Who doesn’t want a luxury or performance car? The appeal of a prestigious badge, fine materials, and a smile-inducing drive is undeniable. However, you often pay to play when it comes to luxury cars. But there’s a notable exception in the mix. Tesla, despite its brand image problem, tops the list of 2025’s least expensive cars to maintain over 10 years. 

A vehicle survey found that Tesla has the least expensive cars to maintain over 10 years. Land Rover? Not so much

So what if you have enough money to buy that coveted luxury car? Or enough income to comfortably cover a monthly payment. You also have to factor in vital, sometimes spendy elements like insurance and, of course, maintenance. That’s where choosing the right vehicle could make a substantial difference between owning one of the least expensive cars to maintain or a headache on wheels.

As for brands, Tesla takes the top spot among the bunch. The 10-year maintenance and repair cost for the electric car marque comes out to $5,050. On the other side of the list, the cumulative costs for 10 years of ownership with a Land Rover could land at an eye-watering $17,450. Ouch. 

“The difference to maintain a car, on average, between some brands can be thousands over a 10-year time frame,” says Consumer Reports’ Steven Elek. “Also, expensive luxury vehicles are often quite expensive to maintain as well over time.” But that’s not the case for every brand; Lincoln, for example, came in at around $5,200. That’s $100 less than Toyota over a decade. 

Granted, some things are unavoidable. However, there are plenty of moves you can make to better protect yourself against costly repairs. Most importantly, stay on top of your regular maintenance and service intervals.

It’s important to make sure that clean oil is lubricating your engine’s vital components, and coolant is actively working to prevent your car from overheating. Just remember your dear old dad’s words. Something along the lines of “if you take care of it, it’ll take care of you.”