Cheapest cars to run 2026: nine new cars ranked by monthly cost

1. 1

   1. Volkswagen Polo VI

   Cheapest overall

   Production years

   2017–present

   Body type

   Sedan, Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Diesel

   Power output

   48–147 kW (65–200 PS)

   The Polo 1.0 Trend has the lowest total in this list: ADAC puts it at €561 a month or 44.9 cents per km. Depreciation of €218 a month is also the lowest here. The 1.0-litre petrol has 59 kW (80 PS), uses 5.4 l/100 km WLTP and costs €77 a year in German vehicle tax. Insurance type classes are 13 for liability, 16 for comprehensive and 18 for partial cover. The boot holds 351 litres. The drawback: with 80 PS it is slow on motorways, and fuel costs of €174 a month are among the highest here.

   Pros

   • ��561 a month, the lowest here
   • Lowest depreciation at €218 a month
   • Low insurance classes (13/16/18)

   Cons

   • Only 59 kW (80 PS)

   Spec sheet: Volkswagen Polo VI 1.0 MPI 65 48 kW (65 PS)

   Full review: Volkswagen Polo VI →
2. 2

   2. SEAT Ibiza 6F

   Lowest insurance costs

   Production years

   2017–present

   Body type

   Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Diesel, LPG / CNG

   The Ibiza 1.0 MPI has the same 59 kW (80 PS) output as the Polo and one of the lowest list prices here, €19,910 in Germany. ADAC calculates €573 a month or 45.9 cents per km. Its insurance type classes of 14, 14 and 17 are the lowest in this list, and workshop costs of €49 a month are the lowest too. The engine uses 5.2 l/100 km WLTP and is taxed at €68 a year. The boot holds 355 litres. The drawback: it loses €241 a month in value, more than the Polo.

   Pros

   • Lowest insurance classes here (14/14/17)
   • ��49 a month workshop costs
   • List price of €19,910

   Cons

   • Higher depreciation than the Polo

   Full review: SEAT Ibiza 6F →
3. 3

   3. Toyota Aygo AB70

   Lowest fuel costs

   Production years

   2022–present

   Body type

   Crossover

   Fuel

   Petrol, Hybrid

   Power output

   53–85 kW (72–116 PS)

   The facelifted Aygo X comes with a 1.5-litre full hybrid and is the most frugal car here at 3.7 l/100 km WLTP. ADAC puts its running costs at €125 a month, the lowest of any combustion car in this list, and German vehicle tax at just €30 a year. The total is €605 a month or 48.4 cents per km. It costs from €21,990. The drawbacks: fixed costs are high at €162 a month because of insurance classes 18, 23 and 20, and Euro NCAP gave the Aygo X only four stars in 2025.

   Pros

   • 3.7 l/100 km WLTP
   • ��125 a month running costs
   • ��30 a year vehicle tax

   Cons

   • High insurance classes and four-star Euro NCAP (2025)

   Spec sheet: Toyota Aygo AB70 1.0 l VVT-i 53 kW (72 PS)

   Full review: Toyota Aygo AB70 →
4. 4

   4. Hyundai i20 BC3

   Longest warranty

   Production years

   2020–present

   Body type

   Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Hybrid

   Power output

   62–88 kW (84–120 PS)

   The facelifted i20 1.0 T-GDI Select costs €634 a month to run, or 50.8 cents per km, according to ADAC. The turbocharged three-cylinder has 66 kW (90 PS), uses 5.7 l/100 km WLTP and is taxed at €90 a year in Germany. What sets the i20 apart is its five-year vehicle warranty, together with five years of European roadside cover, which limits the risk of large repair bills. It costs from €21,950 and has a 352-litre boot. The drawbacks: fuel costs are the highest here at €181 a month, and Euro NCAP gave four stars in 2021.

   Pros

   • Five-year vehicle warranty
   • Five-year Europe-wide mobility guarantee
   • 352-litre boot

   Cons

   • ��181 a month fuel costs

   Spec sheet: Hyundai i20 BC3 Petrol 62 kW (84 PS)

   Full review: Hyundai i20 BC3 →
5. 5

   5. Renault Clio VI

   Cheapest new design

   Production years

   2025–present

   Body type

   Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

   The sixth-generation Clio went on sale in Germany in January 2026. ADAC calculates €638 a month or 51.1 cents per km for the TCe 115 Evolution, which has 84 kW (115 PS), the most power of the cheap petrol cars here. It uses 5.1 l/100 km WLTP and costs from €19,900, the lowest list price in this table. Depreciation of €229 a month is the second lowest here. The drawbacks: fixed costs are the highest in this list at €172 a month because of insurance classes 18, 24 and 21, and Euro NCAP gave the new Clio four stars in 2025.

