Cheap New Car
Cheapest New Cars of 2012
Are you looking for a cheap car? We've got some data showing the 10 cheapest new cars to own in 2012.
The five-year cost-to-own data is based on research by Edmunds.com, Kelly Blue Book, and Kiplinger. Each company uses slightly different criteria to reach a final number, but in every case the five-year cost-to-own value takes into account fees, fuel costs, insurance, repairs, maintenance, and depreciation. We've averaged the data for 12 different models from at least two of these reports to give you the best approximation of which new cars are actually the cheapest to own in the long run.
| Car | Model | Avg 5yr Cost To Own | Avg. Purchase Price |
|---|---|---|---|
2012 Kia Rio | 4dr Hatchback | $29,604 | $13,719 |
2012 Nissan Versa | 1.6 S Sedan | $29,792 | $11,228 |
2012 Honda Fit | 4dr Hatchback | $29,891 | $15,650 |
2012 Toyota Yaris | L 2dr Hatchback | $29,980 | $14,286 |
2012 Kia Soul | Base Wagon | $31,283 | $14,257 |
2012 Ford Fiesta | S Sedan | $31,689 | $13,960 |
2012 Mazda MAZDA2 | Sport 4dr Hatchback | $32,604 | $14,322 |
2012 Hyundai Accent | GS 4dr Hatchback | $32,822 | $13,766 |
2012 Honda Insight | PZEV 4dr Hatchback | $33,559 | $18,462 |
2012 FIAT 500 | Pop 2dr Hatchback | $33,633 | $14,409 |
2012 Scion iQ | Base 2dr Hatchback | $34,149 | $16,008 |
Edmunds.com calculates a True Market Value (TMV), which is the average price these cheap new cars to sells for in your region. Kelly Blue Book determines a similar Fair Purchase Price that's based on new-car transactions across the country. We chose Brooklyn, NY to get a TMV for each of the models and averaged that with the KBB Fair Purchase Price to wind up with an estimate of how much consumers pay for the cheap new cars we highlighted.
As 2013 models begin rolling out, keep an eye on the cheap new cars listed below. Chances are they'll be even cheaper after dealers begin offering incentives that aren't reflected in the numbers presented here.
