Okay, you want to own a car – but at the same time have some money left over for other things? It should be reliable and cover your needs?
There are some cars you can often find used – which are really cheap to own and drive. We list our tips and other things that are good to consider..
Our top picks – cheap used car
Which car is the very best car is probably up to each individual – but here are cars that we all think are good choices.
- Mazda 2 – Good choice cheap small car
- Volvo V40 & V60 – Good choice cheap all-round car
- Volkswagen Passat – Good choice cheap station wagon
What is important about a cheap car?
There are many factors, but it mainly comes down to these three:
- Low monthly cost (purchase price)
- Low consumption
- Low tax
In addition to that, there is also another factor that influences: Cost of any repairs – and this is where you need to be careful…!
We love fixing cars.
But for your sake, it's actually even better if there's a long gap between visits.
Low price = cheap car, right?
Buying a very cheap car at a low purchase price can turn out to be a fairly expensive car in the long run if you have to deal with too many repairs and replacements of spare parts.
It can often be worthwhile to look more closely at what it costs. to actually use the car. Cheap cars under 100,000 SEK in purchase price run a significantly higher risk of repairs. It can go great – but the risk is of course higher for more workshop visits.
Our advice is mainly to buy used – but not to choose a car that is too cheap and has done too many miles.
Do you have SEK 30,000 to spend on a car? Use it for a cash deposit instead and you can get a much more reliable car with a good car loan.
Which model year should I choose?
We see that cars that are between 3-8 years old are often in good condition in terms of purchase price. The greatest decrease in value has already occurred – but the cars are often so new that they are reliable and in good condition.
Should I choose diesel, petrol or electric?
Simply put, a diesel engine of the same model will always be more fuel efficient than a petrol engine. The price of diesel has been significantly higher than the price of petrol in recent years, but right now it is actually very similar here, which means that it can be extra profitable to drive diesel now.
Electricity can offer very cheap range – but is often more expensive to purchase. Many people still choose petrol or diesel to get the price down.
Purchase price is not everything – a calculation example
(We assume fuel costs of, for example, SEK 17 per liter, 2,000 km of driving per year and not taking into account repairs).
Car A costs 150,000 SEK purchase price.
It uses 0.85 l/mile. Tax of 4,000 SEK / year.
Car B costs 200,000 SEK purchase price.
Consumes 0.40 l/mile. Tax of 1,200 SEK / year.
If you own the car for 3 years? This is what actually happens Car B cheaper to own
Car A 248,700 SEK
Car B 244,400 SEK
If you use the car for even more years? Then you will save even more by choosing a car with low consumption and tax. A very simplified example, but it is important to understand that consumption and tax can make a big difference in the long run.
How much does it cost to own a car?
Let's take a Mazda 2 as an example. You can often find nice used ones from 2018-2020 for around SEK 170,000. With a good car loan, it will cost you about SEK 2,000 per month to buy the car itself.
Maybe you can manage driving 1,000 miles per year?
In that case, with everything included – tax, insurance, fuel – the car will cost you approximately SEK 3,500 per month to own.
That's not bad for having an almost new car!
The list – best cheap used cars
Good choice: Cheap small car – Mazda 2
A compact and agile car with really low fuel consumption. If you drive a lot in an urban environment or short distances, it is a popular choice. Available in both manual and automatic.
Mazda also offers a 10-year warranty on cars that are new and serviced according to the intervals. So many cars still have really good warranties – even if they are used.
Facts: Mazda 2
- Consumption: 0.48 l/mile
- Annual tax: SEK 588 (if the car is older than 3 years)
- Price range used: 160,000-190,000 SEK
Good choice: Cheap station wagon – Volkswagen Passat
The Passat was one of the best-selling used cars last year. A spacious and reliable family favorite. Generous cargo space, you'll often find it with a towbar and equipment like a parking heater, heated steering wheel and reversing camera. Good ratings in safety tests. We think it's a good family choice!
The Alltrack model has slightly higher ground clearance.
For a larger station wagon, fuel consumption is also surprisingly low.
Facts: Volkswagen Passat
- Consumption: approx. 0.5 l/mile
- Towing weight 2000 kg+
- Annual tax: approx. 2300 SEK
- Price range used: 150,000-250,000 SEK
Good choice: Cheap All-round car – Volvo V40 and V60
Volvo's V40 and V60 are compact hatchbacks – the best of both worlds?
Here you get a car that is neat and agile in an urban environment, low consumption, easy to park. At the same time, both models are stable and safe during longer winter drives.
The difference between the V40 and the V60 is simply explained by the fact that the V60 is a bit larger and more spacious – especially the luggage compartment. But you can expect the latter to consume about 0.5 l/mile compared to the V40's 0.4 l/mile and has a slightly higher tax.
We think both are very good and reliable all-round cars that suit many needs with really low consumption. For those who want more space, the Passat is a better choice.
Facts: Volvo V40 & V60
- Consumption: approx. 0.4-0.55 l/mile
- Annual tax: approx. 1200-2900 SEK
- Price range used: 170,000-250,000 SEK
Some final tips:
There are always car models that are more economical to own than others. We have given some good tips above on cars that you can often find used at a good price. There are of course also some general tips for those who want to cut costs here.
Checklist for cheap car ownership
- Shop second-hand
- Focus on cars 3-8 years old
- Look more at consumption and tax than purchase price (especially if you plan to own the car for a long time)
- Choose a less powerful engine
- Consider whether you really need automatic and four-wheel drive
- Choose a car that suits your everyday needs first and foremost
As you can see, there are many ways to influence the cost of your car ownership.
Would you like help calculating the cost of a car or finding out what it might cost in total per month? Contact us and we'll help you make a plan.
Want to take a look? Here you will find all used cars in stock.
Phone: 0920-23 00 88
E-mail: intresse@niemibil.se
Maja Johansson, Niemi Bil Luleå
