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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThere is no defensible brand-wide winner. Audi, BMW and Volvo can change places depending on the exact model, powertrain, purchase price, insurance quote, depreciation and years you keep the car. A Consumer Reports estimate reported by Kelley Blue Book puts 10-year brand-level maintenance and repair costs at $9,890 for Audi, $9,500 for BMW and $9,285 for Volvo, but those are broad averages—not forecasts for a matched group of current vehicles. The reliable way to decide is to compare equivalent model years and trims over the same ownership period, using your mileage, location and financing assumptions.
What “cost to own” actually includes
Maintenance is only one line in a total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) calculation. A useful comparison includes every cash cost from purchase to sale:
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- Depreciation: the purchase price minus the vehicle’s expected sale or trade-in value at your planned exit date.
- Financing: interest and loan fees based on your amount financed, rate and term.
- Taxes and fees: sales or use tax, registration, title, documentation charges and local fees.
- Insurance: premiums for the exact vehicle and trim in your ZIP code, adjusted for your driver profile and coverage limits.
- Fuel or electricity: consumption multiplied by your annual mileage and local energy prices.
- Scheduled service: oil or fluid service, filters, inspections and manufacturer-recommended intervals.
- Wear items and repairs: tires, brakes, batteries, suspension components and failures outside warranty.
- Warranty and complimentary maintenance: the value of included coverage during the period you own the car.
Edmunds explains that its TCO figures use 15,000 miles per year for mileage-dependent costs and are intended for comparison rather than prediction. Your driving pattern, fuel prices, financing and repair market can produce a different result. See the Edmunds TCO methodology for the assumptions behind its calculator.
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The most concrete cross-brand figures available here come from Consumer Reports estimates reported by Kelley Blue Book. They represent cumulative maintenance and repair costs over 10 years at the brand level:
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| Brand | Estimated 10-year maintenance and repair cost | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Audi | $9,890 | Consumer Reports brand average reported by Kelley Blue Book; not a model-specific forecast |
| BMW | $9,500 | Consumer Reports brand average reported by Kelley Blue Book; not a model-specific forecast |
| Volvo | $9,285 | Consumer Reports brand average reported by Kelley Blue Book; not a model-specific forecast |
These values differ by only $605 from the highest to the lowest, and the underlying vehicles, ages, powertrains and driving conditions are not matched. They are useful context for budgeting, not a reason to reject a particular car. Kelley Blue Book’s report is available at this maintenance-cost analysis.
Consumer Reports also warns that maintenance expenses often increase after a factory warranty or complimentary-service period ends. Its guidance is to check predicted reliability and insurance premiums for the specific vehicles you are considering, rather than relying on a brand reputation. The organization’s maintenance discussion appears in its repair-cost analysis.
Why a single model can overturn a brand-level ranking
Vehicle size, engine, transmission, drivetrain, options and repair access can matter more than the badge. A compact sedan with a simple powertrain has a different cost profile from a large all-wheel-drive SUV or a high-output performance model, even when both carry the same logo. An electrified powertrain may reduce fuel spending while introducing different tire, brake, battery or charging costs. Those differences are hidden inside a brand average.
As an illustration of why figures must be kept in context, Kelley Blue Book’s page for the 2025 Volvo S60 displays a five-year cost to own of $71,363 against a $43,795 MSRP. The estimate is configuration-dependent and dynamic. It is a single-model-page calculation, so it cannot be ranked directly against BMW or Audi until equivalent model pages are selected with the same assumptions.
Start with an apples-to-apples vehicle match
Before entering any prices, define the comparison. Pair vehicles that serve the same purpose and are likely to be kept for the same period.
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Match the vehicle class
- Compare compact luxury SUVs with compact luxury SUVs, midsize sedans with midsize sedans, and so on.
- Do not compare a Volvo sedan with a BMW SUV simply because the purchase prices appear similar.
- Keep body style, seating capacity and cargo needs consistent so that a cheaper result is not merely a compromise in usefulness.
Match model year, trim and powertrain
- Record the exact model year, trim, engine or motor, transmission and drivetrain.
- Include major options that affect transaction price, weight, wheels, fuel use or insurance classification.
- Separate new, used and certified-pre-owned (CPO) vehicles; their depreciation and warranty assumptions are different.
Write down your personal assumptions
Use one worksheet for all candidates and record negotiated purchase price, down payment, loan amount, interest rate, term, annual miles, ownership duration, location and intended sale date. A five-year comparison with 15,000 miles per year is not interchangeable with a three-year comparison at 8,000 miles per year.
