10 Budget-Friendly Sedans and SUVs That Save on Maintenance

How much should you pay for maintenance over the lifespan of your vehicle? Maintenance is part of vehicle ownership , but it's something that many drivers forget to add to their monthly budget. And, unfortunately, this particular area could prove to be the biggest setback, should things go wrong.

Despite that, these ten small sedans and SUVs help you avoid the expensive surprises of maintenance costs. They have the lowest maintenance costs over ten years, giving you the longevity and affordability desired when you get behind the wheel.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including CarEdge. This list is sorted by ten-year maintenance costs from highest to lowest using 2025 model-year small sedans and SUVs.

2025 Nissan Kicks

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $7,806

The 2025 Nissan Kicks is an affordable SUV, and it provides you with plenty of standard equipment, making it a good choice when you have a tight budget and want good value . You’ll enjoy up to 50.1 cubic feet to store your gear while on the road. The maintenance costs are easy to swallow, ensuring you have a small SUV that easily fits into your budget.

This little Nissan SUV received a dramatic redesign and upgrades to enter the 2025 model year and the second generation of the Kicks. It’s still a bit underpowered, but has been significantly upgraded in every other way, making it more stylish and attractive.

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $7,644

The smallest Mitsubishi available is the 2025 Outlander Sport. That also makes it one of the most affordable crossovers on the market , giving you the benefits of a low monthly payment and affordable maintenance. This little SUV comes with an impressive warranty, which makes it easy to trust it whenever you get behind the wheel.

Although this little Mitsubishi SUV is one of the most affordable that you’ll find, it's also one of the oldest. The last time the Outlander Sport was renewed was in 2011, which means it's long overdue for an upgrade. Still, this crossover could be the affordable choice you will enjoy driving for many years.

2025 Honda HR-V

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $7,493

The 2025 Honda HR-V has a charming cabin with soft touch points and premium materials. Both rows of seats are large enough for adults, making it easy to use this little SUV when you want to go on an adventure with a few friends.

This powertrain is the only one offered for the smallest Honda SUV, but it does a good job of moving the HR-V around on the road. You’ll find 24.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which expands to 55.1 cubic feet with them folded.

2025 Volkswagen Jetta

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $6,069

The latest version of the Volkswagen Jetta has a refreshed, updated exterior design to make it more enticing and enjoyable from every angle. The updated eight-inch infotainment screen is now a standard item on every model, putting it in line with other compact sedans.

The last remaining sedan in the Volkswagen lineup continues to be an enticing choice when you want to drive something different from the other sedans on the market. This little car is generally conservative, which makes it a good choice for many drivers.

2025 Toyota RAV4

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $6,006

If you want a practical, dependable, and safe small SUV, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 makes perfect sense. This little SUV is one of the most popular compact crossovers on the market , giving you the full package of what you want and need when you take a drive.

This little Toyota SUV has the Toyota Safety Sense package of features to help keep you out of trouble. This package includes items such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning to enhance driver confidence. The LATCH system is easy to use, making the RAV4 great for families with small children.

2025 Mazda 3

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $5,963

Among mainstream compact sedans, the Mazda 3 is probably the most fun and exciting entry-level model. This little car brings the benefits of SkyActiv engine technology to your driving experience, making it easy to accelerate off the line and carve up the curves .

The biggest change for 2025 is the addition of a hatchback body style to the base trim of this little Mazda sedan. This means you can have the power you want, an affordable price, and the enjoyment of a sporty and stylish car that’s fun to drive.

2025 Toyota Corolla Cross

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $5,874

If you want to see what the Toyota Corolla looks like in SUV form, check out the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross. This SUV has excellent fuel economy figures and a gentle ride for passengers, making commuting much more pleasant during your time on the road.

Every trim of this Toyota SUV offers AWD, but it’s a $1,300 option that adds a little to the price. Still, the Corolla Cross is one of the cheapest SUVs with AWD, making it a great choice for value, efficiency, and reliability.

2025 Nissan Sentra

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $5,862

There aren’t any major changes to the Nissan Sentra for the 2025 model year, which could be a good thing. This little car is stylish, smooth, and has a large trunk to give you a practical sedan that’s easy to drive and enjoy every day.

If you want a car that feels like it's punching above its weight class, this Nissan could be that car. The Sentra is handsome and classy while being affordable and efficient. It is one of the most reliable cars that you can find, making it an easy car to drive when you’ve got stuff to do every day.

2025 Honda Civic

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $5,640

The Honda Civic continues to be one of the best compact sedans, as it's been for many years. This little car brings an expert combination of practicality, performance, and value to the market . It's easily one of the most reliable cars you can use as a daily driver.

Honda added a few things to the 2025 version of the Civic . This model year brings in a hybrid powertrain, and the grille has been improved to give you a more attractive front. The top trim also receives a Google-based infotainment system to make your connection better.

2025 Toyota Corolla

Ten-Year Maintenance Costs: $4,446

The Toyota Corolla is ubiquitous, showing up in nearly every driveway in the country. This compact sedan has been prowling American streets since the 1970s and over the past 12 generations. This little sedan is the standard-bearer for its class.

You won’t find much about the Corolla that’s flashy, but that works in its favor. This little car continues to be affordable, reliable, and easy to use on any road. For 2025, Toyota adds a new FX trim , which is basically a dark-tinted styling package.