WHILE MOST BUYERS are fixated on the purchase price of new cars, the actual cost of owning and running one over the ownership period depends on a variety of factors, many of which buyers tend to overlook.
For the second year in a row, Mitsubishi’s Mirage is Australia’s most affordable vehicle to own and operate according to the 2019 Vehicle Running Costs study, published by the RACQ.
According to data issued by the RACQ, Triton GLX (4×2 and 4×4) and Mirage ES both recorded the lowest running costs per week in their respective segments (for a more detailed look at the ownership survey results, see our story here).
Triton GLX ADAS 4×2 and GLX 4×4 comfortably save the most in the ute segment with running costs at just $213.47 per week for the 4×2 and $231 per week for the 4×4 drivetrain.
If low-cost motoring is a key criteria when buying a new car – which it is for many Australian motorists in a tough economy – then the Mirage ES will be at the top of the list, offering the lowest average running cost of just $114.38 per week. And, importantly, the Mirage doesn’t ask drivers to compromise on safety to fit their budget.
The annual running costs study assesses the cost of ownership of 141 vehicles across a range of segments over the first five years of ownership including list price, on-road costs, depreciation, fuel and servicing.
Costs may vary in different states based on factors such as fuel costs, registration and price of insurance.