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It’s common sense that maintenance costs will go up as a vehicle ages. According to a new study from Consumer Reports (by subscription), Subaru models are lower than average when they are 5-10 years old. A survey by Consumer Reports reveals Subaru’s 5-10 year cost of ownership is lower than the average car brand, and the cost to maintain a 5-year-old Subaru is slightly above the average.
Consumer Reports looked at data from 26 car brands by asking car owners how much they paid out of pocket for total maintenance (oil changes, etc.) and repairs over the past 12 months. The average yearly cost for a 5-year-old (2017 model), including mainstream and luxury brands, is $208. The average cost per year for a 10-year-old (2012 model): is $406.
How much does maintaining a 5-10-year-old Subaru vehicle cost?
Subaru vehicles incurred total out-of-pocket maintenance costs of $226 in year 5 (higher than average) and $397 in year 10 (lower than average), according to the Consumer Reports owner surveys. Of the 26 car brands, Subaru ranks number 17 highest in repair costs.
What happens after the first five years of vehicle ownership?
Subaru’s 5-10 year cost of ownership Is higher than all but three other mainstream car brands; Jeep ($400), GMC ($420), and Volkswagen ($422). Luxury brands BMW, Audi, Mercedes -Benz, Volvo, Mini, Volkswagen, and Acura, were the other brands with higher maintenance costs in years 5-10 of ownership above Subaru.
The CR report says reduced insurance and registration costs can make up for the extra maintenance needed as the miles increase. How much does it cost to insure a Subaru Forester, Crosstrek, Outback, or other new Subaru model?
A recent study from Consumer Reports shows Subaru has the number five least expensive model lineups to insure among all automakers. Fiat is number one ($,1,534), Jeep #2 ($1,572), Smart #3 ($1,581), Mini #4 ($1,609), and Subaru #5 ($1,625) per year to insure.
In addition to maintenance and insurance, one of the most significant factors is a vehicle’s depreciation costs. This is important when you trade in your car. When you buy a 2022 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, or other new Subaru model, they drop in value less than most car brands.
A recent study from the Zutobi 2022 Depreciation Report says two Subaru SUVs are among the best in class; the 2022 Subaru Forester compact SUV and the 2022 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler. Check out the complete report below.
According to Consumer Reports, if you plan on keeping your Subaru for 5 to 10 years, costs are lower than the average. If you are looking for a used Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, or other all-wheel-drive Subaru model, the 5-year cost of maintenance is slightly higher than the average car brand. Subaru vehicles are among the least expensive models when you factor in insurance costs and depreciation.
You Might Also Like: The Best Value SUVs - Subaru Forester, Ascent Depreciate Less Than Most
Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Comments
Very hard to believe that a
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Very hard to believe that a jeep or vw needs less money to maintain than a Subaru, very very very hard to believe!
Believe it, had a 2015
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In reply to Very hard to believe that a by efrain kennedy (not verified)
Believe it, had a 2015 Crosstrek limited that needed new $600 CV axle, and the $2500 of manifold work due to oil leaks at 80,000 miles. Our 2016 Grand Cherokee has been absolutely trouble free at 94,000 miles.
I work for subaru and i would
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I work for subaru and i would have to say this is wrong ... an oil change at dealership is over $120... and all we get is complaints about how expensive everything is... also this is probably not taking into consideration tire replacement which is around 1000 after mount,balance, and alignment and thats about every 40k miles so about every 3.5 to 4 years .. brake jobs are around 550 just for the front and 500 for the rear ... major services run anywhere from 600 to 1000 ....so this articles numbers are not accurate... they based there numbers off simply changing the oil maybe at a place that does really cheap work hah..realistically it's probably more like 900 for 5 year and 1300 for 10 years .... you don't have to belive me I only work for subaru for 12 years
I just paid $1600 to replace
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I just paid $1600 to replace the AC compressor in my 2018 Forester with 30K miles in Missouri (not deep south so it has had less heat than plenty of places). Have already replaced a headlight, taillight and brakelight. My wife's car, it has been dealer serviced at all oil changes. This one was just after the production run that got an extended condenser warranty. I had thought that maybe a condenser fail had stressed the compressor. I am unimpressed by cost of ownership since I have two ten plus year old Nissans with original compressors and no major maintenance.
Love my Forester but lot of
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Love my Forester but lot of problems with gaskets. Very costly. Subaru should work on this problem.
I'm curious as to what this
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I'm curious as to what this information is based on...certainly not average mileage of 15,000 miles per year. If that were the case, you'd be looking at at least 2 CV joint boot repairs ($300 each, minimum), 2 wheel bearings ($400 each, minimum), brake rotors ($250 each)...and that's all I can think of at this point. If you include routine maintenance per the book, you can increase that by a lot more.
After my Forester I'll never
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After my Forester I'll never buy another subaru.
Started burning oil at 30k miles up to 1 liter per 800 miles. Should have turned it in as a lemon law car.
Transmission valve body $1200.
Passenger Airbag sensor $1100
Wheel bearing, rear end. Tie rod ends, ball joints, swaybar end links and bushings, lower control arms, did myself for less than $500 who knows what dealership cost would be.
Front and rear dif fluid, spark plugs, over $1100.
I call hard B.S. on their numbers. If they are registered based on dealership maintenance records that's the issue. The subaru dealers in my area are 50% more expensive than other shops. You have to not know any better to bring your vehicle to them. Massive ripoff. They wanted to charge me over $150 to change my PC valve. It's a $10 part that took less than 3 min to change.
This article is misleading. I
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This article is misleading. I have a 2015 Sybaru Crosstrek. As much as I love the vehicle, it has cost me big time. Dealer service checks are astronomical -- over $800-1000 for some. Add in parts and failures: wheel bearings, drive shaft, AC compressor, starter, sway bar links, brakes, etc and NOT including tires, my costs have been more than $1000 per year. I no longer use the dealer for service. I hope to keep the car for awhile longer but fear what may fail next. Definitely an inaccurate spin on this article. Beware.
I have three Subarus. 2019
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I have three Subarus. 2019 Ascent has had three problems. Sunroof spontaneously cracked within a year of purchase. Apple Car Play stopped working. And now, with 51,000 miles on it, AC compressor locked up, causing serpentine belt to snap. Non-dealer mechanic wants. $4,900 to replace compressor, condenser, etc.
Factory batteries failed after two years in both 2019 Ascent and 2021 Forester Limited. Buyer beware.