20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (2024)

There's no such thing as a cheap premium vehicle. Sure, you can buy any number of used BMWs, Range Rovers, and Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs for a small fraction of their original MSRP. But more often than not, you’ll wind up spending thousands of dollars on maintenance and repairs.

Buying such a vehicle can be a real conundrum. The 20 vehicles on this list are among the best in their respective categories but are also good at draining your wallet. Even if you’re not making car payments, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars a month in repair and maintenance costs. In fact, the older the vehicle and the cheaper it is to buy, the more you’re likely to pay to maintain it.

To develop this list, we used the data compiled by CarEdge to find the 20 most expensive cars to maintain. This list was ranked by each vehicle’s average total 10-year maintenance cost and includes information like estimated annual costs and the likelihood of needing a major repair. Not surprisingly, the list included premium luxury vehicles from BMW and Porsche, among others, but it also included several vehicles from Ram.

20. Porsche Panamera

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (1)
  • 10-Year Cost: $16,531
  • Annual Costs: $666 In Year One, $2,963 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 45.0%

In many ways, the Porsche Panamera is like a four-door 911. Available as a sedan, a Turismo sport wagon, and a hybrid, it offers incredible sports car-like performance with comfort and luxury for up to four occupants.

19. Mercedes-Benz G-Class

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (2)
  • 10-Year Cost: $16,561
  • Annual Costs: $721 In Year One, $2,898 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 42.7%

With boxy styling and a rugged personality, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV has a loyal following of upscale enthusiasts. The AMG version is the fastest choice, but even the base model requires serious money to maintain.

18. Land Rover Range Rover Velar

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (3)
  • 10-Year Cost: $16,755
  • Annual Costs: $588 In Year One, $3,120 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%

The midsize Land Rover Range Rover Velar is expressively styled and can tackle the toughest trails while maintaining a smooth ride over paved roads. It comes well-equipped and offers a choice of powerful engines.

17. Land Rover Range Rover Sport

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (4)
  • 10-Year Cost: $16,989
  • Annual Costs:$611 In Year One, $3,143 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%

A bit smaller and livelier than the flagship Land Rover Range Rover, the Sport is likewise able to tackle the toughest trails. It likewise excels over paved roads, with a choice of turbocharged six-cylinder or supercharged V8 engines.

16. BMW X1

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (5)
  • 10-Year Cost: $17,516
  • Annual Costs: $555 In Year One, $3,341 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

As BMW’s more traditionally styled small SUV, the X1 combines elements of sportiness and practicality. Available in front- or all-wheel-drive models, it’s powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

15. BMW X2

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (6)
  • 10-Year Cost: $17,602
  • Annual Costs: $563 In Year One, $3,350 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

The subcompact BMW X2 is essentially a sportier version of the X1 with a more athletic-looking exterior. Like its more traditional sibling, it’s available in front- or all-wheel-drive models and powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

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14. Ram 1500

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (7)
  • 10-Year Cost: $17,677
  • Annual Costs: $567 In Year One, $3,362 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.8%

The full-size Ram 1500 is one of the more stylish pickup trucks on the market, with lots of features and posh luxury on high-end models. There’s a choice of V6 and V8 engines, including the 702-horsepower supercharged V8 in the dune racer TRX trim.

13. BMW X3

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (8)
  • 10-Year cost: $17,771
  • Annual Costs: $574 In Year One, $3,361 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

Nearly as fun to drive as a 3 Series sedan but with more space and practicality, the compact X3 SUV remains a highly rated, if costly, choice among more-sedate luxury crossovers.

12. Mercedes-Benz Metris Van

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (9)
  • 10-Year cost: $18,045
  • Annual Costs: $582 In Year One, $3,454 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 56.7%

The smaller stablemate to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Metris is similarly versatile and almost as costly to maintain and repair as its bigger sibling.

11. BMW X6

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (10)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,148
  • Annual Costs: $618 In Year One, $3,404 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

Less insane than the X6 M, the regular X6 is the coupe-like alternative to the X5 SUV with four doors and a sharply raked roofline. It’s fun to drive but loses some rear headroom and cargo space due to its sporty styling.

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10. Land Rover Range Rover

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (13)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,228
  • Annual Costs: $735 In Year One, $3,267 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 49.6%

The Land Rover Range Rover is the original, impressively capable off-road luxury SUV. Redesigned for 2022, it remains a stylish, comfortable, and highly versatile luxury vehicle that’s fit for royalty.

