Most shoppers focus on the purchase price and resultant monthly payments, if financing, when buying a new car. While it may be the most visible cost, the purchase price is really just the beginning. There are many real costs that are not so clear upfront and can vary widely between models and car segments.

To help consumers in making informed purchase decisions, we provide owner-cost information on the model pages, broken down to typical ownership periods. Our owner-cost estimates include six major elements: depreciation, fuel economy, insurance, interest on financing, maintenance and repair, and sales tax. Because depreciation is factored in our estimates, we assume that the vehicle will be traded in at the end of the term. Together, these cost factors provide an estimate of how much a vehicle will likely cost you to own over a given period.

Below, we highlight the most and least expensive cars to own for five years. These vehicles are equipped with typical options and an automatic transmission, except where noted.

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