Why Choose a Low Maintenance Car?
Let’s be honest, most cars are expensive to maintain. They can easily drain your wallet and regret buying them in the first place. So, choosing low maintenance cars instead of expensive maintenance alternatives is a great idea.
Cars with low maintenance will provide you with some peace of mind. With these cars, you will not spend a whole fortune on repairs. There are many other more fulfilling things in life to spend money on!
What Makes a Car Low Maintenance?
Reliability and Part Durability
The first thing that makes a car low on maintenance is its high reliability. The best low maintenance cars are designed to last.
Specifically, brands like Toyota and Honda focus a lot on reliability. The engines and transmissions these two brands include are some of the best in the industry. Most importantly, designed to run with minimal maintenance.
Simple Engineering vs. Complex Tech
Cars that are low maintenance are striving towards simplicity. These carmakers understand that although new technology is more advanced and offers better performance they know that it does not offer the same reliability as some proven designs.
So, what companies do is focus more on developing already existing technologies and refining them, rather than experimenting.
The ones who experiment and use complex tech are the premium brands. New tech is a hit or miss. Often premium cars are expensive to fix, unlike Toyota and Honda which are very simple and straightforward.
Affordable Routine Service Costs
One key characteristic of low cost maintenance cars is the fact that you have affordable parts and low cost fluids.
Regular services like oil changes, coolant changes, and brake replacements should be cheap and affordable.
The best car brand with low maintenance offers this to its customers. It ensures that there are affordable repairs with widely available parts.
Top Low Maintenance Car Brands
So, if you are looking for a reliable car, you need to consider these top 10 low maintenance car brands:
- Toyota: Toyota is obviously the king of affordability and reliability. This brand makes some of the most affordable and reliable vehicles on the road today. Models that we must mention include the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, and Toyota RAV4.
- Honda: This is another brand that focuses a lot on low maintenance and reliability. Honda is basically on par with Toyota in this regard. Whichever brand you pick, you will get the quality and affordability when it comes to maintenance. Models that we recommend include the Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, and Honda Accord.
- Mazda: Mazda builds cars with low maintenance through simple engineering. This is a brand that focuses a lot on developing and refining its engines. Delivering excellent fuel economy and longevity in the process. This is why we recommend it. Especially its models, the CX-5 and CX-30.
- Hyundai: Hyundai is a brand that provides excellent warranties and durable parts. This brand is the most popular Korean brand. The models that we recommend include the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Hyundai Sonata.
- Kia: Kia is another Korean brand that produces budget-friendly cars with low maintenance costs. This brand is basically the same as Hyundai but with a different design language. Models that we recommend include the Kia Sportage and Kia Optima.
- Chevrolet: When it comes to American reliability, Chevy is the brand that is definitely one of the most popular around. This brand produces affordable cars with low maintenance. Models that we recommend include the Chevy Blazer and Chevy Malibu.
- Ford: This is another American brand with a long history and also great affordability when it comes to repairs and maintenance. The models that we recommend include the Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang.
- Opel: Opel is a brand that is unknown to the US market but is one big seller in Europe. This brand sells hundreds of thousands of units each year. Models that we recommend include the Opel Astra and Opel Corsa.
- Volkswagen: When it comes to German engineering, VW does this best with its VW Golf and the VW Tiguan.
- Nissan: Nissan is a brand that has cheap maintenance but is not as reliable as Toyota and Honda. The Model that we recommend is the Nissan Venza.
Tips to Reduce Car Maintenance Costs
Follow Service Schedules
In order to reduce car maintenance costs, you should always check the owner’s manual and follow the service schedules.
These include regular oil changes and filter replacements. Most importantly regular inspections in order to keep your low maintenance car running smoothly.
Use Factory Repair Manuals
A key tool for trouble free ownership is the manufacturer's repair manual. These manuals give you step-by-step instructions for maintenance.
If you are a car guy, you will definitely appreciate this tool. Cars with low maintenance costs can become even cheaper if you do maintenance by yourself!
Handle Basic Repairs at Home
If you have simple tasks like replacing the cabin filter, windshield wipers, spark plugs, oil, air filter, always do this by yourself. This way you will pay zero dollars on maintenance, except for the parts.
Conclusion
When looking to buy a new car, choosing a low maintenance car means that you will have fewer repairs and cheaper maintenance costs.
You should opt for a brand like Toyota, Honda, or Mazda if you want to get the most reliable vehicle. Smart choices will make your life easier because you will have less stress and more savings in the long run.