2014 most affordable cars

Research shows which are the most affordable cars to own and run.

The Suzuki Alto has taken the crown as the most affordable car in Australia in a study by the motoring clubs in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

The annual research looks at each car's price, depreciation, the interest on a loan, fuel, tyres, services and repairs, the average overall cost per km, average per week, annual cost and five-year cost.

The Alto GL manual came in at an annual cost of $6237 or around $120 per week (despite using premium fuel and costing $1000 more in Queensland), leading the micro car class with the Holden Barina Spark second on $76409 and $123, and the Mirage slipping to third place on $6541 and $125. 

Suzuki backed up with a winner in the light car class, where the Swift led on $7030 yearly and $135 weekly costs, followed by the Ford Fiesta on $7084/$136.24 and the Hyundai i20 a shadow behind for third on $7082/$136.39.
 
The Holden Cruze Equipe led the small car class at $8459 yearly and $162 weekly, with the Mazda3 second at $8632/$166.01 and the Ford Focus third at about $8658/$166.50.

Volkswagen's Jetta was the medium car winner at $9798 yearly and $188 weekly, with Kia's Optima second at $10,871/$209 and Korean stablemate Hyundai i40 third at $10,996/$211.

Holden Commodore Evoke claimed the large car crown at $12,453 yearly and $239 weekly, with the Evoke LPG in second place at $12,572/$241 and the Ford Falcon XT third at $12.848/$247.

The prestige class was led by the Audi A4 at $15,735 yearly and $302.60 weekly, with the BMW 320i just behind on $15,745/$302.79 and the Mercedes C-Class C200 third at $16,866/$324.35.

For more complete information on the winners in each class, visit the RACQ’s results here.
 

MICRO CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Fiat 500 Pop 1.2L 5sp Manual 3dr hatch	8.37	43.71	126.08
Holden Barina Spark CD 1.2L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.00	42.73	123.26
Mitsubishi Mirage ES 1.2L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	7.08	43.61	125.80
Nissan Micra ST 1.2L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	9.08	47.05	135.71
Suzuki Alto GL 1.0L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	7.38	41.58	119.95

LIGHT CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford WZ Fiesta Ambiente 1.5L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.93	47.23	136.24
Holden Barina CD 1.6L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	10.47	49.38	142.45
Honda Jazz Hybrid 1.3L CVT 5dr hatch	6.93	57.47	165.78
Honda Jazz Vibe 1.3L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.93	50.61	146.00
Hyundai Accent Active 1.6L 6sp Manual 5dr hatch	9.39	49.78	143.60
Hyundai i20 Active 1.4L 6sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.16	47.28	136.39
Kia Rio S 1.4L 6sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.77	49.27	142.13
Mazda2 Neo Sport 1.5L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	9.85	50.33	145.18
Renault Clio Expression 1.2L Turbo 6sp EDC Auto 5dr hatch	8.53	53.87	155.38
Suzuki Swift GL 1.4L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.46	46.87	135.20
Toyota Prius C Hybrid 1.5L CVT 5dr hatch	6.40	58.41	168.50
Toyota YR Yaris 1.3L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	8.77	48.54	140.02
Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.4L 5sp Manual 5dr hatch	10.01	51.68	149.09

SMALL CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford Focus Ambiente (Mk 2) 1.6L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	10.00	57.72	166.50
Holden Cruze Equipe 1.8L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	11.39	56.40	162.69
Holden Cruze Equipe 2.0L T/diesel 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	10.73	61.84	178.40
Honda Civic Dti-S 1.6L T/diesel 6sp Manual 5dr hatch	6.41	61.80	178.27
Honda Civic Hybrid 1.5L CVT 4dr sedan	6.77	71.56	206.42
Honda Civic Vti-S 1.8L 5sp Auto 5dr hatch	10.31	61.71	178.00
Hyundai Elantra Active (Ser. 2) 1.8L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	10.93	57.87	166.93
Hyundai i30 Active 1.8L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	10.93	60.22	173.71
Hyundai i30 Active CRDi 1.6L T/diesel 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	8.97	63.13	182.11
Kia Cerato S 1.8L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	10.93	58.51	168.78
Mazda3 Neo 2.0L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	8.93	57.55	166.01
Mitsubishi Lancer ES Sport 2.0L CVT 4dr sedan	11.08	57.84	166.85
Nissan Pulsar 1.8L CVT 5dr hatch	10.31	58.85	169.75
Subaru Impreza 2.0i (AWD) 2.0L CVT 5dr hatch	10.47	64.18	185.14
Toyota Corolla Ascent 1.8L CVT 5dr hatch	10.16	58.59	169.01
Toyota Prius Hybrid 1.8L CVT 5dr hatch	6.40	68.11	196.48
Volkswagen Golf 90 TSI 1.4L Turbo 7sp DSG 5dr hatch	8.86	58.49	168.74

MEDIUM CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford Mondeo LX 2.3L 6sp Auto 5dr hatch	14.62	80.64	232.62
Honda Accord Euro 2.4L 5sp Auto 4dr sedan	13.94	77.08	222.35
Hyundai i40 Active 2.0L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	11.54	73.31	211.47
Kia Optima Si 2.4L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	12.16	72.47	209.06
Mazda6 Sport 2.5L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	10.16	75.78	218.59
Mazda6 Touring 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	8.65	83.80	241.72
Subaru Liberty 2.5i 2.5L CVT 4dr sedan	12.16	76.65	221.12
Toyota Camry Atara S 2.5L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	12.00	76.96	222.01
Toyota Camry Hybrid H 2.5L CVT 4dr sedan	8.00	73.86	213.06
Volkswagen Jetta 118 TSI 1.4L Twin charger 7 DSG 4dr sedan	10.17	65.32	188.43

PRESTIGE CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Audi A4 1.8 TFSI 1.8L Turbo CVT Multitronic 4dr sedan	9.51	104.90	302.60
BMW F30 320i 2.0L Turbo 8sp Auto 4dr sedan	6.88	104.97	302.79
Mercedes-Benz C200 1.8L Turbo 7sp Auto G-tronic 4dr sedan	11.15	112.44	324.35

LARGE CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford FG Mk2 Falcon XT (LPI) 4.0L LPG 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	10.78	87.16	251.41
Ford FG MK2 Falcon XT 4.0L 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	15.24	90.22	260.26
Ford FG Mk2 Falcon XT Ecoboost 2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	12.47	85.66	247.09
Holden VF Commodore Evoke 3.0L V6 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	12.77	83.02	239.49
Holden VF Commodore Evoke (LPG) 3.6L V6 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	10.08	83.82	241.79
Toyota Aurion AT-X 3.5L V6 6sp Auto 4dr sedan	14.31	87.85	253.40

ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID CARS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Holden Volt  CVT 5dr hatch	5.94	99.77	287.80
Mitsubishi ZJ Outlander PHEV Hybrid 2.0L CVT 4dr wagon	6.86	87.68	252.92
Nissan Leaf CVT 5dr hatch	5.09	89.44	258.00

Also see running costs for SUVs, utes and vans.