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If you’re in the market for a new SUV, there’s a lot to consider. Once you know the size and style you’re interested in, you also have to consider your budget. It isn’t just the initial cost of purchasing your new SUV that’s important to think about. You also have to take into account the potential maintenance costs of your new SUV. So which are the cheapest SUVs to maintain? 

A dark blue 2021 Hyundai Venue with a city skyline behind it.
2021 Hyundai Venue | Hyundai

To come up with the total cost of maintenance over five years, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) starts by calculating the Fair Purchase Price of the vehicle. They also incorporate the value of the vehicle in five years. Other numbers in the valuation of maintenance costs for your new SUV include fuel, insurance, maintenance (oil changes, etc.), and repairs. KBB notes that people may be most surprised at how much their SUV depreciates, and this number is also taken into account. Let’s look at the five SUVs Kelley Blue Book says will cost you the least in maintenance over the next five years. 

The 2021 Hyundai Venue is the cheapest subcompact SUV to own for five years

The 2021 Hyundai Venue is Hyundai’s smallest SUV. This SUV appeals to people who want an SUV but don’t necessarily need too much extra space. It’s also a great choice for city-dwellers who want an SUV that will be easy to park. 

KBB factored in the 2021 Hyundai Venue’s starting price of $18,750. They determined that the five-year cost to own the 2021 Hyundai Venue would be $29,145. This is a total of $6,838 less than the average price of ownership in the subcompact SUV category. 

The 2021 Subaru Forester is one of the SUVs that depreciates the least

If you buy a 2021 Subaru Forester, you won’t be disappointed. (Though it may be difficult to find one right now, as the 2021 Subaru Forester is one of the fastest selling compact SUVs right now.) It has the lowest cost to own among compact SUVs. 

The predicted cost of ownership over the next five years of your 2021 Subaru Forester’s life is $36,446. This is $3,307 less than the cost of owning the average compact SUV. 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler will cost you the least of any off-road SUV

If you’ve been longing for a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, there’s some good news. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler is the cheapest off-road SUV to maintain. Whether you opt for Jeep’s heated seats or stick with the traditional cost, you’ll lose less money owning a 2021 Jeep Wrangler than any other off-road SUV.

The total five-year cost of ownership for a 2021 Jeep Wrangler is $41,187. This is $2,825 less than any other off-road vehicle in its class. 

The 2021 Nissan Armada is the cheapest three-row SUV to maintain

Do you want or need a large three-row SUV? They typically come with a hefty price tag, and maintenance and repair costs can really blow a budget. The 2021 Nissan Armada is your best bet for low maintenance costs over the next five years. The predicted costs of owning a 2021 Nissan Armada for five years is $63,224. While this isn’t exactly a cup of coffee (or even ten thousand cups of coffee), it’s $5,431 cheaper than the average full size SUV.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 is the cheapest three-row midsize luxury SUV to maintain

If you want to blend comfort, safety, and style in one SUV – but you don’t want to overpay for it – the 2021 Volvo XC90 is a great choice. It’s the cheapest midsize three-row luxury SUV to own for five years. It will cost you $59,509 over the course of five years. This is $6,205 less than the average three-row luxury SUV.

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