The cheapest family SUV to own and run in 2023

It’s no secret that we’re all feeling the cost-of-living pinch in Australia at the moment. From buying groceries to purchasing a new family SUV, life is simply more expensive in 2023.

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As part of Drive's Family SUV Megatest, we evaluated 12 top-selling seven-seat SUVs and paid close attention to running costs – or, in plain terms, the recurring expenses that come with owning a car.

We included the initial purchase price, and went deep into analysing extras such as insurance premiums, resale value, warranty periods, and servicing. Some of these aspects are more important considerations than others, so we weighted our categories accordingly.

If you're keeping an eye on family expenses, here are the cheapest family SUVs in Australia to own and maintain over five years...

Volkswagen isn’t always known for affordable running costs, but the data doesn’t lie and the Tiguan Allspace showed affordable ongoing ownership costs.

Not only does it have an attractive entry price, but it also has a whopping nine years of roadside assistance. On the downside, while it's relatively frugal on the fuel front, it must be fuelled with premium unleaded.

Mitsubishi hangs its hat on a strong 10-year warranty (though it’s capped at 200,000km), as long as you keep servicing your car at its wide-ranging network of service centres.

This, plus the Mitsubishi’s affordable purchase price, ensure the Outlander is among the most affordable seven-seat cars to own in its segment.

Honda’s new era is well-known for its affordable service pricing at just $199 each visit. It’s one-price promise also means no haggling at the dealership. But service pricing is likely to increase after the first five visits, and the insurance costs are very high. This is why lags behind its rivals in ownership costs.

In fourth place, the Nissan X-Trail ST-L is a household name when it comes to family transport and this latest generation has a lot to boast in terms of features, driving capability, and comfort levels.

However, of the medium SUVs we evaluated, it has the worst resale and is the most expensive on initial purchase price. It also uses 10,000km service intervals which equals more service visits in the long run, based on averages.

While it was one of the oldest cars on our test, the Hyundai Santa Fe Active packs a punch in the running costs stakes. The South Korean brand offers roadside assistance coverage for life, plus the Santa Fe retains 90 per cent of its value after three years and its fuel cost over 15,000km is the cheapest of its size class. It placed fifth for ownership costs.

Claiming sixth place in the rankings, the Skoda Kodiaq Style starts out as the most affordable large SUV in its group, but that price quickly balloons with costly options packages – our car as-tested is $10,000 more than its list price. To its credit, the included warranty and roadside assistance programs are generous, but it does require premium unleaded petrol.

The Toyota Kluger GXL in seventh place has long been an attractive option for seven-seat buyers on a budget. Its service costs are very affordable in comparison to rivals, and it’s also the most frugal on fuel. Funnily, Toyota’s renowned resale values mean this SUV could be worth more than it was new, even after three years.

Unfortunately, it doesn't offer complimentary roadside assistance and its purchase price is higher than some of its smaller peers, while its five-year warranty term lags behind rivals.

It was once our Drive Car of the Year and it remains one of the flashiest options in its size segment, but the Kia Sorento GT-Line (which ranked eighth for ownership costs) is pricey when it comes to insurance costs and fuel use.

On the plus side, the Sorento offers a no-caveat seven-year warranty and up to eight years of roadside assistance.

In ninth place, the Mazda CX-8 GT SP sits within the large SUV group where running costs get pricier. The Mazda might be one of the most expensive large SUVs to buy, but its service pricing is the most affordable and its insurance premium is fair. It also only requires regular unleaded fuel.

The Mazda CX-9 GT SP in 10th place is a long-running large SUV nameplate but the current generation is starting to age in this company. It annoyingly succumbs to 10,000km service intervals which mean you’ll have to get it serviced more often if you drive up to 15,000km per year. However, it remains affordable when it comes to resale value. It also comes without expensive options packages as it’s already well-equipped.

It’s the most expensive car to buy on test and also one of the biggest, which means the Hyundai Palisade Highlander's running costs are right up there amongst the most expensive, placing it at number 11 in the rankings. However, the 80 per cent three-year retained value and generous roadside assistance coverage is welcome.

Finally, the Nissan Pathfinder Ti is one of the brand’s newest cars on sale but it’s also one of the most expensive cars to run in our entire running costs analysis, landing it in 12th place.

This isn’t helped by a big, thirsty engine, nor is its three-year retained value anything to boast about. Considering it’s the second-most-expensive car in the comparison, budget-savvy shoppers are better served elsewhere.

To see all the other categories and cars tested, follow the link to get your comprehensive guide to the best family SUV's in Australia for 2023.