The Least Expensive Cars to Drive

• SEE ALSO: Total Cost of Vehicle Ownership
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• SEE ALSO:Complete Least Expensive Cars to Drive Story

Washington DC August 20, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that Americans may be snubbing trucks and sport utility vehicles in favor of fuel-efficient, smaller cars, but when it comes to saving money over the long haul, a range of costs — from depreciation to maintenance to taxes to insurance — has to be considered.

In other words, when it comes to saving money on a car, size isn't everything. And neither is the sticker price. To help consumers find the least expensive-to-drive car in the class that best suits their needs, Forbes has done their homework on class-by-class driving costs.

The popular Toyota Prius hybrid claims a spot on the list, with a markedly low 17.9 percent of the five-year costs going to fuel. But this car also depreciates quickly, as those in the market for a hybrid want the latest and newest technology, not a car that's a few years old.

"People are finally starting to understand how these costs work," says David Wurster, president of Vincentric, a firm that tracks vehicle life expenses for the auto industry. "As the economy gets a little tighter, consumers are becoming smarter at looking at the total cost of ownership."