RACV pinpoints Victoria's cheapest cars to operate overall

RACV has revealed Victoria’s most affordable new cars across a range of category types, making it easier for consumers to understand how much different vehicles will cost them to operate each month over a five-year period.

The results were collated as part of RACV’s Annual Operating Costs Survey and found the cheapest car in the Victorian market is the MG3 light hatchback, followed by the Kia Picanto S and the Kia Rio S light hatch in second and third place, respectively. The MG3 Core will cost owners $626.50 a month, the Kia Picanto S $662.93 and the Kia Rio S $705.71.

RACV’s Vehicle Operating Costs Survey highlights the overall cost of ownership of more than 80 of Australia’s best-selling and emerging models and has been running for more than 50 years.

The survey factors in the initial purchase price and loan repayments, registration charges, insurance, auto club membership, fuel or electric vehicle charging costs, tyres, servicing and repairs, all averaged over a five-year period. 

RACV’s calculations are based on a private vehicle with mileage of 15,000km per year, which is about the average distance travelled by Victorian drivers.

RACV head of communications and engagement, Andrew Scannell said the most significant cost of a new car was the up-front purchase price.

“Registration, insurance, and club membership make up about 15 to 20 percent, while fuel takes a 10 and 15 percent slice,” Mr Scannell said.

“Servicing costs consume between three and seven percent of the overall costs and tyres just one to three percent.

“Not surprisingly – and consistent with previous years’ results – light passenger cars are the most affordable vehicle segment.

“If you buy a light hatch, you can expect an average monthly cost of $738.43. Small cars are the second most affordable category with a monthly spend of $903.44, closely followed by small SUVs on $917.60.”

All-terrain 4x4 SUVs are the priciest vehicles to own and run, according to the survey, costing owners an average of $1634.29 per month, while popular 4x4 dual-cab utes were the next most expensive at $1533.62. Large family SUVs were the third priciest on $1404.53.

Victoria’s most expensive car to own and run is Nissan’s Patrol Ti upper-large SUV, which costs $2337.33 a month to keep on the road. The Patrol has a V8 petrol engine and is priced from $85,738 before on-road costs.

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles require an average monthly spend of $1280.83, which pleasingly is about $100 less than last year’s survey.

The following table details the average monthly cost of each car category as well as the cheapest model in each category:

Private vehicle average running costs in Victoria
Vehicle category	Average monthly cost	Cheapest model in each category and monthly cost
Light cars	$738.43	MG3 Core 1.5 4sp auto Hatch $625.50
Small cars	$903.44	Kia Cerato S 2.0 Hatch 6sp auto $802.25
Medium cars	$1,189.84	Toyota Camry Ascent 2.5 8sp auto Sedan  $1,003.74
People movers	$1,363.42	Honda Odyssey ViL7 2.4 CVT $1,335.28
Electric	$1,280.83	MG ZS EV $1,128.33
SUV small	$917.60	Hyundai Venue (base) 1.6 2wd 6sp auto  $793.23
SUV medium	$1,200.01	Toyota RAV4 GXL 2.5 Hybrid FWD CVT $1,117.64
SUV large	$1,404.53	Subaru Outback 2.5 AWD CVT MY21  $1,224.78
All terrain	$1,634.29	Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX 2.4 t/dsl 8sp auto $1,367.32
Light commercial 4x2	$1,303.54	Mitsubishi Triton GLX 2.4 T/dsl 6sp auto 4X2 Dual cab Pickup $1190.76
Light commercial 4x4	$1,533.62	Mitsubishi Triton GLX 2.4 T/dsl 6sp auto 4X4 Dual cab Pickup $1,269.34