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RACQ Vehicle Running Costs survey reveals cheapest new cars to own

The Suzuki Alto has topped the RACQ's Vehicle Running Costs survey for the second consecutive year.


The pint-sized Suzuki Alto headed a list of 110 models across a range of segments in the study, which calculates the average cost of owning and operating a privately purchased new car.

The RACQ survey found the average cost of owning and operating an Alto GL manual to be $113.82 per week, ranking it narrowly ahead of the Mitsubishi Mirage ES manual ($117.31) and the Holden Barina Spark manual ($119.58).

The survey highlights the best and worst performers across the market’s most popular segments, and includes petrol, diesel, LPG, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Three Australian-made cars topped the charts, the Holden Cruze (small), Holden Commodore Evoke LPG (large), and the Ford Falcon Ute LPG (utes).

Depreciation associated with the higher starting price of hybrids and EVs sees many of those models ranked among the most expensive in their segments. The Toyota Camry Hybrid bucked the trend, however, ranking second in the medium class with an average weekly cost of $202.12.

The recently launched Nissan Patrol petrol V8 is the most expensive vehicle to own and operate according to the study, costing owners $402.21 per week to keep on the road, making it slightly more expensive than its rival, the Toyota LandCruiser GXL diesel ($394.93).

The RACQ Vehicle Running Costs survey aims to take into account all of the costs associated with owning and operating a new vehicle including depreciation, interest on finance, registration and insurance, fuel, tyres, and service and repairs.

2013 RACQ Vehicle Running Costs

Light cars
Best:
Suzuki Alto GL manual – $113.82
Mitsubishi Mirage ES manual – $117.31
Holden Barina Spark manual – $119.58

Worst:
Mitsubishi i-MiEV – $261.18
Honda Jazz Hybrid – $167.79
Toyota Prius C – $166.71

Small cars
Best:
Holden Cruze Equipe auto – $159.48
Kia Cerato S auto – $160.55
Hyundai Elantra Active auto – $161.83

Worst:
Nissan Leaf – $251.70
Honda Civic Hybrid – $210.03
Toyota Prius Hybrid – $201.08

Medium cars
Best:
Volkswagen Jetta 118TSI auto – $188.44
Toyota Camry Hybrid – $202.12
Suzuki Kizashi Touring CVT – $203.46

Worst:
Holden Volt – $307.26
Mazda 6 Touring diesel auto – $234.92
Ford Mondeo LX auto – $222.13

Prestige cars
Best:
Audi A4 1.8 TFSI – $289.85

Worst:
Mercedes-Benz C200 – $307.10

Large cars
Best:
Holden Commodore Evoke LPG – $211.85
Ford Falcon XT LPG – $222.34
Holden Commodore Evoque petrol – $228.10

Worst:
Ford Falcon XT petrol – $254.30
Toyota Aurion AT-X – $246.20

People movers
Best:
Honda Odyssey – $231.27

Worst:
Toyota Tarago GLi – $269.30

Compact SUVs
Best:
Nissan Dualis ST CVT – $193.53
Kia Sportage Si auto – $193.61
Hyundai ix35 Active auto – $195.96

Worst:
Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport diesel – $231.47
Nissan X-Trail TS diesel – $228.99
Mitsubishi Outlander CVT – $226.18

Medium SUVs
Best:
Hyundai Santa Fe Active – $228.38
Holden Captiva 7 CX diesel – $228.95
Kia Sorento Si diesel – $229.26

Worst:
Toyota Kluger KX-R – $271.65
Ford Territory TX 4x4 diesel – $260.56
Ford Territory TX RWD diesel – $241.59

All-terrain vehicles
Best:
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo petrol – $267.29
Mitsubishi Pajero GLX diesel – $278.48
Nissan Patrol ST diesel – $308.20

Worst:
Nissan Patrol ST-L petrol – $402.21
Toyota LandCruiser GXL diesel – $394.93
Toyota LandCruiser GXL petrol – $393.68

Utes
Best:
Ford Falcon LPG – $183.65
Ford Falcon petrol – $206.23
Holden Commodore Evoke petrol – $212.32

Worst:
Holden Colorado LTZ 4x4 – $288.36
Mazda BT-50 4x4 diesel – $278.70
Ford Ranger XL diesel – $271.80

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