9. Porsche 911

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (14)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,231
  • Annual Costs: $780 In Year 10, $3,208 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 47.6%

The iconic Porsche 911 is one of the best all-around sports cars you can buy, and it comes in a variety of flavors that just about anyone will enjoy. But unlike a trip to Baskin Robbins, the 911’s flavors are expensive and only get more so the longer you own the car.

8. BMW X5

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (15)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,389
  • Annual Costs: $642 In Year One, $3,428 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

The BMW X5 occupies the middle ground between the smaller X3 and the large seven-passenger X7. It offers good performance from its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and reasonable comfort, making it a well-rounded but maintenance-intensive luxury SUV.

7. BMW X7

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (16)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,550
  • Annual Costs: $658 In Year One, $3,444 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

The BMW X7 is the brand’s largest, most luxurious SUV. It’s not especially flashy, but it offers three rows of seating and is reasonably sporty, with a choice of turbocharged V6 and V8 engines.

6. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (17)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,634
  • Annual Costs: $621 In Year One, $3,513 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 56.7%

The Mercedes-Benz of large commercial vans comes in a variety of sizes and roof lengths to accommodate most business needs. The brand cachet takes its toll in higher maintenance and repair charges, however.

5. BMW X6 M

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (18)
  • 10-Year Cost: $18,900
  • Annual Costs: $693 In Year One, $3,479 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 54.6%

The M model is the highest-performance version of the mid-size BMW X6 SUV. It features a more sharply sloped coupe-like roofline than the X5, which sacrifices a bit of rear headroom and cargo space for a sportier profile.

4. Ram ProMaster City/Cargo Van

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (19)
  • 10-Year Cost: $19,870-$20,061
  • Annual Costs: $621 In Year One, $3,845 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 63.2%

The Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City are versatile commercial vans that work well for small businesses in urban areas. However, they will test the bottom line with their high upkeep costs.

3. Porsche Macan

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (20)
  • 10-Year Cost: $20,137
  • Annual Costs: $679 In Year One, $3,786 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 60.9%

Like its larger sibling, the compact Porsche Macan is no slouch in the performance category. And like the Cayenne, it’s expensive to repair and maintain, costing more than Porsche’s actual sports cars.

2. Porsche Cayenne

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (21)
  • 10-Year Cost: $20,552
  • Annual Costs: $721 In Year One, $3,827 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 60.9%

The mid-size Cayenne lives up to its reputation as "the Porsche of SUVs." With powerful engine options and tenacious handling, they can hang with many so-called sports cars. But you’ll pay dearly on an ongoing basis for those performance capabilities.

1. Ram 2500-5500

20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (22)
  • 10-Year Cost: $25,134-$25,844
  • Annual Costs: $778 In Year One, $4,889 By Year 10
  • Chance Of Needing Major Repair: 79.2% (highest among all ranked models)

The heavy-duty versions of the full-size Ram pickup truck are among the toughest, most capable vehicles to tackle towing and hauling jobs. However, they are also the most expensive vehicles to keep on the road.

FAQs

What Cars Are The Most Expensive To Maintain?

Luxury and premium vehicles are typically the most expensive to maintain, with European brands like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover at the top of the list. When it comes to non-premium brands, large trucks, SUVs, and vans typically have the highest maintenance and repair costs.

What Brand Of Cars Are The Most Expensive To Fix?

In addition to the brands on this list, Audi, Cadillac, and Volvo are expensive premium brands to fix. Other brands that are expensive include Mitsubishi and Hyundai.

How Often Should I Maintain My Car?

Most companies recommend oil changes every 5,000 to 7,500 miles and having your vehicle serviced annually or every 12,000 miles. However, these are general guidelines, so it is recommended you follow the recommended service schedule in your owner’s manual.

Most Expensive Cars To Maintain

  • Porsche Panamera
  • Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  • Land Rover Range Rover Velar
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  • BMW X1
  • BMW x2
  • Ram 1500
  • BMW X3
  • Mercedes-Benz Metris Van
  • BMW X6
  • Land Rover Range Rover
  • Porsche 911
  • BMW X5
  • BMW X7
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
  • BMW X6 M
  • Ram ProMaster City/Cargo Van
  • Porsche Macan
  • Porsche Cayenne
  • Ram 2500-5500
20 Most Expensive Cars to Maintain (2024)
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