Australia's cheapest cars to own and operate
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Driving a deal.
Research shows that top sellers are not always the most affordable cars to own or even the cheapest cars to maintain or the cheapest cars to insure.
One of the cheapest cars in Australia is also the most affordable to drive.
Cheap, economical cars are currently no better than the Suzuki Baleno GL light hatchback, which starts at just $18,990 and tops the annual RACV Driving Your Dollars poll for 2020, making it the cheapest car to drive in Australia.
It finished just ahead of Suzuki's other lightweight hatchback, the Swift GL, which costs about $33 a month more than its slightly less expensive counterpart.
The survey takes into account the initial purchase price and loan repayments, as well as the cost of registration, insurance, car club membership, fuel or electric vehicle charging, tires, and which cars are the cheapest to maintain and repair. On average over a five-year period, the Suzuki Baleno GL costs just $8486.47 per year or $163.20 per week, making it the cheapest car in Australia.
In third place behind the Baleno GL and Swift GL is the Toyota Yaris Ascent, one of the cheapest cars in Australia at $171.90 a week.
For a complete list of car operating costs, see here.
In comparison, the most expensive vehicles to own and operate in a survey of over 79 best-selling vehicles in Australia were the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser heavy-duty all-wheel drive vehicles. road, or $29,369 per week.
The Suzuki Baleno may be a bargain hunter's dream, but the car is more expensive in some states than others.
The Suzuki Baleno GL with automatic transmission costs $18,990 in Queensland but currently costs $19,990 in every other state and territory.
The difference in price is $1000 as Suzuki vehicles are sold through an independent distributor in Queensland and are represented in other states by a subsidiary of the Japanese parent company.
Nothing stops Australian car buyers from crossing into Queensland for a better deal.
However, when asked why Queenslanders pay less for the same car, distributor Mayfairs Wholesale said in a statement: make any product cheaper or more expensive in different areas at any given time.”
Survey data shows that, in general, the less money you spend on a car, the less money you lose.
Smaller cars are also more affordable, more economical and cheaper to maintain. But this advice is of little help to families who need a big car.
Top cars in each category:
LIGHT CAR
Suzuki Baleno GL, 1.4 L, 4 steps, hatchback
Approximate price on the road: $20,144.80
Annual operating costs: $8,486.47
Monthly running costs: $707.21
SMALL CAR
Hyundai i30 GO, 1.6L t / dsl 7DSG hatch
Approximate price on the road: $29,095
Annual operating costs: $10,468.62
Monthly running costs: $872.39
MEDIUM CAR
Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid, 2.5L, CVT
Approximate price on the road: $34,543
Annual operating costs: $12,017.02
Monthly running costs: $1,001.42
ENGINES OF PEOPLE
Honda Odyssey VTi, 2.4L, CVT
Approximate price on the road: $43,207.2
Annual operating costs: $15,511.16
Monthly running costs: $1,292.60
ELECTRIC
Plug-in hybrid Hyundai Ioniq, Elite PHEV 1.6L
Approximate price on the road: $46,629
Annual operating costs: $14,793.53
Monthly running costs: $1,232.79
OFF-ROAD SMALL
Hyundai Venue GO,1.6L 2WD 6sp auto
Approximate price on the road: $25,680.60
Monthly running costs: $10,214.67
Monthly running costs: $851.22
OFF-ROAD MIDDLE
Mitsubishi Outlander ES, 2.4 l, all-wheel drive, 7 seats, CVT
Approximate price on the road: $39,169.40
Annual operating costs: $14,000.70
Monthly running costs: $1,166.73
OFF-ROAD LARGE
Subaru Outback 2.5i, all-wheel drive CVT
Approximate price on the road: $41,941
Annual operating costs: $15,040.25
Monthly running costs: $1,253.35
ATV (4X4)
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX, 2.4L t/dsl 5 seats 8 speed auto
Approximate price on the road: $51,981.80
Annual operating costs: $17,822.68
Monthly running costs: $1,485.22
