Top 10 cheapest hatchbacks to maintain

Brits love their hatchbacks. Not only are they extremely practical, they're also nice and roomy, come with a good choice of engines (including hybrid and electric), are packed full of cool technology and, increasingly these days, look the part.

When it comes to choosing which model you want to drive, it’s easy to focus solely on the price of the car, but equal consideration needs to be given to how much your car is likely to cost to maintain, otherwise what seemed like a bargain buy at the time could end up becoming a millstone around your neck.

That’s why the team at WhoCanFixMyCar have analysed all the hatchbacks on the road today to identify which ones will cost you the least to maintain each year in terms of average MOT, Full Service, Interim Service and Aircon Regas prices.

Cheapest hatchbacks in the UK

Peugeot 208

If you are in the market for a stylish, small hatchback then you can’t go wrong with the Peugeot 208. Packed full of cute detailing, tidy curves and “instant kerb appeal” according to What Car, the Peugeot 208 is equally impressive when it comes to regular maintenance costs with the average full and interim service costs the best in class – by a country mile!

Cost: £380.28 per year*

Ford Focus

There is a reason why the Ford Focus tends to dominate the sales charts year after year. Not only is it the best in class in terms of drive, but it has the looks to match, lots of practicality and great technology together with a wide choice of engines, all of which are punchy but refined at the same time. To that award-winning package, you can also add extremely competitive maintenance costs.

Cost: £386.04*

Vauxhall Astra

How to describe the Vauxhall Astra? The best summary we’ve seen around is a “capable, comfortable and efficient all-rounder” according to Auto Car. Competitively priced, both new and used, the Vauxhall Astra looks great inside and out. It’s also equally impressive when it comes to maintenance costs.

Cost: £387.36*

Toyota Corolla

Not a lot of people know this, but the humble Toyota Corolla is actually the world’s best-selling car. Over 44 million units have been shifted to date since it burst onto the scene in the mid-1960s. It’s easy to see why, with lots of refinement, great build quality and excellent handling ability to name but a few. It’s also great value for money when it comes to servicing, with the average cost of a full service only bettered by the Peugeot 208.

Cost: £390.59*

Audi A3

The Audi A3 rounds off our Top 5. We did have to check the figures several times given the usually high maintenance costs associated with owning an Audi, but we were right, which will be welcome news for anyone considering buying one of these sought-after premium hatchbacks.  

Cost: £391.72*

VW Golf

The VW Golf has been a sales sensation ever since it first rolled off the production line in the early 1970s. So much so that, according to Eurekar, someone in the world buys a VW Golf every 40 seconds. And it’s easy to see why it's still such a family car motoring icon, with its rich blend of practicality, build quality, road handling and classy image, as anyone who has ever owned a VW Golf can testify to.

Cost: £392.00*

MINI Hatchback

While the VW Golf enjoys iconic status, the MINI is right there up in the legendary category, given that it was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century behind the Ford Model T. Although the new generation MINI is lot longer and wider than its predecessor (and now also comes with five doors), it’s still at heart the same car as the same one that first rolled off the production line in the late 1950s.

Cost: £393.82*

Did You Know?

The world record for the most people you can fit into a MINI is 66.

Seat Leon

If you are in the market for a VW Golf but your budget won’t stretch that far, you should take a serious look at the Seat Leon. While it may not have the wow factor of its more illustrious cousin, it's built on the same platform, so it’s just as good to drive, comes with lots of space in the rear and features all of the latest digital technology. It’s also competitively priced when it comes to maintenance costs with only the average price of an interim service letting the side down.

Cost: £395.49*

Mazda 3

If you’re looking for something a little different for a family hatchback then the Mazda 3 would be right up there among the front runners. Not only does it look good, but with its build quality, level of technology and road handling, it represents overall great value for money when compared with stalwarts such as the VW Golf. The only mark against it comes from its average maintenance costs.

Cost: £396.31*

BMW 1 Series

Now this is definitely one premium hatchback we didn’t expect to see in our Top 10. A regular on our roads since the early 1990s, the BMW 1 Series is much loved - and for good reason. A rear-wheel drive until it’s most recent incarnation, the BMW 1 Series has it all: looks, performance, fuel economy and residual value. It’s also surprisingly economical in terms of maintenance costs with only the average price of a full service where it lets itself down.

Cost: £396.93*

*Prices based on the average cost for that model of an annual MOT, Full Service, Interim Service and Aircon Regas