Cheapest cars to own in 2025

Owning a car is rarely a cheap affair, but there are certainly smart ways to ensure that you get the most cost-effective car ownership possible. We've done the math on some of the most popular cars on the used market and found out how much they actually cost to own each month.

Toyota Yaris cheapest, Volvo XC60 most expensive

When we calculated the total cost of ownership (TCO) for 15 of Sweden's best-selling used cars, the results show that the right car choice can save you thousands of kronor every month. The most expensive car in the survey, the Volvo XC60 B4 AWD (197 hp), costs over 6,500 kronor a month to own – almost twice as much as the cheapest, the Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid , with a monthly cost of 3,379 kronor.

– Many people are blinded by the price, but it is the cost of ownership that really determines how much the car costs. The Volvo XC60 and Toyota Yaris are good examples of two cars that complement each other in a family. While the XC60 offers spaciousness and four-wheel drive for larger needs, such as weekend trips or ski holidays, the Toyota Yaris is a practical and wallet-friendly choice for shorter everyday drives, says Daniel Odsberg, Sales Manager at Kvdbil .

For just a few hundred more kronor a month, there is the Kia Cee'd SW PHEV plug-in hybrid (3,818 SEK/month) and the Peugeot e-2008 electric car (4,062 SEK/month).

– For families who want to combine environmental awareness with economical car ownership, the Kia Ceed SW PHEV and Peugeot e-2008 are two excellent options. But it is important to remember that fuel costs are affected by how the car is charged. Our analysis is based on a mix of home charging at SEK 3.50 per kWh and traditional fuel driving for hybrids. If you only charge in public, the cost can be significantly higher, but if you have an hourly price agreement and charge during the cheapest hours of the day, the cost can instead be even lower, says Daniel Odsberg.

For the slightly larger family, the Volkswagen Passat GTE Sportscombi could be an alternative. The plug-in hybrid combines spaciousness and comfort with a competitive monthly cost of SEK 4,845 – a choice that gives a lot of car for the money.

What drives ownership costs?

Fuel is one of the biggest factors affecting the cost of ownership, and it's about much more than just the cost per mile. Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are often cheaper to run, but insurance costs and depreciation can be higher. For petrol and diesel cars, it's fuel, tax and sometimes servicing that take the edge off.

“Our analysis shows that it is important to look at the big picture. By weighing all factors in a TCO calculation, you as a car buyer can save thousands of kronor every month,” concludes Odsberg.

From most expensive to cheapest – this is how much 15 popular used cars cost to own

* Model year 2021-2022, approx: 6,000 km 

About the survey
Kvdbil has analyzed the total cost of ownership (TCO) for 15 of the best-selling used cars in 2024. The calculation includes all costs that result from a car purchase, and shows the average monthly cost after three years of ownership and a total mileage of approximately 4,500 kilometers. Fuel costs are based on a fuel price of SEK 18 per liter for gasoline and diesel and SEK 3.50 per kWh for electricity. For hybrids, it is assumed that 60 percent of the mileage is electric. Insurance costs are based on average premiums for each car model from Söderberg & Partners Privat, while service costs are based on Mekonomen's lowest price per car model.