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.

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

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.

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.

Source: Vincentric