2014 most affordable cars

Research shows which are the most affordable cars to own and run.

The Suzuki Alto has taken the crown as the most affordable car in Australia in a study by the motoring clubs in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

The annual research looks at each car's price, depreciation, the interest on a loan, fuel, tyres, services and repairs, the average overall cost per km, average per week, annual cost and five-year cost.

The Alto GL manual came in at an annual cost of $6237 or around $120 per week (despite using premium fuel and costing $1000 more in Queensland), leading the micro car class with the Holden Barina Spark second on $76409 and $123, and the Mirage slipping to third place on $6541 and $125. 

Suzuki backed up with a winner in the light car class, where the Swift led on $7030 yearly and $135 weekly costs, followed by the Ford Fiesta on $7084/$136.24 and the Hyundai i20 a shadow behind for third on $7082/$136.39.
 
The Holden Cruze Equipe led the small car class at $8459 yearly and $162 weekly, with the Mazda3 second at $8632/$166.01 and the Ford Focus third at about $8658/$166.50.

Volkswagen's Jetta was the medium car winner at $9798 yearly and $188 weekly, with Kia's Optima second at $10,871/$209 and Korean stablemate Hyundai i40 third at $10,996/$211.

Holden Commodore Evoke claimed the large car crown at $12,453 yearly and $239 weekly, with the Evoke LPG in second place at $12,572/$241 and the Ford Falcon XT third at $12.848/$247.

The prestige class was led by the Audi A4 at $15,735 yearly and $302.60 weekly, with the BMW 320i just behind on $15,745/$302.79 and the Mercedes C-Class C200 third at $16,866/$324.35.

For more complete information on the winners in each class, visit the RACQ’s results here.
 

MICRO CARS

LIGHT CARS

SMALL CARS

MEDIUM CARS

PRESTIGE CARS

LARGE CARS

ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID CARS

Also see running costs for SUVs, utes and vans.