US-based agency Consumer Reports recently concluded findings from its latest annual survey, revealing that Tesla is the least expensive brand to maintain. The report is based on the out of pocket maintenance and repair costs incurred during the previous 12 months by those surveyed. It includes costs related to oil changes and tyre repairs but excludes costs associated with collision repair.
The study found that American brands dominated the list of cheapest cars to maintain and repair, securing four out of top five spots. US EV maker Tesla emerged as the least expensive brand to maintain over a 10-year ownership period at USD 4,035. However, the survey did not compute the potential cost of a battery replacement for electric cars, which could affect the assessment. Japanese automaker Toyota has secured the third spot with a cost of USD 4,900 over 10 years.
On the lower end of the rankings is a cluster of German brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Out of 29 auto brands listed by the report, Land Rover emerged as the most expensive brand to maintain over 10 years at USD 19,250, followed by the German brands.
Another observation found by the survey is that new car owners usually need to spend little in repair and maintenance costs until a few years. The typical three-year warranty offered by carmakers covers enough. However, these costs significantly increase as the cars age, especially some luxurious models from non-US brands.
Steven Elek, Consumer Reports’ program leader for auto data analytics said that if a person is considering buying a luxury model, it may be wise to purchase one from a domestic brand that may have lower maintenance and repair costs. “For example, over 10 years, Mercedes-Benz models are more than double the cost to maintain and repair as those from Lincoln,” he said.