2014 most affordable SUVs, utes and vans

Research shows which are the most affordable SUVs, utes and vans to own and run.

The Ford Ecosport has taken the crown as the most affordable SUV 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 Ecosport topped the compact SUV category at $8773 yearly cost and $168 weekly, with the Holden Trax in second at $9719/$187 and the Mitsubishi ASX third at $9916/$190.

The medium SUV class was won by the Honda CR-V at $10,540 yearly and $202 weekly, followed by the Holden Captiva 5 at $11,066/$212 and the Mitsubishi Outlander at $11,115/$213.

The Holden Captiva 7 took first and second in the large SUV category, with the turbodiesel LT coming in at $11,873 yearly and $228 weekly, the V6 LT at $12,050/$231 and third place going to the Hyundai Santa Fe at $12,316/$236.

Toyota's HiLux SR won the 4WD ute class with an annual cost of $13,529 and weekly $260, while second place went to Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R at $14,064/$270.46 and close behind in third was Nissan D40 Navara at $14,087/$270.91.

The 2WD ute field was led by Ford Falcon LPG at $11.050 yearly and $212 weekly, with the 4.0-litre petrol Falcon ute in second at $11,213/$215 and third place going to the 3.6-litre Holden ute at $11,289/$217.

The cheapest people-mover was the Honda Odyssey at $11,747 yearly and $226 weekly, with the Hyundai iMax in second place at $12,461/$239 and the Kia Grand Carnival third at $13,375/$271.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV trumped the smaller cars in the electric class with a yearly cost of $13,152 and weekly $253, compared to the second-placed Nissan Leaf sedan at $13,415/$258 and the Holden Volt sedan in third at $14,965/$287.

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

COMPACT SUV

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL/KM ($)	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford Ecosport Ambiente 1.5L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	10.00	58.49	168.72
Holden Trax LS 1.8L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	11.70	64.80	186.91
Hyundai iX35 Active (Ser.2) FWD 2.0L 6sp Auto 4dr Wagon	12.93	69.29	199.87
Mitsubishi ASX 2wd 2.0L CVT 4dr wagon	11.85	66.11	190.70
Nissan Dualis ST (4x2) 2.0L CVT 4dr wagon	12.62	71.18	205.33
Subaru XV 2.0i 2.0L CVT 4dr wagon	10.77	73.50	212.03
Volkswagen Tiguan 118 TSi (4x2) 1.4L twin charger 6sp DSG 4dr wagon	11.97	71.88	207.33

MEDIUM SUV

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford TF Kuga Ambiente (AWD) 1.6L Turbo 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	11.85	75.27	217.12
Holden Captiva 5 (4x4) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.14	73.78	212.83
Honda CR-V VTi (4x2) 2.0L 5sp Auto 4dr wagon	11.85	70.27	202.69
Honda CR-V VTi (4x4) 2.4L 5sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.39	75.42	217.56
Kia Sportage SLi Series 2 (AWD) 2.0L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.24	75.41	217.54
Mazda CX-5 Maxx (4x4) 2.5L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	11.39	74.49	214.87
Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport (4x4) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	9.13	79.20	228.48
Mitsubishi ZJ Outlander ES (4x4) 2.4L CVT 4dr wagon	11.54	74.11	213.77
Nissan T32 X-Trail ST (4x4) 2.5L CVT 4dr wagon	12.77	78.31	225.88
Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5L CVT 4dr wagon	12.47	77.24	222.80
Toyota RAV4 GX (4x4) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	10.41	79.61	229.66
Toyota RAV4 GX (4x4) 2.5L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.08	79.68	229.84

LARGE SUV

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford SZ Territory (AWD) TX 2.7L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	14.10	92.31	266.26
Ford SZ Territory (RWD) TX 2.7L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.14	86.43	249.33
Ford SZ Territory (RWD)TXZ 4.0L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	16.31	86.49	249.49
Holden Captiva 7 LT (4x4) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	12.98	79.16	228.33
Holden Captiva 7 LT V6 3.0L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	15.54	80.34	231.74
Hyundai Santa Fe Active (4x4) 2.4L 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.85	82.11	236.85
Jeep WK Grand Cherokee Laredo (4x4) 3.0L V6 T/diesel 8sp Auto 4dr wagon	12.02	103.52	298.63
Jeep WK Grand Cherokee Laredo (4x4) 3.6L V6 8sp Auto 4dr wagon	16.01	99.95	288.31
Kia Sorento Si (4x4) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	11.70	83.41	240.61
Mitsubishi NW Pajero GLX (4x4) 3.2L T/diesel 5sp Auto 4dr wagon	14.42	99.58	287.24
Nissan GU Patrol ST (4x4) GU Series 9 3.0L T/diesel 4sp Auto 4dr wagon	18.91	111.19	320.75
Nissan Y62 Patrol ST-L (4x4) 5.6L V8 7sp auto 4dr wagon	23.78	143.25	413.24
Toyota Kluger GX (4x4) 3.5L V6 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	16.31	97.35	280.81
Toyota Landcruiser GXL (4x4) 4.5L V8 T/diesel 6sp auto 4dr wagon	16.50	140.35	404.87
Toyota Landcruiser GXL (4x4) 4.6L V8 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	20.93	136.67	394.25
Toyota Landcruiser Prado GXL (4x4) 3.0L T/diesel 5sp Auto 4dr wagon	13.62	110.52	318.82
Toyota Landcruiser Prado GXL (4x4) 4.0L V6 5sp Auto 4dr wagon	18.86	116.52	336.12

2WD UITLITIES

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford FG Falcon Mk2 (LPI) 4.0L LPG 6sp Auto Utility	12.18	73.67	212.51
Ford FG Falcon Mk2 4.0L 6sp Auto Utility	16.47	74.75	215.63
Ford PX Ranger XL 2.2 Hi-Rider (4x2) 2.2L T/diesel 6sp Auto Crew Cab Pickup	14.26	81.28	234.47
Holden VF Commodore 3.6L V6 6sp Auto Utility	13.85	75.26	217.11
Toyota Hilux SR 4.0L V6 5sp Auto X Cab Pickup	18.16	80.61	232.53

4WD UTILITIES

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Ford PX Ranger XL 3.2 (4x4) 3.2L 5cyl T/diesel 6sp Auto Dual Cab Utility	14.74	94.76	273.34
Holden Colorado LTZ (4x4) 2.8L T/diesel 6sp Auto Crew Cab Pickup	14.58	101.35	292.36
Mazda BT-50 XT (4x4) 3.2L 5cyl T/diesel 6sp Auto Dual Cab Utility	14.74	94.75	273.32
Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R (4x4) 2.5L T/diesel 5sp Auto Double Cab Utility	15.38	93.76	270.46
Nissan D40 Navara RX (4x4) 2.5L T/diesel 5sp Auto Double Cab Utility	16.82	93.91	270.91
Toyota Hilux SR (4x4) 3.0L T/diesel 5sp Auto Dual Cab Pickup	14.90	90.20	260.19

PEOPLE MOVERS

MAKE/MODEL/VARIANT	FUEL CENTS/KM	OVERALL CENTS/KM	OVERALL/WK ($)
Honda Odyssey VTi 2.4L CVT 4dr wagon	11.70	78.43	226.25
Hyundai iMax TQ 2.4L 4sp Auto 4dr wagon	16.31	83.08	239.65
Kia Grand Carnival S 3.5L V6 6sp Auto 4dr wagon	16.78	89.17	257.22
Toyota Tarago GLi 2.4L CVT 4dr wagon	13.70	93.94	270.98

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 information on running costs for cars.