5 Cars That Could Save You Thousands on Gas and Maintenance

I once bought a used Nissan Altima for just $5,000 and drove it for 10 years, racking up over 200,000 miles on the odometer. The car was exceptionally easy to maintain, with just a few minor repairs and one major fix over that period.

In addition to its low maintenance costs, the car's low value allowed me to get cheap car insurance -- a win-win for me.

Unfortunately, not all cars are as reliable as my Altima was. If you're in the market for a car that'll go the distance -- both in fuel economy and with the fewest repairs -- here are five that could save you thousands of dollars over the coming years.

These vehicles could save you thousands

Some cars have an above-average miles per gallon (MPG) rating, but the vehicle brand has less-than-stellar reliability ratings -- and vice versa. So, I've narrowed down this list of cars based on the brand's low maintenance and repair costs and a high combined (city and highway) MPG.

I also chose different brands for this list so there'd be a variety of vehicles (and not just Toyotas!). All of the vehicle brands on this list will cost less than $3,000 in maintenance and repairs over a six- to 10-year period, according to Consumer Reports, and they're all more fuel efficient than the 24.4 MPG for the average car.

1. 2024 Toyota Prius LE

The latest Prius LE hybrid is far ahead of its predecessor in styling but hasn't abandoned its fuel efficiency streak. The compact sedan gets up to a combined 57 MPG and starts at $27,950. Meanwhile, maintenance costs for Toyotas are estimated to be just $2,290 over a six- to 10-year time frame, the lowest of any automotive brand.

2. 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

Another compact sedan takes one of the leading spots on this list, thanks to the hybrid Elantra's combined 58 MPG rating and Hyundai's above-average reliability. The cost to maintain this car brand for up to 10 years will set you back just $2,655. You can snag a 2024 Elantra for $26,250 -- far below the average price of a new car at $47,218.

3. 2025 Honda Civic Sport Hybrid

New styling and updated hybrid options for the latest Honda Civic make this compact sedan a great choice if you're looking for efficiency and reliability. The Civic Sport Hybrid model gets up to 50 MPG combined, and Honda's reputation for reliability pays off, with the average Honda costing just $2,580 over a six- to 10-year span. The starting price of the Civic Sport Hybrid model will cost you $28,750.

4. 2025 Lexus ES 300h

As the only luxury vehicle on this list, the Lexus ES 300h's price tag is a bit steeper at $44,615. You'll get more bells and whistles at that price, as well as a larger midsize sedan and an impressive combined fuel economy of up to 44 MPG. And with a Lexus, your average cost of maintenance and repairs for up to 10 years is an estimated $2,850.

5. 2024 Nissan Versa S CVT

Last but not least, is the Versa S CVT, which has a shockingly low starting price of just $18,350 and a combined MPG of 35. That mileage isn't as impressive as that of other cars on this list, but it's still far above average. The cost to maintain most Nissans is also low, at just $2,730 over a six- to 10-year period.

Shop for this before you buy

Saving money with a fuel-efficient vehicle that's cheap to maintain is a smart move, but you could be throwing some of that money away if you don't do one important thing before you buy: Shop around for the best car insurance.

Hybrid models can cost up to 7% more to insure than their gas-powered counterparts, which means it's a good idea to do a little comparison shopping for coverage once you're ready to buy.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to see if I can convince my wife that spending money on a new car can save us money.