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Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

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DETROIT (WWJ) - We all know that buying a car can be stressful, confusing and expensive. In an effort to make it easier for people looking to buy a new car, Kiplinger.com developed a list of the 10 cheapest cars to own.

Kiplinger’s list is based on five-year ownership cost data from Vincentric, an automotive data company. The ownership costs assume that you recoup the cost of the car, minus depreciation, when you sell the vehicle after five years.

All the vehicles on the list are small — either compacts or subcompacts — because they tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates — since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.

Kiplinger.com’s 10 Cheapest Cars to Own:

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: nissanusa.com)

#1 – Nissan Versa S 4 door 

5-Year fuel cost: $9,048
5-Year insurance cost: $5,134
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $27,135

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: hyundaiusa.com)

#2 – Hyundai Accent GLS 4 door 

5-Year fuel cost: $8,143
5-Year insurance cost: $5,145
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $27,895

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: ford.com)

#3 — Ford Fiesta S 4 door

5-Year fuel cost: $8,568
5-Year insurance cost: $5,623
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,524

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: toyota.com)

#4 — Toyota Yaris L 2 door hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $8,306
5-Year insurance cost: $5,451
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,153

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: kia.com)

#5 — Kia Soul 4 door hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $9,146
5-Year insurance cost: $4,402
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,190

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: kia.com)

#6 — Kia Rio LX 4 door

5-Year fuel cost: $8,143
5-Year insurance cost: $5,445
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,345

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: scion.com)

#7 — Scion iQ 2 door hatch (automatic)

5-Year fuel cost: $7,553
5-Year insurance cost: $5,461
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,594

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: honda.com)

#8 — Honda Insight 4 door hatch (automatic)

5-Year fuel cost: $6,508
5-Year insurance cost: $5,487
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,786

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: mazdausa.com)

#9 — Mazda2 Sport 4 door hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $8,759
5-Year insurance cost: $5,633
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,173

 Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own

(Credit: honda.com)

#10 — Honda Fit 4 door hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $9,361
5-Year insurance cost: $4,997
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,411

With lower-price cars, you may have to pay extra for an automatic transmission (all of the vehicles listed here have manual transmissions, unless otherwise noted), air conditioning and sometimes even a radio. But thanks to federal mandates that went into effect for the 2012 model year, stability control is now standard for all vehicles.

All of these cars have at least six airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control.

The market price is the average transaction cost and reflects rebates. Fuel costs are based on $3.36 a gallon for regular gasoline and 15,000 miles a year of mixed city and highway driving. The ownership cost assumes you are paying 4.04 percent interest on a five-year loan but that you can recoup the cost of the car, minus depreciation, when you sell the vehicle after five years.

View Comments
  • robertzdriver

    For auto insurance check whether your state insurance department provides rate comparisons or check “Clearance Auto” website

  • http://buyautos.org/2012/03/17/latest-buy-a-new-car-news-5/ Latest Buy A New Car News | BuyAutos.org

    [...] Kiplinger's Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own DETROIT (WWJ) – We all know that buying a car can be stressful, confusing and expensive. In an effort to make it easier for people looking to buy a new car, Kiplinger.com developed a list of the 10 cheapest cars to own. Kiplinger's list is based on … Read more on CBS Local [...]

  • Dan

    Yikes…. I hate to see what’s the cost in a 5 year ownership period to own one of the overpriced SUVs

  • http://bestcarinsuranceco.com/cheap-and-expensive-cars-to-insure-with-auto-insurance/ Cheap and Expensive Cars to Insure with Auto Insurance

    [...] The market price is the average transaction cost and reflects rebates. Fuel costs are based on $3.36 a gallon for regular gasoline and 15,000 miles a year of mixed city and highway driving. The ownership cost assumes you are paying 4.04 percent interest on a five-year loan but that you can recoup the cost of the car, minus depreciation, when you sell the vehicle after five years.Source: cbslocal.com [...]

  • http://www.carinsurancequotestips.com/car-insurance-best Car Insurance Best | Car Insurance Quotes Warning

    [...] Kiplinger’s Reveals 10 Cheapest Cars To Own Looking to buy a new car that won’t cost you a fortune in the long run? Check out this list compiled by Kiplinger.com of the 10 cheapest cars to own. … Read News [...]

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