Average Running Costs For Australia's Small Cars

As the cost of living has increased, more and more Australians are looking to save money on everyday expenses. This is especially true when it comes to the mode of transport.

Small car sales have skyrocketed over the last 5 years, with many manufacturers adding new models to keep up with demand. But are you really saving money by changing to a smaller vehicle??

From its network of 1,600 workshops and mobile mechanics Australia-wide, AutoGuru has compiled the running costs of the five most popular small vehicles, based on a 10-year logbook service schedule.

Many consumers do not factor this in when purchasing a car, and it can lead to nasty surprises when it comes to service time!

The small car segment includes some of Australia’s bestselling vehicles, including the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda 3, as well as the Hyundai i30 and Volkswagen Golf.

*Comparing 2016 models / average retail price

Of this list, the Hyundai i30 is the most expensive of the five, due to its 2 litre engine being thirstier than its competitors.

The Volkswagen is the only one of these vehicles to still use a timing belt, resulting in the highest servicing costs of the five, but better fuel efficiency offsets this, and brings it in second place, behind the Barina Spark for overall cost per year.

If you are planning on purchasing the Toyota Corolla or Mazda 3, they require more frequent servicing – every 6 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first, compared to the longer 15,000km intervals of the other three.

Right. AutoGuru lets you search, compare and book from over 1,600 qualified mechanics across Australia. Boom!