Proof that Hyundai keeps your wallets fat

Hyundai is the world’s largest automaker in terms of profit, which is ironic considering their cars are very affordable. How do they do it? Caranddriver.com recently released a list of the 10 Least Expensive Cars to own and the Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Accent Three-Door Hatchback made the list by a landslide. Car and Driver’s formula for determining which cars are the best buy is to factor together the sticker price, insurance costs, and fuel economy.

When analyzing this list it’s important to keep in mind that although these cars are affordable they are also quality vehicles. Car and Driver used MSRP for the purchase price to help normalize the price variations based on terms of a loan, settling on a three-year ownership window. The insurance cost was also considered over a three year period for a 28-year-old single male, living in Ann Arbor. The cost of fuel is based upon 12,000 miles of annual traveling and using the EPA’s combined fuel-economy rating alongside the average nationwide price of regular gas over the past year.

The Hyundai Elantra offers a manual transmission model for the 2010 Elantra sedan lineup as part of the base Blue model tuned specifically for maximum fuel efficiency. Also the Elantra comes equipped with lower-rolling-resistance tires, a tuned alternator which is more efficient than previous alternators, and electronic power steering. All of these features help increase the fuel economy. This Elantra can be purchased at your local Hyundai Bloomington dealership.

The Elantra has a base MSRP price of $14,865, a combined EPA mileage of 28 miles per gallon yielding a three-year fuel cost of $3194 and a three-year insurance cost of $3527. The total for this bargain buy is $21,586.

The Hyundai Accent Three-Door Hatchback, sold at Bloomington New Hyundai dealerships, is notable because of its replacement price is less than $11,000. The third generation subcompact Accent is the cheapest car on the Car and Driver list, but unfortunately its high insurance costs offset the overall affordability of the car. It was however named the most dependable subcompact car by J.D. Power Associates. The Accent has a base MSRP price of $10,690, a combined EPA mileage of 31 miles per gallon yielding a three-year fuel cost of $2988 and a three-year insurance cost of $4351. The total for this subcompact beast is $18,029.

Other notable cars on that made the list were the Kia Soul, Toyota Yaris, and the Nissan Versa 1.6 base.