When looking into buying a car, there are a lot of varying factors to consider, and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Weighing the pros and cons, calculating the costs, figuring out interest, loan plans, whether to buy from a private seller, a dealership, or the factory, it can all take time to figure out and decide what to do, what to buy. If you're buying new, there may be a bit less headache, because buying used you have to essentially make a judgment call about whether it's worth the money. And it may not be, because it could break down mere minutes after you complete a sale.

Updated April 2022: With car prices and fuel costs getting out of hand, the last thing owners want to worry about are steep repair costs. This is where reliable cars truly beat the unreliable ones. In 2022, that distinction is more important than ever, so we've updated this list with more models that can cost an arm and a leg to keep running and those that are a breeze to maintain.

Buying used cars out of warranty brings a new factor into things, one that a lot of people may not think of at first, because it's not something that matters right away. The cost of maintenance on a car can add a significant amount of money to the cost of your car, the kind of cost that adds up over the years. If you buy a reliable car, that cost is relatively low. If you buy an unreliable car, that cost begins to rise, steeply. And it may be that a car is reliable enough, but the cost to do any kind of repair on it is preposterous. There are a lot of factors to it, but it's not impossible.

Related: Cool European Cars You Can Buy Dirt Cheap... But Maintenance Costs A Fortune

21 Costs Way Too Much: Chevrolet Trax

2021 Chevrolet Trax
Via ValleyChevyDealer

Coming in at a discount doesn't mean it's always cheap to own. That statement is particularly true of the Chevrolet Trax, which has one of the worst maintenance cost-to-purchase price ratios of any new car, especially at the low end of the segment.

With an average ten-year cost of $8,595, the Trax costs upwards of 30% of the purchase price in maintenance. When spending almost $30,000 on a vehicle, the least you want to worry about is shelling out thousands more just to keep it running.

20 Costs Way Too Much: Audi Q3

Blue 2019 Audi Q3
Via Audi MediaCenter

It shouldn't be too surprising seeing Audi mentioned several times as the luxury brand is known for its high-priced cars and unreliable track record. Surprise, surprise, the Q3 is just the latest Audi to cost an arm and a leg in maintenance.

For the first ten years, the Q3 will cost an average of $11,957 to maintain. Virtually the cost of a new Hyundai Accent. At least the Accent would last much longer than the Q3 would. Unfortunately, riding in style means being a bit more creative with repairs, by choosing a different car altogether!

19 Costs Way Too Much: Porsche Cayman

Porsche-718_Cayman_GT4_RS-2022-1280-0a
Via: NetCarShow

Owning a Porsche is almost always a great idea if you can afford it. They are fast, fun, sporty, and luxurious, among many other things. Alas, certain models find themselves not quite as reliable as others, and the Porsche Cayman is an example of that.

Pair that with the fact that it's not nearly as much value as one gets by spending a bit more for the 911 Turbo, and you've got a Porsche that's way too expensive to maintain. Of course, if you're into that certain charm an otherwise great car has when you have to fix it all the time, go for it.

18 Way Too Much: Ram 3500

Dodge Ram
Via-Mecum Auctions

Compared to the many other options available in its class, the Dodge Ram 3500 costs way too much to maintain. And that is almost entirely due to its unreliability. This thing just likes to break down, and one of its biggest Achilles heels is the transmission.

Compared to the sheer brute power of their engines, their transmissions seem like they're made out of glass. And if you've got a car that has transmission issues, it's going to be expensive. Very expensive. You'll probably be better off with a different manufacturer if you want some reliability.

17 Costs Way Too Much: Chrysler Sebring

2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Via: CarGurus

The Chrysler Sebring is one of the more useless cars to have made it into existence and found itself quite prolifically upon America's roads. This thing is one of the most pitifully unreliable cars you can buy.

Just by face value, a Chrysler sedan doesn't sound much like a car that would cost a ton to maintain, yet it is. And that's not due to the price of parts, but rather to the frequency of repairs. The Sebring we're sure spends more of its time in the shop than on the roads.

