Buying a car in 2025 means balancing upfront costs with long-term ownership costs, and not every car can do both. Some cars offer reliable transportation at a reasonable price, while others drain your wallet with expensive repairs, frequent maintenance, or poor resale value.
We ranked 12 vehicles based on purchase price, maintenance costs, reliability, safety features and overall usefulness to help you make a more informed decision. Prices shown are current published MSRP (excluding taxes/fees unless otherwise stated), “Reliability” and “Cost of Ownership” reflect aggregation of owner/expert reports, not a single score
best value
Image credit: otomobil/Shutterstock.
These vehicles will help you get by without costing you a fortune. Think road trips, daily commutes, taking your kids to practice, dropping off a friend in need…
If you want a practical, reliable, capable vehicle that doesn’t require maintenance every 60,000 miles, these vehicles have the reviews and records to back it up.
Honda Civic
Image source: Honda.
For value-conscious buyers who want a simple, practical car, the Civic remains the gold standard. With prices starting around $24,250, Honda’s reputation for excellent fuel economy and engines that often last over 200,000 miles, you’re looking at one of the lowest total costs of ownership in the segment.
The latest models include standard safety features like adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation, making them suitable for everyone from new drivers to retirees. And they’re actually pretty fun to drive!
Toyota Corolla
Image credit: Dima Plotnikov/Shutterstock.com.
The Toyota Corolla continues to dominate the reliability charts while keeping purchase and maintenance costs refreshingly low. Starting at about $22,000, it’s one of the most affordable new cars without feeling like a punishing car, and Toyota’s hybrid version adds impressive fuel economy without paying a hefty premium.
Parts are cheap and widely available, which means your local mechanic won’t flinch when you send it in for repairs.
Mazda CX-50
Image source: Mazda.
This compact SUV offers amazing driving pleasure without sacrificing practicality or costing too much. Starting at nearly $29,000, the CX-50 offers standard all-wheel drive, a well-crafted interior that feels more expensive than it is, and Mazda’s strong reliability record.
It would be really useful for families or outdoor enthusiasts who need cargo space and weather capability without the fuel penalty of a larger SUV.
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai 2025 Elantra photographed in Fountain Valley, California on July 15, 2024 – Photo credit: Hyundai.
Hyundai has transformed its reputation over the past decade, and the Elantra shows why. It starts as low as $20,000 (depending on trim and cost) and includes an excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, providing real peace of mind for budget-conscious buyers.
The cabin feels modern, with standard technology features that rivals charge extra for, and while it’s not the most exciting car to drive, it handles daily commuting duties without complaint.
Subaru Crosstrek
Image source: Subaru.
For buyers who prioritize safety and all-weather capability, the Crosstrek offers exceptional value, despite starting at about $26,000. Subaru’s standard all-wheel-drive system and top crash-test ratings make it especially suitable for families in snowy climates or anyone who wants extra confidence in inclement weather.
Ground clearance and practicality transcend its compact size, although you’ll need to accept that the engine isn’t particularly quick.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Image source: Alfa Romeo.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the “insider secret” for value-conscious car enthusiasts in 2025. While it starts at about $43,000, recent data shows that it’s surprisingly affordable to run, with its 10-year maintenance costs actually being more than $2,000 more than the luxury car average. For the price of a standard Executive, you get a class-exclusive carbon fiber driveshaft, near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and the most precise steering in its class.
Because it doesn’t jack up the price in a “tech for tech’s sake” kind of way, what you pay for is world-class mechanical engineering that rivals cars twice the price. For buyers who want a daily driver that rivals high-end German sports sedans without breaking the bank, the Giulia represents incredible “bang for the buck.”
worst values
Red 2025 Volkswagen Atlas on the road – Photo credit: Volkswagen.
If you head to Reddit, you’ll see strong opinions on the following vehicles. Owners in their dedicated forums are full of praise, but the vehicles do have some known maintenance and reliability issues that shouldn’t be ignored. While loyal drivers consider this a small price to pay, commuters who just want to be safe and cost-effective may find maintenance on these vehicles more frustrating than, say, a Corolla or Civic.
While these vehicles may still be worth transporting for some, there are a few quirks that are best kept in mind.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Image credit: emirhankaramuk/Shutterstock.com.
The British SUV starts at around $50,000 but has a reputation for reliability issues that can make even optimistic owners nervous. Maintenance costs are unusually high due to expensive parts and specialized service requirements, and resale value declines faster than most luxury cars.
While it offers a premium interior and capable off-road capabilities, you’re essentially gambling that you won’t be the unlucky owner dealing with electrical issues or suspension issues.
jeep compass
Image source: Stellantis.
Despite Jeep’s stellar reputation, the Compass is a poor value, starting at about $27,495, and lags behind the competition in almost every measurable way. Reliability scores are concerning, the interior feels cheap, and fuel economy lags significantly behind the competition.
Even the off-road capabilities that typically make a Jeep worth buying are limited compared to other models in the brand’s lineup.
BMW X1
Image source: BMW.
BMW’s entry-level SUV starts at about $41,350, but owners will have to shoulder high maintenance costs that don’t match its mediocre features. Routine servicing of even small items can be expensive, and out-of-warranty repairs can be prohibitively expensive.
While it has the prestige of a BMW badge and a nice interior, practical buyers will find better value in non-luxury brands that offer similar features without the maintenance fees.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Image source: Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes’ flagship electric sedan starts at more than $104,000, but it’s become a cautionary tale for 2025 buyers about preserving value. According to iSeeCars and Motor1, EQSs are among the fastest depreciating vehicles on the market, often losing nearly 50% of their value within the first few years of ownership.
In addition to the staggering loss of equity, the “cost of ownership” remains high due to premium insurance rates (averaging over $5,000/year) and dedicated EV maintenance. While the “hyperscreen” interior is impressive, actual luxury buyers are finding that the EQS’s financial burden—particularly the huge gap between MSRP and resale value—makes it a very risky purchase compared to its more stable luxury rivals.
Volkswagen Atlas
Image source: Volkswagen.
This three-row SUV starts at about $38,000, but it’s hard to justify the price compared to more reliable rivals. Volkswagen has continued its reputation for electrical problems and expensive repairs with the Atlas, while its fuel economy is disappointing for a modern family car.
A roomy interior is its main selling point, but that advantage becomes expensive when you’re faced with above-average maintenance costs and below-average reliability ratings.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Image source: Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes’ smallest SUV starts at about $44,150, but it feels like it’s trying to extend its luxury brand onto an economy car platform. Although the driving experience and interior quality don’t quite match this price point, the maintenance costs still fall into the luxury car category.
Depreciation is high and reliability is inconsistent, making it a questionable choice when competitors offer similar utility at much lower costs of ownership.
final thoughts
Image source: Subaru.
The gap between the best and worst value in today’s automotive market is wider than many shoppers realize. Smart purchases share common characteristics: a reasonable purchase price, a strong record of reliability, affordable maintenance, and useful features that match how people actually use the vehicle. People with poor values ​​often pursue prestige or styling at the expense of long-term ownership costs, leaving buyers with vehicles that look impressive but become a financial burden.
Your best strategy is to look beyond the monthly payment and consider how much the car will really cost you over five or ten years of ownership.