The Cheapest Cars of 2012
Fourth-lowest: Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris is the fourth-lowest-cost car to operate, according to KBB, with a total ownership cost of $28,167 over five years.
Like the Honda Fit, the Yaris "is also a perennial heavyweight among subcompacts," Gutierrez says. "The two of them were unchallenged for a lot of years. They are very reliable and very easy on the wallet."
The two-door hatchback has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $14,875 and a fair purchase price of $14,009. It gets 30 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg combined and 38 mpg on the highway.
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Third-lowest: Kia Soul
Kia Soul is the third-lowest-cost car to operate, according to KBB, with a total ownership cost of $28,131 over five years.
The Soul "falls into the boxy subcompact segment, like Cube and Scion," Gutierrez says. "It's very youth oriented, a little sportier than some of the others."
The four-door sport wagon has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $14,650 and a fair purchase price of $14,111. It gets 29 miles per gallon in the city, 32 mpg combined and 36 mpg on the highway. KBB assumed financing at 1.9%.
