Car buyers shop for vehicles based on price, reliability and those ubiquitous car-of-the-year lists, among other factors.  
But do they ever think about what it will cost to maintain and repair that car over the next 10 years? 
In a new ranking, Consumer Reports compares car brands on long-term maintenance and repair costs. The list is based on Annual Auto Surveys of Consumer Reports members, which also yield reports on car reliability and owner satisfaction.  
The full cost of owning a car or truck goes well beyond monthly loan and insurance payments. In the first year or two, you might pay only for routine maintenance, such as oil changes. As your car ages, you typically pay progressively more on repairs and replacement parts.  
Over 10 years, Consumer Reports found, the full cost of maintenance and repairs on a vehicle can range from just over $5,000 to nearly $20,000. If you want to know which brands those figures represent, read on. 
Long-term maintenance costs matter more than ever because America’s automobile fleet is older than ever. The average U.S. vehicle is now 12.9 years old, according to Kelley Blue Book. 
And the cheapest car brands to maintain and repair may not be the ones you think.  
The very cheapest car of 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book, was the Nissan Versa, at $18,330.  
Yet, in terms of lowest maintenance costs, Nissan doesn’t make the top 5. 
Here are the five least expensive car brands to maintain and repair over 10 years, according to Consumer Reports: 
There’s a lot to unpack in that list, starting with the two brands that cost the least to maintain.  
Buick is considered a premium brand for General Motors, just below GM’s luxury flagship, Cadillac. Lincoln, meanwhile, is Ford’s luxury brand. Back in the day, the Lincoln Town Car bespoke status.  
Why, then, are Buicks and Lincolns so cheap to maintain?  
One reason, according to Consumer Reports, is that they are domestic. 
“This is a key takeaway for shoppers drawn to luxury vehicles: There are two domestic brands with lower maintenance and repair costs than every other brand—mainstream or luxury,” said Steven Elek, who oversees auto data analytics at Consumer Reports, speaking in the December publication. “This is no surprise. We do notice that domestic automakers tend to have cheaper parts when repairs are necessary. And these savings translate to these upscale brands, as well.” 
Another reason is economy of scale. Buick and Lincoln are “both part of immense companies,” said Sean Tucker, managing editor at Kelley Blue Book. “Most of the parts you need” to repair a Buick or Lincoln “are very common parts.” 
Toyota and Hyundai, the third- and fourth-cheapest brand to maintain, might be less of a surprise. Both are well-known value brands, Toyota from Japan, Hyundai from Korea. Toyotas tend to retain their resale value, while Hyundai makes two of the 10 cheapest new cars of 2025.  
Tesla, in the No. 5 spot, is another surprise. Tesla’s electric vehicles aren’t cheap, although it is now possible to purchase one for as little as $36,990.  
“Tesla’s up there, frankly, because the need for maintenance is low, and the reliability has been improving in recent years,” said Jeff Bartlett, managing editor for autos at Consumer Reports, in an interview. “You certainly don’t need an oil change in a Tesla.” 
Before we continue, we should note that the Consumer Reports ranking is not exhaustive. It does not include Dodge, for example. Because it’s based on surveys of Consumer Reports members, the findings could be colored by CR’s other rankings and ratings.  
“Their customers aren’t buying what they don’t recommend,” Tucker said.  
Here are the car brands that rank 6^th through 10^th in maintenance costs, according to Consumer Reports: 
The only surprise here might be that some of these brands didn’t rank higher.  
Nissan made three of the 10 cheapest cars of 2025, including the aforementioned Versa. Chevrolet and Ford are mainstream brands. Mazda and Mitsubishi trade on affordability.  
But it’s important to note that the top 10 on this list are closely bunched: The cost difference between Buick and Mitsubishi amounts to little more than $100 a year.  
And here are the five most expensive car brands to maintain: 
Land Rover. Ten-year cost: $19,460 
Porsche. Ten-year cost: $17,900 
Mercedes-Benz. Ten-year cost: $12,630 
Audi. Ten-year cost: $11,350 
BMW. Ten-year cost: $11,000 
The high end of the ranking is not closely bunched. According to Consumer Reports, a Land Rover costs nearly four times as much to maintain and repair as a Buick.  
The top of this list is dominated by European imports. Those brands cost more to maintain, auto experts say, because the vehicles cost more in the first place. Fewer are built. Parts are more expensive. Mechanics get paid more. Repair shops “also tend to be in more expensive areas,” Bartlett said.  
One point of the ranking, Bartlett said, is to show that long-term maintenance costs range widely, even among luxury brands. 
“People do buy Land Rovers and Mercedes all the time,” Bartlett said. “They should be aware that there are some costs associated.” 
Then again, given the sticker price of a Land Rover or Mercedes, perhaps buyers expect to pay more across the life of the vehicle. 
“Very few shoppers buying a Mercedes-Benz would be surprised to hear that the brake liners on a Mercedes-Benz are more expensive than the brake liners on a Ford,” Tucker said.  

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