Misers' Models: The Ten Cheapest Cars To Own Page 5
2013 Honda Accord V6 Touring: Driven
The Honda Accord is now in its ninth generation, and as we reported in our First Drive of the 2013... Read More
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MSRP: $15,495
Depreciation over five years: $9,814
Average annual insurance: $1,092
EPA fuel economy: 36 mpg city, 37 highway
Five-year total cost of ownership: $29,490
Scion, Toyota's urban-focused small-car brand, pitches the iQ as a premium city car with a more sophisticated driving feel (and more noise insulation) than other budget-priced minicompacts. For the most part, this 10-foot-long hatchback stands up to that, with its 94-hp four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) offering plenty of perkiness around town; it's surprisingly safe and stable on the highway, too—although we're by no means going to say that it feels in its element there. It's hardly a gas-mileage champ either, but its unique '3+1' seating layout makes it way more useful than the two-seat Smart Fortwo.
MSRP: $13,200
Depreciation over five years: $9,043
Average annual insurance: $1,125
EPA fuel economy: 28 mpg city, 37 highway (manual)
Five-year total cost of ownership: $29,727
Among this cheapest-to-own set, the Ford Fiesta, even in its base S form, is easily the most enjoyable to drive, if not the quickest. Considering its modest 120-horsepower engine and five-speed manual gearbox (skip the available PowerShift transmission), and basic econocar roots with rear drum brakes, the Fiesta is simply better than the sum of its parts—albeit a little loud inside at times. Although you might like the look of the Fiesta hatchback a bit better (we tend to think it's sportier and more cohesive), we can't ignore for the purposes of this list that the sedan costs $1,000 less. There's also a $795 Super Fuel Economy package that boosts the highway rating to 40 mpg.
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In the eye of ConsumerReports.org and the data on their website the Honda Fit Base came in with a 5-year ownership total cost of $25,500 ($26,750 for the Sport). Either beats the #1 Vincentric pick Nissan Versa at $27,405 ($28K per CR).
The Honda Fit Base EPA mileage rating of 28 city, 35 hwy doesn’t seem to be a step below the Vincentric #10 rated Toyota Corolla S at 27 city, 34 hwy nor a step higher than the Vincentric’s calculated 5-year total cost of ownership for the Corolla S at $30,345.
So it still seems a bit odd to me that the Honda Fit didn’t somehow make Vincentric’s top 10 list.
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