Top 10 cheapest premium cars to run in 2022

Buying a new car should be an enjoyable and exciting experience, but often we let our hearts rule our heads without considering the practicalities of actually owning that car.

So, if you are thinking of upgrading your motor in 2022 for something a little more premium, WhoCanFixMyCar is here to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible by taking a closer look at the annual maintenance costs of some of the most popular used models on the road today.

Find out which cars are likely to cost the least to run in the year ahead in this advice guide based on the average MOT, full service, interim service and aircon regas prices from 2021.

Top 10 cheapest premium cars to maintain

Peugeot 508

Alfa Romeo Giulia

VW Passat

Audi A4

Skoda Superb

BMW 3 Series

Jaguar XE

Range Rover Evoque

Mazda 6

Mercedes C-Class

Peugeot 508

From the blade-like LEDs at the front to the three taillights either side of the boot, the Peugeot 508 is nothing if not stylish. Bold both inside and outside, the Peugeot 508 is quickly establishing itself as a firm favourite among drivers looking for a reasonably priced used premium car. It now comes with the added benefit of having best in class annual maintenance costs of £387.18

Alfa Romeo Giulia

If you’re thinking of trading upwards in 2022 then you can’t go wrong with the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Sleek and stylish throughout, its Italian designers have ensured it’s more than a match for rivals such as the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series. It’s also significantly cheaper when it comes to annual maintenance costs, which at £390.54 per annum make it among the pick of the bunch.

VW Passat

The VW Passat is one of Europe’s most popular premium saloon cars, and it’s easy to see why. This workhorse makes driving up and down the motorway an absolute breeze. And, while it may not turn too many heads based on its looks, where it matters most, in terms of efficiency, it leaves many of its rivals for dust. It also costs less than £400 a year on average to maintain.

Audi A4

If you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication to your driveway in 2022 then the Audi A4 should be at the top of your shopping list. Standard specification is now extremely generous across all models, while its touchscreen infotainment system is among the very best in the premium range. It’s also surprisingly affordable maintenance wise at £400.89 per year.

Skoda Superb

If you’re looking for comfort, refinement and oodles of space as well as a car that will make easy work of those motorway miles, but don’t want to pay the premium that is normally associated with Audi, BMW and Mercedes, then the Skoda Superb is the car for you. An out and out bargain, its annual maintenance costs are currently £409.95.

BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series needs little in the way of introduction; it is the benchmark when it comes to premium saloons. And it has been this way for over a generation thanks to a great choice of diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, timeless styling and great residual value when it's time to trade your 3 Series in for something else (usually another 3 Series). Its annual maintenance costs, though, place it in the bottom half of our Top 10 at £411.15.

Jaguar XE

While it may have been somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of the E-Pace and F-Pace, the Jaguar XE still remains a popular premium choice with distinctive styling, plenty of tech as standard and prices that will often leave the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class behind. Sadly, when it comes to annual maintenance costs it's the reverse at £412.61.

Range Rover Evoque

The Range Rover Evoque was a game changer for Land Rover. While their SUVs have always been ‘rugged’, even ‘handsome’, they’ve always been a bit on the functional side (Discovery anyone?) until the Evoque arrived. Since then, every model has been transformed, and today they lead the way when it comes to looks as well as driving ability. In terms of maintenance costs, the Range Rover Evoque averages £421.54 per year.

Mazda 6

The Mazda 6 isn’t most people’s choice of a premium car. But that’s where they are wrong; its styling, interior and drive make it more than a match for the usual suspects such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. And that is reflected in used prices which are highly reasonable. Unfortunately, it does lets itself down when it comes to yearly maintenance costs which are currently £422.22. But we'll forgive them as it is definitely a stand out option for used car buyers in 2022.

Mercedes C-Class

If you’re looking for a touch of luxury when it comes to a premium car then look no further than the Mercedes C-Class. It has an upmarket look and feel throughout, a good range of engines and a generous level of equipment as standard. Sadly, it does let itself down when it comes to its maintenance costs, at £424.03 per year on average, but given its perennial popularity, it’s clear that drivers feel it’s a price worth paying to have the Mercedes C-Class sat on their driveway.

Congratulations to the Peugeot 508 for taking the top spot on our list of cheapest used premium cars to maintain. For more advice on how to save money as a driver, click here.