A photo of the Chevrolet Trax, a compact crossover SUV.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax (1LS model) had the lowest adjusted invoice, third lowest depreciation, and second lowest overall TCO of the vehicles in this analysis.

Photo: General Motors

Compact crossovers (also called compact SUVs) are known for their high ride height, good visibility, and room for supplies, combined with respectable fuel economy and great residual value retention. It’s no wonder they’re the most popular segment for fleets running passenger vehicles.

With this in mind, we set out to discover the compact crossover models with the lowest total cost of ownership. To do so, we asked the lifecycle cost experts at Vincentric to crunch the numbers on compact crossover models for the 2024 model year.

Adjusted Invoice
Make Model Series Adjusted Invoice Fuel Maintenance Depreciation TCO
 Chevrolet  Trax  1LS  19,666  12,826  10,552  13,770  55,557
 Buick  Envista  Preferred  21,594  12,826  13,148  14,723  59,694
 Volkswagen  Taos  S  23,035  12,100  11,900  17,680  60,882
 Buick  Envista  Sport Touring  23,232  12,826  13,148  15,311  60,772
 Mitsubishi  Outlander Sport  S  23,423  14,877  12,424  18,934  66,756
 Subaru  Crosstrek  Base  23,826  12,679  10,093  10,480  52,366
 Chevrolet  Equinox  LS  25,376  13,530  13,717  19,183  67,060
 Subaru  Forester  2.5i  25,490  13,115  10,599  13,880  57,269
 Jeep  Compass  Sport  25,680  13,852  11,535  15,166  60,410
 Mitsubishi  Eclipse Cross  ES  26,024  14,506  10,848  21,528  68,435

Source: Vincentric

The analysis covers a total of 230 configurations for these 36 models:

  • Buick Envista
  • Buick Envision
  • Chevrolet Trax
  • Chevrolet Equinox
  • Chevrolet Equinox EV
  • Ford Escape
  • Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
  • Ford Bronco
  • Ford Bronco Sport
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E
  • GMC Terrain
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5
  • Jeep Compass
  • Kia Sportage
  • Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
  • Kia EV6
  • Mazda CX-5
  • Mazda CX-50
  • Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
  • Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid
  • Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Nissan Rogue
  • Nissan Ariya
  • Subaru Crosstrek
  • Subaru Forester
  • Subaru Solterra
  • Toyota RAV4
  • Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • Toyota bZ4X
  • Volkswagen Taos
  • Volkswagen Tiguan
  • Volkswagen ID.4
Depreciation
Make Model Series Adjusted Invoice Fuel Maintenance Depreciation TCO
 Subaru  Crosstrek  Base  23,826  12,679  10,093  10,480  52,366
 Toyota  RAV4  LE  26,624  12,493  12,923  13,721  59,560
 Chevrolet  Trax  1LS  19,666  12,826  10,552  13,770  55,557
 Subaru  Forester  2.5i  25,490  13,115  10,599  13,880  57,269
 Buick  Envista  Preferred  21,594  12,826  13,148  14,723  59,694
 Jeep  Compass  Sport  25,680  13,852  11,535  15,166  60,410
 Ford  Bronco  Big Bend  38,152  18,696  13,116  15,359  72,169
 Nissan  Rogue  S  26,276  11,533  9,997  17,528  59,857
 Volkswagen  Taos  S  23,035  12,100  11,900  17,680  60,882
 Mitsubishi  Outlander Sport  S  23,423  14,877  12,424  18,934  66,756

Source: Vincentric

These vehicle configurations include internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, battery-electric (BEV), and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) models. To achieve the rankings, we analyzed all configurations and powertrains and chose the best TCO within a model’s series, and then ranked the next best model.

To arrive at overall TCO, Vincentric calculated its standard eight cost elements: depreciation, financing, fees and taxes, fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and opportunity cost over a five-year period at 20,000 miles a year.

The analysis ranks the 10 models with the lowest expenses in these categories: adjusted invoice (invoice minus fleet incentives), depreciation, fuel, maintenance, and overall TCO.

We present the data ranked in four ways: by lowest adjusted invoice, depreciation, and overall TCO. We then broke out models that have ICE, BEV, and PHEV versions (or close proximity) and compared their ownership costs.