16 Costs Way Too Much: BMW 328i

BMW 328i - Front
Via Mecum Auctions

Owning a foreign car doesn't have to mean hefty, expensive repair bills all the time. A lot of times, if you buy it right and maintain it right, they can be relatively affordable. But, certain models just tend to be more unreliable, and when you have to spend a lot of money on repairs and parts to maintain it, then it gets way too expensive.

In the case of the BMW 328i, it has quite a track record for unreliability, which means you'll be forking out money left and right to keep it running.

15 Costs Way Too Much: Nissan Murano

Nissan Murano
Nissan

While many Nissans are some of the most reliable cars made, and you'll hardly spend pennies to maintain them, certain models find themselves stricken with a curse: the breakdown curse. A Nissan Murano is one of the most expensive cars to own and maintain, primarily due to how often it has to be serviced.

Which, naturally, is quite a lot. You'd be better off buying any other Nissan models, or if you really want something cheap, a Honda.

Related: These Basic Car Maintenance Mistakes Will Cost You Big

14 Costs Way Too Much: Mercedes-Benz E350

Mercedes-Benz E340
via jonathanmotorcars.com

The average cost to maintain a Mercedes-Benz E350 over ten years is in the neighborhood of $15,000. That's a lot of money, and it breaks down to $1,500 per year, spent on maintaining this car, keeping it alive, keeping it running.

If you wanted to, you could buy a different junker car every year, only do what you need to keep it alive, and then just buy another one. For 1500 bucks you can buy some fairly nice cars, that might not need much maintenance. Or, you could have an E350.

13 Costs Way Too Much: Chevrolet Cobalt

2008 Chevy Cobalt SS
Via Chevrolet

A lot of Chevrolets are pretty good cars. They're usually cheap to own, cheap to maintain, and they'll last for a decent amount of time before they lose all of their value and practicality.

But not every model is made the same, and the Chevrolet Cobalt, a mid-2000s sports car made by the American brand, has proven to be one of the most expensive cars to own, with it racking up over 14 grand in repair bills over a decade. It may be an affordable sports car to buy, but it isn't affordable to own.

12 Costs Way Too Much: Audi A4 Quattro

2009 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro - 1
Audi

By and large, if you're buying a foreign car, you're spending more on maintenance. Even things like oil, brakes, and tires, are all a bit pricier than domestic car parts cost, generally speaking. But due to depreciation, you can buy a luxury, top-of-the-line European sedan for really cheap, and then it's well worth the price difference in maintenance.

This, of course, isn't always the case, as we find in the example of the Audi A4 Quattro, which is quite infamous for the reliability problems it's plagued with.

11 Costs Way Too Much: Dodge Grand Caravan

The front of the Dodge Grand Caravan
favcars.com

When you buy a minivan, it either works for years, even in total neglect, or it doesn't work at all, not unless it's in the shop every other week getting pampered and fixed and repaired.

The reason the Dodge Caravan costs so much to maintain, is, as we found for the Ram 3500, due to the terrible transmission. When your car has to have transmission work done, not just once but often, it's going to cost you a lot of money to keep on the road. Better stay away from this one.

10 Dirt Cheap: Nissan Pathfinder

2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Side View
via Nissan

While Nissan has a couple of glaring blemishes in their repertoire, by and large, they are a good car manufacturer to own, with good reliability and a good value to price ratio. But, among some of their best models to own, we find the Nissan Pathfinder.

Over the course of its life, the Nissan Pathfinder is dirt cheap to own, which means it's a good, reliable, well-made car. And that's all you can ask for, really. Especially from an off-road SUV. This is a good option to consider over a minivan if you've got a family.

9 Dirt Cheap: Toyota Corolla

2020 toyota Corolla in Red
Via Toyota

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars in the world, due to its aggressive practicality, simplicity, drivability, and generally appealing styling. That paired with its long track record of being reliable, year after year makes this a desirable car, especially second-hand.

Or first hand, because if you buy this car new, you know it will be reliable for perhaps decades to come, and won't cost you hardly anything to maintain and own. Plus, it's one of the most popular dirt-cheap cars on this list.

