I am not a big believer of Consumer Reports rankings because it is a captured survey. Hardly a blind scientific methodology. But you might find this surprising...
CR cost of maintenance...
CR cost of maintenance...
Consumer Reports Ranking on 10 year maintenance costs...
- Thread starter JeffKeryk
- Start date
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
I’m trying to wrap my head around the discrepancies between the core brands and their luxury equivalents. Toyota, Nissan and Honda are 3rd, 8th and 10th lowest respectively. However, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are 18, 23 and 22.
I wonder if the difference is because of higher parts costs or higher labor rates for dealership service? Or do the luxury brands specify different service schedules? Does an oil change at the Lexus dealer cost more than at Toyota? Or are luxury car owners with money to burn more likely to fall victim to upselling?
I wonder if the difference is because of higher parts costs or higher labor rates for dealership service? Or do the luxury brands specify different service schedules? Does an oil change at the Lexus dealer cost more than at Toyota? Or are luxury car owners with money to burn more likely to fall victim to upselling?
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Buick? This is a perfect example of why this saying about statistics is true: "Statistics is like a bikini, shows a lot, but covers most important parts."
Luxury brands costing more....It may be the owners of luxury brands don't do things like change a tail light bulb.
More fancy trouble prone features.
More fancy trouble prone features.
Likely a combination of all those factors.
I mean I get Tesla and the big 3 still build trucks & SUV's that aren't money pits.
There I am again, bringing up the rear!
Again, Consumer Reports is a captured survey; they get their responses from their subscribers. This is invalid from the start. As @edyvw says, let's take Buick, for example. How many Buicks are in this survey? Perhaps statistically zero as compared to say, Toyota.
Where are the cars located? California sells a lotta Toyotas; the Mid West sells Buicks...
There is truth to be gleaned from statistics; I made a career out of them. But you have to take a deep, open minded look into them.
The answers are in the details; high level observations have to be considered suspect. I tried to make this clear in my original post.
CR should have factored in the astronomical cost of EV battery replacement. If not in 10 years shortly thereafter.
There are a lot of factors.
Labor rates generally speaking are higher for "luxury" makes because it's luxury and the vehicles have more content which means more labor hours on repairs.
Another difference is in units sold. For example in 2023 Toyota sold almost as many Camrys as BMWUSA sold in cars/SUVS (290k Camrys vs 362k BMWs). Lower overall units also mean gross margins must be higher and parts become a more important as a profit center.
I don't think that would be reasonable. Hypothetical future costs are a completely different topic.
Do you know that they didn't? I have no idea. Early Tesla car batteries would have increased the costs; newer cars have better batteries so the numbers should get better.
Luxury cars ownership costs tend to be higher from fancy electronics. Getting into a Lexus or BMW dash can be pricey.
What's the maintenance cost for the average BITOG member? You know, with the hoard of oil averaging $1 per quart.
I subscribe and had the same thoughts about Lexus vs. Toyota and other such brands being so far apart. I don't follow as much any more, but they used to be very similar, if not the same, drivetrains and such. Like it always shocked me when an Escalade is rated better than a Suburban in whatever magazine (not necessarily CR). It's the same car.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2026
None of my GM cars have been money pits. I am not sure how this list is even made. I have had the Malibu since 2015. I have a set of brakes, oil changes, 1 set of spark plugs, a set of tires, one coolant flush and 1 broken exhaust manifold bolt, 1 air filter. I didn't see it but they don't really break down what the "Maintenance" cost are. I don't know how the Buick is less than Chevrolet. They use the same stuff.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2026
This is certainly part of it, plus some of the luxury cars have different suspensions which get pricey when the fail.
The results look quite reasonable.
The big surprise for me is the difference between Toyota and Lexus. Both very reliable vehicles - with Lexus being slightly better than Toyota if anything. Could be a difference in hourly rates, but probably more Toyota owners are DIY types. And there are some fairly basic Toyotas (Corollas et al) and no basic Lexi.
A true comparison would be between Avalons and ES350s. Maybe little or no difference in costs.
The big surprise for me is the difference between Toyota and Lexus. Both very reliable vehicles - with Lexus being slightly better than Toyota if anything. Could be a difference in hourly rates, but probably more Toyota owners are DIY types. And there are some fairly basic Toyotas (Corollas et al) and no basic Lexi.
A true comparison would be between Avalons and ES350s. Maybe little or no difference in costs.