Overall TCO
Make Model Series Adjusted Invoice Fuel Maintenance Depreciation TCO
 Subaru  Crosstrek  Base  23,826  12,679  10,093  10,480  52,366
 Chevrolet  Trax  1LS  19,666  12,826  10,552  13,770  55,557
 Subaru  Forester  2.5i  25,490  13,115  10,599  13,880  57,269
 Toyota  RAV4  LE  26,624  12,493  12,923  13,721  59,560
 Buick  Envista  Preferred  21,594  12,826  13,148  14,723  59,694
 Nissan  Rogue  S  26,276  11,533  9,997  17,528  59,857
 Jeep  Compass  Sport  25,680  13,852  11,535  15,166  60,410
 Volkswagen  Taos  S  23,035  12,100  11,900  17,680  60,882
Hyundai  Tucson  SE  26,400  13,579  10,160  19,476  63,084
 Jeep  Compass  Latitude  29,688  13,852  11,535  17,274  63,729

Source: Vincentric

Compact Crossover TCO Observations

Sorting and evaluating the data in various ways, here’s what we found:

  • When calculating TCO that includes each model’s trim levels, Subaru models (Crosstrek and Forester) took five of the top 10 spots in the overall TCO category. Chevrolet Trax took the other five.
  • When calculating TCO that includes each model’s trim levels, Chevrolet Trax occupies five of the top ten spots in the adjusted invoice category.
  • One could acquire two Subaru Crosstrek Base models (the lowest overall TCO) for the price of a single Kia EV6 GT, which has the highest TCO of any of the 36 models.
  • The highest trim levels/most luxurious configurations uniformly had the highest adjusted invoice, highest depreciation, and worst overall TCO.
  • When measured against battery-electric (BEV) models, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) took six of the Top 10 spots.
  • No BEV or PHEV bested its comparable ICE model in overall TCO, though PHEVs were uniformly closer in TCO than pure BEVs.
  • PHEVs balance medium initial costs, lower fuel/power expenses than their ICE counterparts, and better depreciation compared to BEV models that add up to a combined lower TCO.
  • Five Subaru Crosstrek trim levels took the top five spots in the depreciation category, followed by the Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet Trax, which took the six to 10 spots.
  • Of the five cost factors calculated, maintenance had the least variability. 
  • In terms of overall TCO by brand, Subaru scored eight models in the top 25. Chevrolet was next with five on the strength of the Chevrolet Trax.
  • The Chevrolet Trax 1LS has the lowest adjusted invoice of any compact crossover at $19,666, while the highest is the Ford Bronco Heritage Limited Edition, which costs $67,246.
TCO Comparisons, BEV, PHEV, ICE Models
Make Model Series Adjusted Invoice Fuel Maintenance Depreciation TCO
 Chevrolet  Equinox  LS  25,376  13,530  13,717  19,183  67,060
 Chevrolet  Equinox EV  2LT  41,900  5,095  10,116  35,232  78,652
Ford  Escape  Base 1.5L  27,160  12,679  11,548  19,742  64,828
 Ford  Escape  Plug-In Hybrid  38,880  6,750  9,354  26,362  66,158
 Ford  Mustang Mach-E  Select  39,195  5,290  8,866  32,085  71,867
 Hyundai  Tucson  SE  26,400  13,579  10,160  19,476  63,084
 Hyundai  Tucson Plug-In Hybrid  SEL  37,408  8,466  9,121  26,209  66,737
 Hyundai  Ioniq 5  SE Standard Range  41,382  4,900  8,584  38,042  76,423
 Kia  Sportage  LX  26,375  13,366  12,236  18,441  64,057
 Kia  Sportage Plug-In Hybrid  X-Line  38,997  8,125  9,490  25,663  66,907
 Kia  EV6  Light  41,748  4,570  8,370  35,973  73,817
 Mitsubishi  Outlander  ES  28,055  14,081  11,266  23,037  70,345
 Mitsubishi  Outlander Plug-In Hybrid  ES  40,271  10,401  10,357  34,253  80,408
 Nissan  Rogue  S  26,276  11,533  9,997  17,528  59,857
 Nissan  Ariya  Engage  39,590  5,420  8,304  29,125  67,989
 Subaru  Crosstrek  Base  23,826  12,679  10,093  10,480  52,366
 Subaru  Solterra  Premium  43,268  5,330  7,635  34,425  73,838
 Toyota  RAV4  LE  26,624  12,493  12,923  13,721  59,560
 Toyota  RAV4 PRIME  SE  40,834  6,834  12,034  20,631  63,937
 Toyota  bZ4X  XLE  40,916  4,605  10,553  33,703  74,170
 Volkswagen  Taos  S  23,035  12,100  11,900  17,680  60,882
 Volkswagen  ID.4  Standard  38,146  5,095  7,961  30,721  67,536

Source: Vincentric

Want to compare lifecycle costs by vehicle model? Use this search tool

About the author
Chris Brown

Chris Brown

Associate Publisher

As associate publisher of Automotive Fleet, Auto Rental News, and Fleet Forward, Chris Brown covers all aspects of fleets, transportation, and mobility.

View Bio
0 Comments