The Cheapest Family Cars to Maintain

Ellie Dyer-Brown, 2 months ago

5 min read

  • Cost
Ford Focus 2020 01

WhoCanFixMyCar reveals which family cars are the cheapest to maintain.

Buying a new car is often an exciting experience, and it’s easy to get carried away with the idea of a particular model without considering the practicalities of owning it. So, if it’s time to upgrade the family car, WhoCanFixMyCar is here to make the process as straightforward as possible by looking closer at the annual maintenance costs. 

Find out which cars are the most and least affordable to maintain in this guide based on average MOTfull serviceinterim service and aircon regas prices.


Top ten family cars

Top 10Total average cost
Ford Focus£430.77
Vauxhall Mokka£431.74
Volkswagen Golf£444.83
Toyota Corolla£446.09
SEAT Leon£447.94
Nissan Qashqai£448.82
Renault Captur449.16
Dacia Duster455.43
Hyundai Tucson£455.67
Kia Sportage£455.69

1. Ford Focus

Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is one of the most popular hatchbacks on UK roads, and with good reason. Fun to drive and brilliant to handle, the latest iteration of this car offers even more legroom, boot space, and a better-quality interior build. Plus, on average, it costs just £430.77 a year to maintain, meaning it ticks all the boxes that make it a great family car.

A full service will set you back £190.06 on average, while an interim service comes in at £129.70, the second-cheapest average price.

Read about common problems with the Ford Focus here.

2. Vauxhall Mokka

Vauxhall Mokka

Vauxhall’s stylish Mokka recently won the TopGear 2021 Design of the Year award, and it isn’t just the Mokka’s appearance that’s impressive; it’s also pretty cheap to maintain, coming in at £431.74 a year on average.

The Mokka has the cheapest average price for an aircon regas at £62.45.

3. Volkswagen Golf

A white VW Golf from 2021.

The Golf, now in its eighth generation, is one of the most successful car models of all time. In 2020, it was crowned 'Best All-Rounder' at Autocar's Britain's Best Car Awards and 'Family Car of the Year' at The Sunday Times Motor Awards.

It doesn't have the budget car credentials of rivals like the Skoda Fabia, but it is reasonably affordable to maintain, costing £444.83 on average for a full and interim service, MOT and aircon regas.

This guide discusses common problems with the Golf.

4. Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla

In 2019, the Corolla returned to our roads after a gap of more than ten years with a new, sharp look and feel, providing everything you want from a family hatchback without the “Made in Germany” premium.

It’s faster than the Honda Civic - a close rival - but never compromises on economy. The good news is that it’s also cheap to maintain, costing £446.09 a year on average.

Check out our guide to common problems experienced by the Toyota Corolla.

5. SEAT Leon

Seat Leon Cupra 2

Now in its fourth generation, the SEAT Leon is a close rival to the perennially popular Volkswagen Golf. It's cheaper to buy and just as good to drive, but it costs slightly more to maintain.

On average, the Leon costs £447.94 a year - £1.26 more than the Golf - putting it in fifth place on our list. As far as family cars go, we think it’s a great choice, offering comfort, a smooth drive and plenty of tech as standard.

6. Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

The Qashqai is a superb family SUV that comes with plenty of standard safety kit and delivers decent performance across the board. It costs £448.82 on average to maintain, with an average full service price of £191.09.

Read about common problems with the Nissan Qashqai.

7. Renault Captur

Renault Captur (2)

Hugely practical with a spacious cabin, the Renault Captur is unsurprisingly one of the most popular small SUVs on the market with families. And at just £449.16 a year to maintain, there’s very little not to like about this model.

8. Dacia Duster

iStock-Dacia Duster3

The Dacia Duster might not be the best looking family car on the market, but it performs well where it counts the most; it’s dependable, affordable to buy and cheap to run at just £455.43 a year on average. It's the second-cheapest model for a full service, costing on average £187.58.

Find out what common problems are experienced by the Dacia Duster here.

9. Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

The Tucson is a spacious and well-made SUV that has soared in popularity in recent years - and it's easy to see why. It was named 'Car of the Year' at the Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2022, earning praise for its practicality and comfort. On average, the Tucson costs £455.67 for a full and interim service, MOT and aircon regas, putting it in ninth place.

10. Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

Rounding off our top ten family cars is the Kia Sportage, which has a string of awards under its belt, including 'Best Family SUV' at the WhatCar? Car of the Year Awards 2023. With a huge boot and a stylish, well-made interior, there's a lot to like about the Sportage, including its total annual maintenance cost, which comes in at £455.69 on average.

Read about common problems with the Kia Sportage in this guide.


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