The Most and Least Budget-Friendly Cars of 2025 – Revealed

The Most and Least Budget-Friendly Cars of 2025 – Revealed

• The Volkswagen Jetta is the most budget-friendly recent car model, losing the least in value at 13.6% over 3 years.
• Electric vehicles show higher depreciation but lower maintenance than traditional gas cars.
• The Toyota bZ4X has the lowest repair costs, with only €833 in 3 years.

New car prices have surged by over 30% in the last 5 years, making smart buying decisions more crucial than ever. A recent study by eCarsTrade analyzed the most popular car models in both the U.S. and Europe and their value over the last 3 years to reveal the most budget-friendly vehicles. By comparing price depreciation, cost of maintenance, repairs, and fuel, the research calculated the average ownership costs. The study highlights the 5 top budget-friendly cars and the 5 least budget-friendly models.

The most budget-friendly car model is the Volkswagen Jetta, with 3-year costs amounting to €12,187, including all ownership costs and the price depreciation for the vehicle. The model stands out with the lowest price drop in three years, at only 13.6%. The total ownership costs for the vehicle are the highest in the top 5 at €9.5K, but high resale value helps to balance them.

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Nissan Leaf ranks 2nd among the most budget-friendly vehicles, with €12,395 total costs. Nissan Leaf is the most affordable EV vehicle on the list, with low repair costs at €845 for 3 years. It is also the cheapest to maintain, with an average amounting to €1.7K. The only downside is the high depreciation, common for EVs, and the Nissan Leaf loses 30.9% of its value in 3 years.

Ford F-Series takes third place, following closely behind Nissan Leaf with €12,572. The second ICE vehicle in the ranking, it is more expensive than the Volkswagen Jetta, originally costing €26.8K and losing only 16.6% in 3 years. At the same time, total ownership costs for the Ford F-Series are lower, at €8K.

The Toyota bZ4X holds the fourth position, with €13,472. The most expensive vehicle in the top 5, the MSRP price averages €31.4K, but after 3 years, vehicles lose up to 24.5% of their value. Total ownership costs, including fuel, maintenance, and repairs, come to €5.7K for this Toyota.

Chevrolet Bolt EV closes the top 5 most budget-friendly car models of 2022, with €14,490 costs, over 2K more than for Volkswagen Jetta. Among the most budget-friendly vehicles, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has the highest price decrease of 33.9%, while the ownership costs are the lowest in the top 5, at €4.6K.

The Tesla Model Y is the least budget-friendly recent car model, with a total cost of €35K, including repairs, maintenance, and depreciation. The total ownership costs for the Model Y amount to €7.8K over 3 years, while the vehicle loses almost half of its original value in the same period, making it too expensive to invest in.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 takes second place among the least budget-friendly cars, with total costs of € 32,425. The most expensive car in the bottom 5, its MSRP price originally sits at €54,756, just a little higher than for the Tesla Model Y. At the same time, repair costs are manageable at €730, but cannot compensate for other expenses.

The Hyundai Tucson holds the third position, with €26,762. The model stands out with the highest price drop, losing 52.1% in just three years, over half of the original price. The ownership costs are also the second-highest in the bottom 5, sitting at €8.4K, making it a questionable choice for buyers who look for budget-friendly options.

The Tesla Model 3 comes in fourth place, with €23,748 total costs, over €10K less than Model Y. It is more affordable than Model Y, at €41.1K, and loses value more slowly, but the price drop is still very significant, with 40.2%.

Kia Sportage closes the ranking of the least budget-friendly cars, with fifth place and €23,076 total costs, closely following Tesla Model 3. It is the cheapest car in the bottom 5 but has the highest maintenance costs, averaging €9.6K in 3 years, over €3.2K a year.

Filipp Sevostianov, the CEO of eCarsTrade, commented on the study: “What’s surprising about today’s car market is that the sticker price is often the smallest part of what you’ll spend over several years of ownership. The real money drain comes from depreciation and repairs. Some cars lose half their value in a few years while others hold steady, and that difference can easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Electric vehicles are creating an interesting twist in this equation because while they often cost more upfront, but their lower maintenance needs and energy costs can make them surprisingly affordable in the long run.”