While this may not be a popular topic on a website dedicated to car enthusiasts, for most people, a vehicle is primarily a utilitarian product that must efficiently transport its owner from point A to point B. In that regard, you might be surprised to discover that the unassuming Mitsubishi Mirage is the new vehicle that provides the best bang for a buyer’s buck.
That’s because the little Japanese compact car combines a pretty good lifespan, in terms of mileage, with a remarkably low price point. On average, the Mirage is on the road for 172,784 miles (278,068 km), and it normally carries a price of $18,991 — meaning that it costs just $1,099 dollars per 10,000 miles (16,093 km) driven.
Read: The Most Reliable New Cars, SUVs, And Brands You Can Buy In 2023
In fact, according to a recent analysis of new vehicles, Japanese compact cars offer by far the best value for money in the industry, per iSeeCars. All of the 10 best vehicles, as measured by price per 10,000 miles driven, are from Japan, which may confirm our stereotypes about the vehicles’ reliability.
Top 25 Vehicles In Terms Of Value For Money
Digging deeper, the first non-compact car on the list is the midsize Honda Accord ($1,432/10K miles), which ranks in fourth place overall. Meanwhile, the first non car on the list is the eighth-place Honda CR-V ($1,617/10K miles), and the first non-Japanese vehicle on the list is the 12th-place VW Jetta ($1,737/10K miles) from Germany.
Japanese automakers make the vehicles that offer customers the best value for mile in all but two categories: full-size pickups and full-size SUVs. In both categories, an American vehicle carries the day.
For full-size trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado ($2,863/10K miles) beats the Toyota Tundra ($2,868/10K miles) in terms of value for money by just $5 per 10,000 miles. Customers pay an average of $7,695 less on the Chevy than they do on the Toyota, which helps it win despite lasting an average of 26,488 fewer miles (42,628 km) than the Japanese truck.
Best Full-Size Trucks
Best Mid-Size Trucks
While there may be some controversy about its place in the full-size SUV segment, the Buick Enclave takes the crown in the segment, according to iSeeCars. However, it is again only by a small margin, as the GM SUV costs an average of $53,417 and travels an average 152,234 miles (244,996 km). Its lower price helps it win out over the Nissan Armada, which lasts an average of 29,366 miles (47,260 km) more than the Buick.
Best Full-Size SUVs
Elsewhere, the Honda CR-V leads the small SUV category with a price per 10,000 miles of $1,617, the Mazda CX-9 leads the midsize SUVs ($2,009/10K miles), the Honda Accord is on top the midsize car segment ($1,432/10K miles), the Toyota Tacoma leads the midsize pickup pack ($1,746/10K miles), the Honda Odyssey is first in the minivan category ($2,541/10K miles), and it should come as no surprise that the Mitsubishi Mirage leads the compact car segment with its price per 10,000 miles of $1,099.
Finally, the Mazda MX-5 takes the sports car segment with a price per 10,000 miles of $3,331. However, it only beats the Mustang by $227 because of the Ford’s much longer average lifespan of 140,443 miles (226,021 km).