2014 most affordable SUVs, utes and vans

Research shows which are the most affordable SUVs, utes and vans to own and run.

The Ford Ecosport has taken the crown as the most affordable SUV 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 Ecosport topped the compact SUV category at $8773 yearly cost and $168 weekly, with the Holden Trax in second at $9719/$187 and the Mitsubishi ASX third at $9916/$190.

The medium SUV class was won by the Honda CR-V at $10,540 yearly and $202 weekly, followed by the Holden Captiva 5 at $11,066/$212 and the Mitsubishi Outlander at $11,115/$213.

The Holden Captiva 7 took first and second in the large SUV category, with the turbodiesel LT coming in at $11,873 yearly and $228 weekly, the V6 LT at $12,050/$231 and third place going to the Hyundai Santa Fe at $12,316/$236.

Toyota's HiLux SR won the 4WD ute class with an annual cost of $13,529 and weekly $260, while second place went to Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R at $14,064/$270.46 and close behind in third was Nissan D40 Navara at $14,087/$270.91.

The 2WD ute field was led by Ford Falcon LPG at $11.050 yearly and $212 weekly, with the 4.0-litre petrol Falcon ute in second at $11,213/$215 and third place going to the 3.6-litre Holden ute at $11,289/$217.

The cheapest people-mover was the Honda Odyssey at $11,747 yearly and $226 weekly, with the Hyundai iMax in second place at $12,461/$239 and the Kia Grand Carnival third at $13,375/$271.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV trumped the smaller cars in the electric class with a yearly cost of $13,152 and weekly $253, compared to the second-placed Nissan Leaf sedan at $13,415/$258 and the Holden Volt sedan in third at $14,965/$287.

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

COMPACT SUV

MEDIUM SUV

LARGE SUV

2WD UITLITIES

4WD UTILITIES

PEOPLE MOVERS

ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID CARS

Also see information on running costs for cars.