8 Dirt Cheap: Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang GT - Front
Via Crown Toyota Colorado Springs

The Ford Mustang, surprisingly, has an average cost to maintain that is startlingly cheap, especially considering it's a sports car. And sports cars by design tend to cost significantly more to own, maintain, and keep in good shape.

And, compared to exotic sports cars, they're a lot cheaper to buy outright. Which makes the Ford Mustang look like the bargain of the century, especially when you take a look at its performance figures. If you're looking for a dirt-cheap sports car, this is the one.

Related: Here's What Makes The 2021 Toyota Avalon One Of The Best Low Maintenance Cars

7 Dirt Cheap: Nissan Titan XD

Nissan Titan XD
Via guideautoweb.com

The Nissan Titan XD is a massive, powerful, and capable truck, with a big engine and a big, comfy interior. It's got great towing capacity, great transmission, and good ride height, plus it's an incredible value for what you get. We' wager to say it's a better truck than the big dog competition, like Ford and Chevy.

That's not even taking into consideration the cost to maintain the Titan XD, which is really cheap. Dirt cheap. So cheap, in fact, that it costs only around $500 in maintenance per year!

6 Dirt Cheap: Honda Accord

2014 Honda Accord
via: amazonaws.com

There's a reason Honda has been making the Accord for so long. As the decades have gone by, it seems that Honda has found a perfect formula for making a car that is affordable, cheap to own, and doesn't skimp on the creature comforts that everyone desires.

The Accord features a nice interior, lots of practicality, enough pep to feel nimble, same for handling, but nothing beyond that, and it remains affordable for the everyday Joe. This car model has proven time and time and again that it's dirt cheap to maintain and own.

5 Dirt Cheap: Toyota Tacoma

2020 Toyota Tacoma
Kevauto

Another truck here on our list comes from across the sea - the Toyota Tacoma. While it's not as hulking and massive as other trucks, like Ford, Ram, or GMC, it's still got a pretty powerful engine, great gearbox, amazing ride height, and it's practical and stylish. This is why it's so dirt cheap to maintain because it's well-made, doesn't break down, and doesn't look uber fancy.

This truck is a great option for when a driver is looking for something like a Jeep but wants the purchase to be a little more practical. By and large, Toyota is a safe, practical, and reliable brand. And the Tacoma is no exception.

4 Dirt Cheap: Honda Odyssey

2022 Honda
Via: Facebook

When you're buying a minivan, you're thinking about your family, you're thinking about reliability, practicality, affordability, and safety. You want a van that will be not only affordable to buy, but affordable to own, and more importantly, one that won't be a headache to own, one that you can drive on the road instead of wait for in the shop.

The Honda Odyssey is the kind of minivan that fits that bill, with a dirt-cheap maintenance bill. This car is reliable, and you shouldn't have any problems driving your family for years to come.

3 Dirt Cheap: Honda CR-V

2020 Honda CR-V in Blue Via Honda
Via Honda

Honda is on the dirt-cheap side of this list so many times for a very good reason. As a brand, Honda is one of the cheapest to maintain brands that you could ever buy. A Honda will run and run for many decades, if serviced properly and maintained and cared for well.

A shining light in an already gleaming brand is the Honda CR-V, a practical crossover for any number of people who lead any number of differing lifestyles. Everybody who owns one of these has frugality in common.

2 Dirt Cheap: Hyundai Sonata

Red Hyundai Sonata on the road
Via Hyundai

The Hyundai Sonata is dirt cheap to own. In fact, on average, the entire brand costs less than $10,000 to maintain over the course of ten years. And the Sonata is even cheaper than that with annual costs averaging $458 in maintenance, proving to be one of the most dirt cheap cars you can own.

It's a luxury sedan for the more frugal buyer, the buyer who doesn't want the headache, or even the worry of a headache, that comes with buying a European luxury sedan second-hand. Even if you get a simpler car, at least you can sleep at night knowing that instead, you got a car that's dirt cheap to own.