the cheapest car to own and run The cheapest new car to own and run is the Mitsubishi Mirage, according to the NRMA's 2013 Running Costs study. The annual study looks at the entire cost of ownership, including fuel, servicing, registration, CTP insurance, maintenance and depreciation. It uses all of these factors to calculate an average weekly cost. The Mirage - which is priced from $12,990 drive-away, and won Drive's budget car comparison test earlier this year - pipped the Suzuki Alto and was praised for offering weekly running costs of $93.29 per week - $3 lower than its rival. NRMA also pointed to the added benefit of a five-star ANCAP crash rating. In the medium car segment, the $26,490 Volkswagen Jetta 118TSI manual was found to offer the best ownership cost prospects, with a calculated weekly cost of $170.78. For large cars, Holden's LPG-powered $37,490 VF Commodore Evoke came up trumps, with weekly costs of $225.04. The Holden Caprice won its class for large cars over $60,000, with running costs of $320.49. The model tested was the pre-updated version, but the NRMA says the new model with its LPG-fuelled V6, priced from $54,490, would likely offer up similar running costs. For compact SUVs under $40,000, the cheapest to own was found to be the Suzuki Jimny, but that model will soon be phased out. The next best was the circa-$25,000 Nissan Dualis, with weekly costs of $162.95. Audi's Q3 2.0 TDI was found to be the cheapest in the luxury compact SUV class (over $40,000 - it costs from $44,800), with weekly costs of $228.42. In the next size category up for vehicles under $50,000, the $25,490 Kia Sportage Si was the best performer ($162.54 per week), while for models over $50,000, the circa-$50k Range Rover Evoque Ed4 triumphed ($250.70 per week). For large SUVs under $60,000, Holden's $32,490 Captiva 7 SX was the cheapest to own and run ($193.04 per week). For over $60K, the $63,490 Volvo XC70 D5 topped, rated at $291.97 per week. The cheapest seven-seat car to own and run was found to be Kia Rondo Si, with running fees of $180.70. It starts at $29,990. Ute buyers won't be surprised to learn the Great Wall Motors V240 2WD and 4WD models won their categories as the most affordable utes, primarily based on their low buy-in price, from $17,990 drive-away for the 2WD and $20,990 drive-away for the 4WD. A second micro-study performed by NRMA looked at the costs of driving from five Sydney suburbs into the city, and it found the most expensive commuter to own and run is the $245,000 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series. The research suggests it could cost as much as $1700 per week more than a city car, mainly due to depreciation. Cheapest cars to run in each class Class Make & Model Cost per week ($) Light under $20,000 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Light over $20,000 Suzuki Swift GLX Small under $35,000 Proton Gen.2 GX Small over $35,000 Volvo C30 diesel Medium under $50,000 Volkswagen Jetta 118TSI Medium over $50,000 Peugeot 508 GT Large under $60,000 Holden Commodore Evoke Large over $60,000 Holden Caprice People Mover Kia Rondo Si Hot HB Sed-Wag under $80,00 Hot HB Sed-Wag over $80,000 Audi A5 Sportback Sports car under $80,000 Fiat 500C Lounge Sports car over $80,000 Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI Sport SUV Compact under $40,000 Suzuki Jimny Sierra SUV Compact over $40,000 SUV Medium under $50,000 Kia Sportage Si SUV Medium over $50,000 Range Rover Evoque Ed4 Pure SUV Large Luxury under $60,000 Holden Captiva 7 SX SUV Large Luxury over $60,000 Volvo XC70 D5 Utility-Cab Chassis 2WD Great Wall Motors V240 Utility-Cab Chassis 4WD Van Holden Combo