The Cheapest Cars of 2012

Second-lowest: Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Accent is the second-lowest-cost car to operate, according to KBB, with a total ownership cost of $27,743 over five years.

Redesigned for 2012, Accent "is part of Hyundai's overhaul of its U.S. lineup, and it's a significant improvement over the previous model," Gutierrez says.

The four-door sedan has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $13,320 and a fair purchase price of $12,657. It gets 30 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg combined and 40 mpg on the highway. KBB assumed financing at 3.9%.

The lowest-cost car: Nissan Versa
Nissan Versa is KBB's lowest cost car to operate by a substantial margin, with a total ownership cost of $25,818 over five years.

The Versa "is the traditional segment leader," Gutierrez says. "It was also redesigned so it looks quite a bit nicer, and the cost is less than $12,000."

The four-door sedan has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11,770 and a fair purchase price of $11,093. It gets 30 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg combined and 38 mpg on the highway.

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