Segment: Compact SUV

5-Year Cost to Own: $37,367

Compared to segment avg: -$3,635

Segment: 2-Row Midsize SUV

5-Year Cost to Own: $41,222

Compared to segment avg: -$8,772

Segment: 3-Row Midsize SUV

5-Year Cost to Own: $47,833

Compared to segment avg: -$5,087

Segment: Compact Car

5-Year Cost to Own: $31,041

Compared to segment avg: -$1,936

Segment: Sports Car

5-Year Cost to Own: $39,908

Compared to segment avg: -$16,519

“We are thrilled to receive the 2023 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for Ascent, BRZ, Forester, Impreza, and Outback from Kelley Blue Book,” said Jeff Walters, President, and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “These awards reinforce our commitment to providing customers with vehicles made to the highest standards of safety, reliability, dependability, and value.”

One look around this blog shows Subaru models constantly receiving praise and accolades from experts who know, study, and test cars. Subaru’s have always danced to the beat of a different drummer, and that beat has become a winning formula. To see what the experts see, come take a look at the model lineup at Twin Falls Subaru, and chances are you will find them winners as well.

There are two costs to car ownership. The most obvious is the cost of purchase, and this is pretty easy to determine. It starts out printed on paper which may be altered a bit after negotiation. The second cost is that of ongoing ownership. That can be a little harder to pin down, but that is exactly what Kelley Blue Book (KBB) does in their annual 5-Year Cost to Own study. And as no surprise to anyone at Twin Falls Subaru, Subaru models came out shining.

KBB determines estimates of the total vehicle-related costs a new car owner will likely have to cover during their first 5 years of ownership. Beyond the purchase price, the study takes into account, in their own words:

• Fuel – the cost to fill up, based on 15,000 miles per year
• Maintenance – what it costs to keep the car running well
• Insurance – the average in your state, including collision and liability
• Repairs – based on a no-deductible extended warranty
• Financing – since most people don’t have the cash on hand to buy the car outright
• State fees – items like sales tax, license, and registration
• Depreciation (Loss in Value) – the difference between what you paid and what it’s worth

Obviously, your ownership may differ. You may drive significantly less or more than 15,000 miles per year, or you might not even finance your car. But all things being equal, this is a good way to compare a model’s ownership costs vs its competitors.

After crunching these numbers, KBB divides the industry’s available models into 26 segments and awards the top-most model in each segment. And this is how Subaru earned 5-Year Cost to Own Awards for the majority of its model lines. Here are the Subaru award winners: