Thursday, May. 22, 2008

It's not just mpg: How much will cars cost you?

Consumer Reports studied more than 300 cars to decipher the actual cost of operating a car for five years. Depreciation was the largest expense, 48 percent of the total cost. Fuel was second at 21 percent. The next is loan interest at 12 percent and insurance at 11 percent.

SMALL Least expensive — Toyota Yaris (manual), $23,250; Chevrolet Aveo (manual), $24,750; Honda Fit, $25,250; Most expensive — Mitsubishi Lancer, $32,750; Subaru Impreza, $32,000, Nissan Sentra, $31,500

FAMILY Least expensive — Toyota Prius, $27,500; Toyota Camry (4-cylinder), $30,250; Chevrolet Malibu (4-cylinder), $31,750 Most expensive — Volkswagen Passat (V6), $44,750; Mitsubishi Galant (V6), $41,500; Dodge Avenger R/T, $41,000.

UPSCALE Least expensive — Acura TSX, $39,750; Volvo S40; $40,250, Lincoln MKZ, $42,000 Most expensive — Jaquar X-Type, $52,000; Cadillac CTS, $51,250; Saab 9-5, $50,250

LUXURY Least expensive — Lincoln Town Car, $54,250; Volvo S80 (6-cylinder), $55,250; Infiniti M35, $57,250 Most expensive — Mercedes Benz S550, $101,750, BMW 750 Li $94,250; Mercedes Benz CLS550, $88,000

SMALL SUVs Least expensive — Toyota RAV4 (4-cylinder), $31,500; Subaru Forester 2.5X, $33,250; Honda Element, $33,500 Most expensive — Suzuki XL-7, $44,750; Dodge Nitro, $43,000; Mitsubishi Outlander (V6) $42,500.

MIDSIZED SUVs Least expensive — Hyundai Santa Fe, $42,000; Toyota 4Runner (V6) $42,750; Subaru Tribeca, $44,000 Most expensive — Volkswagen Touareg (V6), $64,750; Jeep Commander (5.7L). $58,250; Mercury Mountaineer (V8), $55,000.

LARGE-LUXURY SUVs Least expensive — Saturn Outlook, $46,250; Buick Enclave, $48,000; Acura RDX, $48,500 Most expensive — Land Rover Range Rover, $98,500; Mercedes-Benz, GL550, $79,500; Land Rover Range Rover Sport, $78,750.