For many people, the rocketing costs of daily life have got them thinking about how they can continue to cut back on their costs just to survive. A car for most is an essential purchase, whether it's for the daily commute, driving the kids around or just that you live in a rural area.
When we start to think about the costs in our lives, and cutting them back, the car is probably something that's up there as one of the largest out-goings. Not only is the initial investment of purchasing a car a lot, but when you factor in insurance and the cost of driving the car - it's certainly something that can be making a dint into your bank balance.
When you’re looking to purchase a car, you should look at the running costs before you make a decision. This includes looking at the fuel economy (MPG), insurance costs, tax bracket, resale value and average maintenance costs.
Whether you are looking to buy a cheap old car, or are looking at a brand-new car, the running costs can make all the difference in the long run. Here are five cars we've picked out that are some of the cheapest cars to run:
Volkswagen Polo
Sleek, stylish and a great economic option, the VW Polo is a great purchase if your looking for something cheap to run. Most of the Polo petrol models have an MPG of around 60. As its emissions are 103g/km of CO 2, this car sits on the cheaper half of the tax brackets. You can also expect low insurance and servicing costs for this car. As the car is VW you can expect it to be reliable. However, parts can be a little pricier than competitors, but as you’re unlikely to need to buy parts due to its reliability, this shouldn’t cause too much concern.
Hyundai i10
This car is one of the more expensive ones on our list for upfront costs. However, you do get quite a lot for your money here and this car generally has a high resale value.
When it comes to running costs, the Hyundai i10 manages about 43MPG, which is fairly efficient. This car should also come under the cheapest insurance brackets, so it’s especially economical if you have a few years of no-claims bonus. Hyundai, as a brand, are known for being reliable, so you shouldn’t have trouble with having to repair it often.
Honda Jazz
A family hatchback from a reliable brand, the Honda Jazz is an affordable car. Although expensive when you first buy this car, the running costs soon change it to an economical choice. Plus, with a good resale value, the upfront price really doesn’t affect the overall cost. The 1.5l engine has a good MPG of around 58. This makes it a nice economical run around. Also, with emissions at 104g/km of CO 2, it beats its main rivals here. This means that tax is fairly low, being in one of the lower brackets.
Mini Cooper D
The final car in our list of cars with cheap running costs is the Mini Cooper D. The D refers to the fact it is a diesel engine. Mini Cooper stopped making diesel engines in 2018 so you are likely to only be able to buy one of these secondhand. However, as this car has been around for a while you should easily be able to find a used one.