When buying a car, price is the most important factor for most buyers, but the cost of owning a car far exceeds what you pay at the dealer.
Whether maintenance (oil changes, new tires or wear repairs), the cost of keeping a car in perfect condition depends on the make of the vehicle and sometimes whether it is a domestic or foreign car.
In a survey conducted this month by Consumer Reports, drivers were asked how much their maintenance costs were in the last 12 months.
It found that luxury vehicles like Land Rover and Porsche were the most expensive to run, while American brands like Ford and Lincoln were among the most affordable.
“The difference in car maintenance can average thousands of dollars between some brands over a 10-year period,” said Steven Elek, director of automotive data analysis at Consumer Reports.
According to Consumer Reports, these are the most expensive car brands in 2025.
The most expensive car brands to keep in 2025
According to Consumer Reports, the cars’ cumulative maintenance costs were calculated over 10 years of ownership. Here is the list of 10 most expensive brands to maintain:
Costs are in dollars
Land Rover – $19,460
Porsche – $17,900
Mercedes Benz – $12,630
Audi – $11,350
BMW – $11,000
Volvo – $10,330
Mini – $10,200
Infiniti – $10,020
Ram – $8,650
Subaru – $7,920
Because they are expensive to maintain
Cars are expensive to maintain due to the complexity of their technological components, the high cost of luxury/specialized parts, the specialized labor force for premium brands (Land Rover, Porsche, etc.), the lower availability of spare parts in general and the fact that luxury or exotic models use expensive and advanced materials, which increases the cost of repair and routine maintenance compared to standard cars such as Toyota or Honda.
Key factors that increase costs:
Brand and luxury: Brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have high-quality, bespoke parts that are naturally more expensive.
Technology and complexity: Modern cars with advanced systems (electronics, driving assistance systems, turbo engines, etc.) require more complex and expensive diagnostics and repairs.
Specialized parts: A simple replacement part, like a water pump, can be much more expensive on a BMW 3 Series than on a Toyota Corolla.
Exclusivity and limited production: Limited editions or rare models cost more because their production does not benefit from economies of scale, which increases the price of each individual piece.
Labor Rate: Stores that specialize in premium brands tend to charge higher hourly rates than general stores.
Lack of maintenance: Ignoring preventative maintenance in modern and complex cars (filters, fluids, etc.) leads to serious failures (such as the particulate filter), which are very expensive to repair, as an industry expert pointed out.
In summary, when you pay for exclusivity, superior performance or advanced technology, you are also paying for more expensive long-term maintenance, as parts and the expertise to repair them are significantly more expensive than traditional vehicles.