The cheapest cars and SUVs to own for 2019

You have to look beyond a new vehicle’s sticker price to get the best deal over time.

Sport-utility vehicles, particularly car-based crossover models, have overwhelmingly become the rides of choice for motorists in the U.S. But as many have by now discovered, they’re not only pricier than comparable passenger cars, long-term ownership costs are typically higher as well.

For example, according to Kelley Blue Book in Irvine, Calif. the least-expensive subcompact car to own for 2019 costs around $2,800 less over five years than the subcompact SUV having the lowest long-term costs. The spread between the cheapest-toown midsize car and crossover is over $5,000.

No matter what type of vehicle you’re looking to purchase, choosing one that’s inherently cheaper to own will always garner the best deal. That means looking into a given car or SUV’s long-term operating costs to determine what you’ll actually pay to own it over time. If you’re looking at a luxury car or SUV, these factors become more critical, simply because there’s more money at stake to lose.

The most important ownership cost to consider is depreciation, which is how much of a vehicle’s value will be lost over time. Some models are projected to retain their worth better than others, depending on economic factors, market preferences, and historical data. According to the AAA in Orlando, Fla., depreciation accounts for almost 40 percent of total ownership costs and averages more than $3,000 per vehicle each year.

Depreciation is equally important if you’re leasing a vehicle, rather than buying it outright, as payments are largely based on its projected worth at the end of the contract’s term.

With gas prices on the rise this year, fuel economy is again becoming a critical cost concern. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, choosing a vehicle that gets 10 more mpg than another will save $2,500 at the pump over a five-year ownership period at with gas at $2.89 a gallon.

Insurance premiums are also a major ownership cost consideration. While rates are based largely on a policyholder’s personal factors, some cars cost more to insure based on their claims histories and repair costs. Expensive luxury vehicles and

sports cars are generally the costliest to insure, while family-minded minivans and SUVs are the cheapest to cover.

Maintenance and out-of-warranty repair costs likewise differ from one make and model to another, based on the manufacturer’s service schedule and the cost of parts. Again, you can expect these charges to be higher with more-expensive and performance-minded models.

We’re highlighting the cars and SUVs that Kelley Blue Book ranks as the cheapest to own in their respective vehicle classes over a five-year period in the accompanying box. We’re also including their projected average ownership costs for base models, based on 15,000 miles driven per year. You can find this information for most new vehicles at www.kbb.com.