22 vehicles with the lowest projected ownership costs after 5 years

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When you’re shopping for a new car, you may spend a lot of your time negotiating the best purchase price at the dealership.

Although getting a low sticker price can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, Kelley Blue Book reports that you can save even more money over time by choosing the right vehicle in the first place.

KBB has just released its seventh annual 5-Year Cost to Own Awards, which recognizes new vehicles with the lowest projected costs for the initial five-year ownership period.

The following factors were taken into consideration:

  • Depreciation
  • Expected fuel costs
  • Finance and insurance fees
  • Maintenance and repair costs
  • State fees

RELATED: Hyundai takes money-back guarantee national

KBB: Hyundai, Acura brands have excellent long-term value 

Hyundai is this year’s top brand for lowest total ownership costs, according to KBB.

The automaker’s lineup performed well in most categories, with the Sonata winning the mid-size car category and the Elantra and Accent placing second for the compact car and subcompact car categories, respectively.

When it comes to luxury brands, Acura took the top spot with two standout vehicles in its lineup, the ILX and MDX.

Here are the 2018 model-year category winners in KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own Awards:

Subcompact car 

  • Chevrolet Spark
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $29,171

Runners-up: Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent

Electric vehicle

  • Nissan LEAF
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $38,258

Runners-up: Chevrolet Bolt EV, BMW i3

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Compact car

  • Toyota Corolla iM
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $30,856

Runners-up: Hyundai Elantra, Kia Soul

Subcompact SUV/crossover 

  • Honda HR-V
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $32,874

Runners-up: Mazda CX-3, Toyota C-HR

Sporty compact car

  • Honda Civic Si
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $33,484

Runners-up: Ford Focus ST, MINI Hardtop S/JCW

Compact SUV/crossover

  • Subaru Crosstrek
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $34,724

Runners-up: Jeep Wrangler, Kia Sportage

Mid-size car

  • Hyundai Sonata
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $36,800

Runners-up: Kia Optima, Toyota Camry

Mid-size SUV/crossover

  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $36,244

Runners-up: Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Full-size car

  • Chevrolet Impala
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $46,057

Runners-up: Toyota Avalon, Dodge Charger

Full-size SUV/crossover

  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $62,167

Runners-up: Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Suburban

Entry-level luxury car

  • Acura ILX
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $38,293

Runners-up: Buick Regal Sportback, Mercedes-Benz CLA

Luxury compact SUV/crossover

  • Buick Encore
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $38,607

Runners-up: INFINITI QX30, Lexus NX

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Luxury car

  • Lexus GS
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $60,012

Runners-up: Cadillac XTS, Audi A6

Luxury mid-size SUV/crossover

  • Infiniti QX60
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $51,517

Runners-up: Acura MDX, Lexus RX

High-end luxury car

  • Porsche Panamera
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $100,412

Runners-up: Lexus LC, Audi A8

Luxury full-size SUV/crossover

  • Infiniti QX80
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $78,170

Runners-up: Lincoln Navigator, Toyota Land Cruiser

Sports car

  • Chevrolet Camaro
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $43,629

Runners-up: Dodge Challenger, Audi S3

Mid-size pickup truck

  • Toyota Tacoma
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $37,083

Runners-up: Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon

High-performance car 

  • Dodge Challenger SRT
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $53,656

Runners-up: Dodge Charger SRT, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Hybrid/alternative energy car

  • Toyota Prius c
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $33,454

Runners-up: Kia Niro, Toyota Prius

Full-size pickup truck 

  • Ford F-150
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $48,362

Runners-up: Chevrolet Silverado HD, Toyota Tundra

Minivan

  • Honda Odyssey
  • 5-Year Cost to Own: $45,279

Runners-up: Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona

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To read more about the 5-Year Cost to Own Awards, visit KBB.com.

Whether you’re shopping for a new or used car, Clark recommends that you consider a short-term subscription to Consumer Reports to check out its ratings and reviews.

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