   Pros

   • 84 kW (115 PS) for €19,900
   • 5.1 l/100 km WLTP
   • ��229 a month depreciation

   Cons

   • Highest fixed costs here at €172 a month

   Full review: Renault Clio VI →
6. 6

   6. Peugeot 208 II

   Best equipped

   Production years

   2019–present

   Body type

   Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Diesel, Electric

   Power output

   55–115 kW (75–156 PS)

   The facelifted 208 1.2 Turbo 100 Style costs €640 a month or 51.3 cents per km, according to ADAC. Its 74 kW (101 PS) engine uses 5.1 l/100 km WLTP and is taxed at €66 a year. Insurance classes of 18, 20 and 21 are moderate, and the boot holds 352 litres. Its list price is €24,480 in Germany. The drawbacks: depreciation of €267 a month is among the highest of the small cars here.

   Pros

   • 5.1 l/100 km WLTP
   • Moderate insurance classes
   • 352-litre boot

   Cons

   • ��267 a month depreciation

   Spec sheet: Peugeot 208 II PureTech 75 55 kW (75 PS)

   Full review: Peugeot 208 II →
7. 7

   7. Opel Corsa F

   Lower price than the 208

   Production years

   2019–present

   Body type

   Hatchback

   Fuel

   Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric

   The Corsa 1.2 DI Turbo Edition has 74 kW (100 PS), uses 5.1 l/100 km WLTP and is taxed at €66 a year. ADAC calculates €658 a month or 52.7 cents per km. Running costs of €164 a month match the 208, while the list price is lower at €23,340. The drawbacks: the 309-litre boot is the smallest here, and depreciation of €269 a month and workshop costs of €76 are the highest of the small petrol cars.

   Pros

   • 5.1 l/100 km WLTP
   • ��66 a year vehicle tax
   • Running costs equal to the Peugeot 208

   Cons

   • 309-litre boot and €269 a month depreciation

   Full review: Opel Corsa F →
8. 8

   8. Toyota Corolla E210

   Cheapest family-size car to run

   Production years

   2018–present

   Body type

   Sedan, Hatchback, Station wagon

   Fuel

   Petrol, Hybrid

   Power output

   85–144 kW (116–196 PS)

   For buyers who need more than a small car, the Corolla 1.8 Hybrid is the cheapest-running larger model here. ADAC calculates €746 a month or 59.7 cents per km. The 103 kW (140 PS) hybrid uses 4.4 l/100 km WLTP, so running costs are only €144 a month, and German tax is €46 a year. Workshop costs of €57 a month are as low as the Clio's. The drawbacks: it costs from €33,340, so depreciation is €380 a month, and the hatchback's boot holds just 361 litres.

   Pros

   • 4.4 l/100 km WLTP
   • ��57 a month workshop costs
   • ��46 a year vehicle tax

   Cons

   • ��380 a month depreciation; 361-litre boot

   Spec sheet: Toyota Corolla E210 1.2 Turbo 85 kW (116 PS)

   Full review: Toyota Corolla E210 →
9. 9

   9. Tesla Model 3

   Cheapest electric car to run

   Production years

   2016–present

   Body type

   Sedan

   Fuel

   Electric

   Power output

   170–393 kW (231–534 PS)

   The Model 3 shows how an electric car changes the cost structure. ADAC puts its running costs at only €92 a month, the lowest in this list, thanks to 12.2 kWh/100 km WLTP. German vehicle tax is €62 a year without the exemption for electric cars, and insurance classes are 18, 22 and 21. But depreciation of €444 a month pushes the total to €789, or 63.1 cents per km. The rear-wheel-drive version costs from €36,990. The drawback: it is the most expensive car to own in this list.

   Pros

   • ��92 a month running costs
   • 12.2 kWh/100 km WLTP
   • 594-litre boot

   Cons

   • ��444 a month depreciation

   Spec sheet: Tesla Model 3 RWD (2023 refresh) 208 kW (283 PS)

   Full review: Tesla Model 3 →

Data ranking: Most economical cars - all 256 models in our catalog with a figure, ranked by the numbers.