Step-by-step: build a five- or ten-year comparison
- Set the horizon. Choose the date you expect to sell or trade. If you normally keep cars beyond the warranty period, include a second, longer case.
- Enter the real transaction price. Use the negotiated price plus destination, dealer fees, taxes and registration—not just the advertised MSRP. For a used or CPO car, record mileage, condition and the CPO premium separately.
- Estimate depreciation. Find a resale estimate for the exact model, trim, age and mileage at your exit date. Use a low, base and high resale case because future used-car prices are uncertain.
- Calculate financing cost. Add total interest and loan fees. Two cars with the same cash price can have different finance costs if incentives, rates or loan terms differ.
- Obtain insurance quotes. Quote each vehicle in your location using the same liability, collision, comprehensive and deductible settings. Do not substitute a generic estimate for the selected trim.
- Project energy use. Multiply expected annual miles by the vehicle’s fuel or electricity consumption and your local price. Use your actual commute and charging access rather than a default mileage assumption when those differ materially.
- List scheduled service. Follow the maintenance schedule for that model and powertrain. Price labor and parts in your area, and note any included service period.
- Add wear items and repairs. Budget tires, brakes, batteries and likely out-of-warranty repairs. For a vehicle held past warranty, model at least a low and high repair case.
- Subtract the expected sale value. Total all ownership outlays, then subtract the estimated proceeds at the sale date. Divide by months or miles if you also want a monthly or per-mile view.
- Run a sensitivity check. Change resale, repair spending, annual miles, fuel price and insurance to see which assumption changes the ranking.
Keep every candidate on the same horizon and use the same categories. Edmunds describes its own TCO output as comparative, not predictive; your worksheet should be treated the same way.
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“Holds its value” is not a permanent brand trait. It is the difference between what you pay and what a buyer will pay for your exact car at a particular age, mileage and condition. A vehicle with a higher resale percentage can still cost more if its purchase price is substantially higher; a discounted car can have a favorable dollar loss even with a lower percentage retained.
Variables that move your resale estimate
- Trim and equipment: popular configurations can attract more buyers, while expensive options may not return their original cost.
- Powertrain: fuel prices, charging access and buyer demand can change the relative appeal of gasoline, hybrid and electric variants.
- Mileage and condition: service records, accident history, tires and cosmetic condition affect trade-in and private-sale offers.
- Market timing: supply, incentives and local demand can move used prices between the date you buy and the date you sell.
- Ownership channel: a dealer trade, private sale and online instant offer can produce different proceeds and transaction effort.
Use at least three resale scenarios. The low case protects against a weaker market or higher mileage; the base case reflects your best estimate; the high case shows how much of the result depends on optimistic appreciation. Do not present any one scenario as a guaranteed future value.
New, used or CPO: how purchase timing changes the equation
A used purchase generally avoids the steepest early depreciation because the first owner has already absorbed it. The trade-off is an older vehicle with less remaining warranty and a greater chance that age-related service is due. Consumer Reports discusses the decision among new, used and CPO vehicles in its buying guide.
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New
- You receive the newest equipment and the full applicable factory warranty.
- You usually take the largest early depreciation hit, so the planned holding period matters.
- Any included maintenance is valuable only for the months or miles you actually use it.
Used
- The lower purchase price can reduce depreciation in dollars and financing needs.
- Verify service history, accident records, tire and brake condition, open recalls and an independent inspection.
- Price likely near-term repairs instead of assuming a lower price means lower total cost.
Certified pre-owned
- CPO vehicles typically cost more than equivalent non-certified used cars because of inspection and warranty coverage.
- Read the actual coverage terms: duration, mileage limit, deductible, excluded components, roadside assistance and transferability.
- Compare the CPO premium with the cost and risk of buying a non-certified car and purchasing separate coverage.
Insurance, fuel and local repair prices can decide a close result
Insurance is vehicle- and driver-specific. A quote can change with trim, collision-repair costs, theft rates, address, age, claims history, credit-based insurance rules where permitted and chosen deductibles. Consumer Reports specifically recommends checking insurance premiums for the actual candidates. Get written quotes before treating a small maintenance difference as decisive.
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Energy costs depend on how and where you drive. Annual mileage, traffic, winter conditions, tire choice and local fuel or electricity prices matter. If one candidate is driven mostly on short trips and another on highway commutes, use separate consumption assumptions rather than applying a single average.
