Average cost to drive a new car is $3,593 per 1,000 miles, based on vehicle price and usage.
Most affordable models: Mitsubishi Mirage (car), Nissan Kicks (SUV), and Ford Maverick (truck).
Most expensive model: Porsche 911, costing a staggering $60,708 per 1,000 miles.
A new study reveals staggering differences in the cost of driving new vehicles, showing that not all cars are equal when it comes to getting from point A to B.
Based on an analysis of over one million used car transactions, automotive website iSeeCars reports the average new car costs $3,593 for every 1,000 miles driven. But the gap between the least and most expensive vehicles is a whopping $59,600.
At the affordable end, the Mitsubishi Mirage tops the list at just $1,119 per 1,000 miles.
Cheapest 3-Year-Old Cars per 1,000 Miles Driven - iSeeCars Study | |||||
Rank | Model | Average New Price | Average MIles Driven per Year | Price per 1k Miles per Year | Compared to Average |
1 | Mitsubishi Mirage | $18,281 | 16,342 | $1,119 | 0.31x |
2 | Kia Rio | $18,553 | 13,988 | $1,326 | 0.37x |
3 | Chevrolet Spark | $16,982 | 12,624 | $1,345 | 0.37x |
4 | Nissan Versa | $19,250 | 13,904 | $1,384 | 0.39x |
5 | Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | $19,355 | 13,744 | $1,408 | 0.39x |
6 | Kia Soul | $22,197 | 15,590 | $1,424 | 0.40x |
7 | Toyota Corolla | $23,349 | 15,310 | $1,525 | 0.42x |
8 | Chevrolet Malibu | $28,637 | 18,762 | $1,526 | 0.42x |
9 | Hyundai Accent | $18,720 | 12,006 | $1,559 | 0.43x |
10 | Nissan Sentra | $23,045 | 13,592 | $1,695 | 0.47x |
Overall Average | $44,223 | 12,307 | $3,593 | -- | |
Meanwhile, luxury and high-performance vehicles like the Porsche 911 command $60,708 for the same distance—nearly 17 times the industry average.
Most Expensive 3-Year-Old Cars per 1,000 Miles Driven - iSeeCars Study
Rank | Model | Average New Price | Average MIles Driven per Year | Price per 1k Miles per Year | Compared to Average |
1 | Porsche 911 | $179,739 | 2,961 | $60,708 | 16.89x |
2 | Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | $160,195* | 2,679 | $59,788 | 16.64x |
3 | Porsche 911 (convertible) | $180,815 | 3,207 | $56,388 | 15.69x |
4 | Lucid Air | $247,847 | 5,784 | $42,853 | 11.93x |
5 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | $179,405* | 5,150 | $34,836 | 9.69x |
6 | Audi RS e-tron GT | $160,951 | 5,386 | $29,884 | 8.32x |
7 | Lexus LC 500 Convertible | $112,772 | 3,927 | $28,717 | 7.99x |
8 | Porsche 718 Boxster | $100,328 | 3,545 | $28,304 | 7.88x |
9 | Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) | $92,508 | 3,596 | $25,726 | 7.16x |
10 | Porsche 718 Cayman | $96,017 | 3,773 | $25,445 | 7.08x |
Overall Average | $44,223 | 12,307 | $3,593 | -- | |
Fuel type matters too. Hybrids are the most economical to operate, averaging $2,978 per 1,000 miles, while electric vehicles top the list as the most expensive at $6,428, due to high purchase prices and limited annual usage.
As car prices remain high, experts urge buyers to weigh not just sticker price, but long-term cost per mile.
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