2. Kia Soul: $4,700
Flying under everyone’s radar is the Kia Soul. It’s an SUV-styled compact car that has a ton of attitude, but it’s more reliable than one might expect. It comes standard with all the basics: A/C, power windows and locks, decent safety equipment, and a rock-solid powertrain.
The Kia Soul is first place among gas-powered models on our list of low maintenance cars, and a solid second place overall. Poor shocks and struts are a common problem, along with an occasional engine issue. So for 10-year maintenance costs, the Kia Soul rings up a tally of $4,700 in bills.
1. Toyota Prius: $4,300
It shouldn’t be a surprise Toyota takes first place in low maintenance cars. You might not have expected the Prius, though. It’s hybrid powertrain is supremely reliable and its equipment is steadfast. From a respectable assortment of power options to its intricate charging and power storage systems to its Atkinson-cycle gas-powered engine, the Prius has the lowest cost of maintenance among all the competition.
Being heavily relied on as fleet cars, especially taxis, proves the point. Like all Toyota models, they’re known to burn oil on occasion but still come in at just $4,300 in maintenance costs over a 10-year period.
