Car Brands — Ownership Cost Hub
32 brands, 300 models. Open a brand to compare ownership costs across its lineup.
What this brand directory covers
VehCalc tracks ownership costs for 32 car brands and 300 models, from economy hatchbacks to full-size trucks and electric vehicles. Of the models in our dataset, 56 are battery-electric and 44 are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, with the remaining 200 running on conventional gasoline. Prices run from about $16,000 for the Nissan Versa to roughly $190,000 for a top-trim Porsche Taycan.
The brands with the deepest coverage in our dataset are Toyota (29 models), Ford (24 models), Chevrolet (18 models), Honda (17 models), Kia (17 models), and Nissan (16 models).
How to use the brand pages
Each brand page lists every model we cover for that make, with its body style, starting and top-trim MSRP, and EPA efficiency. From there you can open any model for a pre-filled five-year cost-of-ownership calculator. The brand page is the fastest way to answer questions like “what's the cheapest Acura?” or “which Audi is most efficient?” without opening dozens of tabs.
Why compare brands on total cost, not price
Two vehicles with similar sticker prices can differ by thousands of dollars over five years. Depreciation is usually the largest single cost, followed by fuel or electricity and insurance. A brand that discounts heavily at the dealer may still cost more to own if its models depreciate quickly or carry higher premiums. That is why every model page leads with a five-year total rather than a monthly payment.
To model financing for a specific model, use our Auto Loan Calculator, or browse the full vehicle directory to compare across brands.
Cheapest and most expensive brands to get into
Entry price is the cheapest trim in a brand's lineup, so it is the lowest number you could realistically walk in at. Across our 32 brands the median entry price is $38,000, and the spread between the least and most expensive entry points is wide enough to change which brands a buyer should even be considering.
| Lowest entry price | Entry model | From |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan | Versa | $16,000 |
| Mitsubishi | Mirage | $16,000 |
| Kia | Rio | $17,000 |
| Honda | Civic | $20,000 |
| Hyundai | Venue | $20,000 |
| Subaru | Impreza | $20,000 |
| Volkswagen | Jetta | $20,000 |
| Toyota | Corolla | $21,000 |
A low entry price does not guarantee a low ownership cost, and a high one does not rule a brand out. Each brand page carries a five-year projection built on the same assumptions so the two can be compared directly. Ties in price share a rank, which is why two brands can both sit at 1st here.
Efficiency leaders, by powertrain
We report efficiency inside each powertrain class rather than as one overall ranking, because MPGe and MPG are different scales. A battery-electric car rated at 132 MPGe and a hybrid rated at 54 MPG are not 78 units apart in any meaningful sense, so putting them in one sorted list would be a unit error dressed up as a fact.
The deepest lineups in our dataset are Toyota (29 models), Ford (24 models), Chevrolet (18 models), Honda (17 models) and Kia (17 models), which matters if you intend to compare several vehicles within one marque. For a wider sweep, use the full vehicle directory.
Frequently asked questions
How many car brands does VehCalc cover?
VehCalc currently covers 32 brands and 300 models, spanning gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric powertrains.
What is the cheapest car in the directory?
The lowest starting price in our dataset is the Nissan Versa at about $16,000.
What is the most fuel-efficient car in the directory?
Efficiency is reported separately by powertrain, because MPGe and MPG are different scales and cannot be ranked against each other. Among the 244 gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in our dataset, the most efficient is the Toyota Prius Prime at 54 MPG combined. Among the 56 battery-electric models, the leader is the Tesla Model 3 at 132 MPGe.
Which brand is the cheapest to get into?
Ranked by entry price, the most affordable starting points in our dataset are the Nissan at $16,000 for the Versa, followed by Mitsubishi at $16,000 and Kia at $17,000. Entry price is the cheapest trim in that brand's lineup, not a typical transaction price. The median entry price across all 32 brands is $38,000.
How many models does the average brand have?
Our dataset covers 300 models across 32 brands, an average of about 9 models per brand. Coverage is uneven by design: Toyota has the deepest lineup with 29 models, while a single-model-only or niche marque may appear with just a handful.
How do I compare two brands on ownership cost?
Open a brand to see all of its models, then open any model for a pre-filled five-year cost-of-ownership estimate covering fuel or electricity, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and registration. Compare the five-year totals rather than sticker prices.