Dacia More Expensive to Own Than Toyota Over Three Years, Study Finds

For the average buyer, the decision-making process often begins and ends at the showroom sticker price. However, the analysis conducted by the Swedish automotive publication ViBilagare suggests that this focus on initial outlay can be a fiscal trap. By factoring in real-world fuel consumption—rather than official figures—taxes, insurance, and service visits, the study reveals that higher-priced vehicles often provide better value over a three-year ownership cycle. The researchers also included a fixed sum of 10,000 Swedish krona, or 900 euro, to cover additional maintenance over three years, such as car washes and ad-hoc care.

Calculating Total Cost: Dacia vs. Toyota

The analysis compared three accessible models: the Dacia Bigster, the Toyota Corolla Cross, and the MG HS. The financial gap between these vehicles at the point of sale is significant. In Sweden, the Toyota Corolla Cross, equipped with a 2.0-liter hybrid engine and all-wheel drive, carries a price tag of 39,020 euro. The Dacia Duster, in a 1.8-liter hybrid version with 155 horsepower, starts at 27,100 euro in Sweden, though the specific version analyzed was a better-equipped model priced at 32,515 euro.

On paper, the Dacia holds an immediate advantage. Even regarding routine service, the Dacia remains cheaper to maintain. The researchers noted that Dacia benefits from a service interval of 30,000 km or one year, whereas the Toyota requires service every 15,000 km or one year. Yet, when the total cost per kilometer is calculated, the narrative shifts.

The Depreciation Factor

Depreciation—the difference between the purchase price and the resale price after three years—is the primary driver of the Dacia’s higher long-term cost. The study, which verified data with an insurance company and assumed an annual usage of 20,000 km, found that the Toyota Corolla Cross loses 33% of its value over three years. The Dacia Bigster, conversely, loses 47% of its initial price in the same period.

In monetary terms, this depreciation results in an effective cost of 12,875 euro for the Toyota compared to 15,282 euro for the Dacia. When spread across 60,000 km of driving, the depreciation alone adds 0.21 euro per kilometer for the Toyota and 0.25 euro per kilometer for the Dacia.

Market Trends for MG and Other Manufacturers

The study highlights that this phenomenon is not unique to Dacia. The Chinese-manufactured MG HS, a plug-in hybrid priced at approximately 39,750 euro, faces even steeper depreciation, losing 49% of its value in three years. This leads to a total ownership cost ranging between 0.43 and 0.46 euro per kilometer, with the range attributed to the different consumption profiles of the plug-in hybrid system.

Researchers observed similar patterns across other brands, specifically mentioning Opel and Fiat. These manufacturers often market vehicles with low entry prices, but their higher depreciation rates frequently make them more expensive in the end. Many Opel and Fiat models lose approximately 50% of their value in three years in Sweden. In some instances involving Chinese models, the study identified depreciation rates reaching 55% or more.

Long-Term Ownership Implications

The findings emphasize a critical nuance: depreciation is a factor that fundamentally changes the paradigm of vehicle ownership. While many buyers prefer to exclude it from their calculations, especially if they are uncertain how long they will own the car, it remains a component of the real costs incurred. The analysis notes that the longer a vehicle is held and the more kilometers that are driven, the more these cost factors shift.

Sources: Piataauto, europesays.com.