are also other issues, like motor cooling repairs that aren’t cheap.
Nissan ARIYA
Nissan brought us a slick electric crossover when they released the ARIYA. What customers didn’t expect, though, was maintenance costs that just keep coming. It’s still fairly new, so parts and trained technicians are fairly limited. Are you ready to spend $4,671 to repair your ARIYA?
Honda Prologue
Honda’s Prologue is an EV that doesn’t skip on tech, and that’s where the maintenance costs just keep growing. Sensors, cameras, and connectivity systems all need attention, and that can set you back upwards of $4,600. Good luck finding parts, though.
Toyota Camry
Reliable doesn’t always mean cheap, and the Camry needs regular servicing like timing belt replacements, transmission fluid changes, and brake jobs to keep it running. If you drive a lot (and most people do), you’ll see your maintenance bills stacking up slowly.
Toyota GR Corolla
The Toyota GR Corolla is built for performance, so it goes through tires and brake pads like it’s nobody’s business. The turbocharged engine also needs premium care, and it’s these regular tune-ups that’ll cost you around $4,589 to maintain.
Toyota Corolla
You’ll be surprised to know that even the humble Corolla has maintenance costs. Sure, they’re not as excessive as other cars on this list, but oil changes, brake replacements, and transmission services all add up over time. You’ll need money to keep your Corolla going strong.
Toyota Prius Prime
The Prius Prime is more complex thanks to its plug-in hybrid setup. These cars need battery maintenance, software updates, and hybrid system servicing, which makes it more expensive than a regular Prius. Maintenance costs are upwards of $4,444.
Toyota Prius
Hybrids like the Toyota Prius save on fuel, but maintenance is a different story. The Prius has two systems - gas and electric - so there’s way more to care for. You’ll need at least $4,379 to sort out the battery, cooling system, and electronic diagnostics.
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Toyota’s Corolla Hatchback costs more to maintain than the regular Corolla. It needs specific parts, but also sees extra wear on the suspension. Frequent brake work only adds to the total. Sure, it’s fun and practical, but it’s not maintenance-free.
Hyundai IONIQ 6
The IONIQ 6 comes with maintenance costs of around $3,930 over a few years. It’s a futuristic car, and comes with advanced systems that need more than just a quick fix. This includes battery care, sensors, and specialty tires that push the maintenance bill higher.
Fiat 500e
Fiat’s tiny EV is super fun to drive, but finding parts or service can be a challenge. It’s not as common, so repair shops take advantage and charge more for their services. Older models of the 500e are known for their electrical quirks that cost thousands to sort out.
Toyota BZ4X
Toyota’s crossover EV has some of the best tech, but the battery system and electronics need expert care that doesn’t come cheap. Labor is one of the biggest costs. And since it’s a newer model, any repairs outside warranty will set you back.
Nissan LEAF
Nissan’s LEAF is one of the original electric cars. Sure, it’s fairly simple compared to newer EVs, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with problems like battery and charging components needing maintenance. Thankfully, it’s not as expensive to maintain as other cars on this list.
Toyota Mirai
We bring you the “cheapest” car to maintain - the Toyota Mirai. It’s hydrogen-powered and super rare, which means unique maintenance needs. You’re not just dealing with basic car care - you’ve got hydrogen fuel systems that need around $3,222 to fix.