Repair pricing is also local. Labor rates, parts availability and the number of qualified independent shops can change the bill. Ask shops for menu pricing on scheduled services and written estimates for common wear items, then include realistic taxes and disposal fees. A lower brand-average maintenance figure does not guarantee lower pricing in your area.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reliability and warranty: translate uncertainty into a budget
Brand reputation is too broad for a purchase decision. Use model-level predicted reliability and the warranty that applies to the exact vehicle. Consumer Reports maintains separate brand pages for Volvo, BMW and Audi; check the specific model and year rather than treating a brand score as a guarantee.
Reliability information has limits. Consumer Reports notes that its new-car brand and model indicators do not establish used-car reliability or maintenance costs for every vehicle. For an older candidate, prioritize documented service, an inspection and a repair reserve.
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Build a repair reserve
- For a new car within warranty, reserve money for exclusions, deductibles, tires, brakes and routine service.
- For a used or CPO car, add a larger reserve for items not covered by the contract and for failures after coverage ends.
- Increase the reserve when the car has complex options, performance hardware, uncommon tires or limited local service capacity.
Do not count a warranty as unlimited protection. Confirm what is covered, who performs the work, whether authorization is required and when the coverage expires.
How to read the Volvo S60 example without overgeneralizing
The 2025 Volvo S60 page’s displayed $71,363 five-year TCO versus $43,795 MSRP demonstrates that ownership costs can greatly exceed the sticker price over time. That difference includes multiple categories, not just service, and the page’s calculation depends on configuration and assumptions. It does not establish that every Volvo costs that amount, nor does it provide a fair BMW-versus-Audi comparison by itself.
To use the figure responsibly, select equivalent BMW and Audi model pages, match purchase price, mileage, location and ownership duration, and record when each estimate was accessed. If one page uses different incentives, residual assumptions or mileage, place the figures in separate columns and explain the mismatch rather than ranking them.
A practical decision framework
Choose the lowest total cost
Select the vehicle with the lowest base-case total only after checking that its low and high cases remain acceptable. If the result changes when resale or repairs move modestly, treat the candidates as financially close and decide using warranty, space, driving needs and service access.
Choose the strongest value
Value is more than the smallest ownership bill. A car can justify a higher cost if it provides capabilities you would otherwise pay to add or if it reduces the risk of an unacceptable repair. State that trade-off explicitly: for example, “Candidate A costs more in the base case but remains affordable in the high-repair case,” rather than calling it universally better.
Choose the safest budget
If a surprise bill would force you to sell, favor the candidate with stronger remaining warranty, a verifiable service history, affordable insurance and a repair reserve you can fund. A mathematically lower average is not a bargain if its downside exceeds your cash buffer.
Common comparison mistakes
- Ranking brands from the 10-year averages: those figures are aggregates, not matched model forecasts.
- Comparing MSRP instead of transaction price: discounts, incentives and dealer fees change depreciation and financing.
- Ignoring the sale date: a three-year owner experiences a different depreciation curve from a ten-year owner.
- Using one insurance estimate: premiums vary by driver, address and trim.
- Assuming warranty equals zero maintenance: tires, brakes, fluids and exclusions remain.
- Mixing new, used and CPO figures: price, coverage and risk are not interchangeable.
- Using a generic fuel assumption: annual miles and local energy prices determine the actual bill.
- Forgetting taxes and fees: registration, sales tax and financing charges can erase a small apparent advantage.
- Treating a calculator output as a promise: TCO tools are scenario comparisons, not guaranteed future invoices or resale checks.
Final checklist before you buy
- Confirm the same body class, model year, trim and powertrain are being compared.
- Get an out-the-door purchase price for each candidate.
- Set annual miles, ownership years and expected sale date.
- Obtain insurance quotes using identical coverage settings.
- Price local scheduled service, tires and brakes.
- Read warranty or CPO terms and note the expiration mileage and date.
- Check model-level reliability information and arrange an independent inspection for a used car.
- Run low, base and high resale and repair scenarios.
- Keep a cash reserve for uncovered repairs and wear items.
- Choose the car whose total-cost range fits your budget, not merely the one with the lowest advertised price.
The maintenance averages provide useful scale—$9,285 for Volvo, $9,500 for BMW and $9,890 for Audi over 10 years in the cited Consumer Reports estimates—but they cannot answer a model-specific buying decision. Your exact vehicle, deal, insurance quote, driving pattern, warranty and resale assumption determine the result.
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