Running costs for 600 cars

A survey of car running costs for more than 600 popular models, to be released today by the NRMA, shows that motorists are saving $2 a week on the overall costs of running a car compared to last year. It now costs motorists an average of $183 a week to buy, fuel, repair, insure, and allow for car maintenance costs, registration, insurance, interest on loan repayments, and depreciation of their car. That's down from $185 last year - largely due to the falling cost of petrol, more efficient cars with improved fuel consumption, and car prices remaining steady.

The NRMA says the cheapest car to run is the $12,490 three-cylinder, Suzuki Alto at $89 a week. At the other end of the scale the dearest is the V8 Holden Caprice, with a purchase price of $75,490, at $361 a week to run.

The survey found that the smallest cars on the road, such as the Alto and the Hyundai Getz have become cheaper to run since last year.

Other winners have been medium sized cars such as the Toyota Camry and Holden Epica and Mazda6 which have become increasingly affordable to run.

NRMA Head of Member Motoring Brad O'Hara said "of all vehicle categories the medium class has shown the biggest reduction in weekly operating costs. This is largely due to the price reduction for unleaded petrol, depreciation and car servicing costs."

In contrast large, family cars such as the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon have become more expensive to run. The cheapest family car to run now costs nearly $50 a week more to run than a mid-sized car.

Only one Australian-made car topped its class, the Toyota Aurion.

The survey was bad news for big families with people movers and large 4WDs costing more to run. However, medium sized offroaders such as the Suzuki Jimny and Grand Vitara, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Dualis and Subaru Forester have become cheaper to run. The average operating cost of these is $15 a week less than last year.

Mr O'Hara said motorists should do plenty of research before buying as the cost of operating cars in the same class varied by as much as $185 a week.

"The least expensive car in the people mover class, the Kia Rondo LX costs around $150 per week to run, while the Chrysler Grand Voyager costs around $335 per week to run,'' he said. However he warned motorists not to buy on price alone. "The NRMA recommends 5-star ANCAP rated passenger vehicles, the Alto scored four.''

The NRMA has also unveiled a new on-line calculator that enables motorists to input their own details to check the exact running costs of their own car. The calculator is at www.mynrma.com.au/runningcosts.

Full report: Carsguide this Saturday (03/07/10).

What it costs to run your car

CHEAPEST

Light cars: Suzuki Alto 1-litre hatchback $88.82 per week
Small cars: Hyundai i30 hatchback $114.73
Medium cars: Kia Magentis $147.83
Large cars: Toyota Aurion V6 $191.90
People movers: Kia Rondo $150.66
Small SUVs: Suzuki Jimny Sierra (4x4) $127.40
Medium SUVs: Holden Captiva SX $175.93
Large SUVs: Nissan Patrol ST (4x4) $227.01

DEAREST

Light cars: Suzuki Swift Sport $136.83
Small cars: Subaru Impreza WRX $285.32
Medium cars: Honda Accord V6 $242.33
Large cars: Holden Caprice V8 $361.59
People movers: Chrysler Grand Voyager $329.90
Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4 V6 $233.26
Medium SUVs: Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed V6 $307.01
Large SUVs: Toyota LandCruiser Sahara $359.51.

Source: NRMA 2009-10
Note: some of these cars are no longer sold as new.