Subaru Has A Model That's One Of The Most Expensive To Maintain - One That's The Least

Subaru Forester rates high for 10 year maintenance costs and Impreza is rated one of the lowest. Should you avoid buying a 2020 Subaru Forester?

Your Mechanic website has a large database of vehicle maintenance costs and has compiled the most expensive cars and brands and the least expensive to maintain over the first 10 years of a vehicle’s life. But there is more to consider when buying a new car.

They report the Subaru Forester has a fairly high cost to maintain over a 10 year period. Forester comes in at number 10 on the list with a 10-year cost-to-own of $12,200 ($1,220 per year average). The Chrysler Sebring is the highest cost to own car at $17,100 over 10 years.

According to the website, another Subaru, the Impreza compact sedan and 5-Door model are one of the lowest costs to maintain cars. Impreza comes in at number 20 on the least expensive list with a 10-year cost-to-own of $7,500 ($750 per year average). The Toyota Prius is the lowest cost to own vehicles at $4,300 over a 10-year life span. There is more to a vehicle’s ownership cost than just maintenance.

Look at a vehicle’s total cost-to-own

Does it mean you should avoid buying a 2020 Subaru Forester? Your Mechanic is just looking at one factor in owning a vehicle. According to Kelly Blue Book, the Subaru Forester is rated the lowest 5-year cost-to-own vehicle in the Compact SUV category. For the initial five-year ownership period, Forester is the lowest compact SUV. In addition to maintenance and repairs, you also need to look at the total cost-to-own which includes fuel, financing, insurance, and one of the biggest factors, depreciation.

Your Mechanic says Subaru’s lineup of nine models has an average 10-year cost-to-own of $8,200 ($820) which ranks number 11 out of 30 automakers. Subaru vehicles incur less maintenance costs than 19 other brands. According to a survey of owners by Consumer Reports, Subaru vehicles incurred total out-of-pocket maintenance costs of $267 in year 5 and $500 in year 10, much less than what Your Mechanic is reporting.

As everyone knows, maintenance costs of any vehicle you buy will increase as the car ages. The longer you keep it, the more likely you will have more expensive costs like a transmission or engine rebuild. Other factors include how you drive the vehicle and if it has had the recommended maintenance performed.

Should you avoid the 2020 Subaru Forester? There is more to a vehicle’s ownership cost than just maintenance. When a car’s total costs are factored in, Subaru vehicles incur fewer costs than all mainstream automaker’s lineups. You need to consider all costs that include fuel, maintenance, repairs, financing, insurance, and one of the biggest factors of all, depreciation which could mean more money in your pocket when you sell or trade in the vehicle.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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