Producing more than 20 million vehicles in 2023, Toyota has claimed its title as the largest car manufacturer in the world. The company continues to maintain its lead up to this date, with factories all over the globe and 6 major assembly plants located in the United States alone.
This should come as no surprise- after all, North America is Toyota’s largest target market. But does the vast spread of Toyotas translate into less cost when it comes to repairing and maintaining your own vehicle? Keep reading to find out!
Different Toyota Models Costs Compared
Are Toyota parts expensive? Are Toyotas expensive to repair? Should I even buy a Toyota? Well, to better answer such questions, here’s a breakdown of maintenance costs for popular Toyota models.
Corolla
Purchasing Cost (new and used)
The price of a brand new 2020 Toyota Corolla starts at $19,600 – a bit too much for a gas-only compact sedan model. There are higher trim levels that reach up to $25,000, give or take.
Also, the 2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback model launches at $20,290, with higher trims ranging around $23,340 before adding features.
As for used Toyota Corolla cars, expect to pay about $13,046 for a 2016 model, $14,449 for 2017, and a bit higher for the 2018 edition at $14,530. The 2019 Toyota Corolla ranges around $14,917 while the 2020 model is naturally more expensive at about $17,740.
Maintenance Cost
Depending on your service provider, the maintenance costs like oil changes, etc., and repairing a Toyota Corolla ranges between $80 and $2,475, averaging at $476.
Common Repair costs
There can be several things that go into car maintenance, so we’ve compiled a few that are commonly seen with Toyotas.
- Exterior car door handle replacement: $176 on average.
- Valve cover gasket replacement: $129 on average.
- Ball joint replacement (front): $329 on average.
Camry
Purchasing cost (new and used)
The price of a brand new 2020 Toyota Camry starts at $24,295 – a bit too high for the midsize car. As you go higher up the trim levels, the new Toyota Camry TRD starts at approximately $31,000.
As for used Toyota Camry cars, you’ll have to pay around $14,890 for the 2016 edition, $16,607 for 2017, and $19,975 for 2018. A used 2020 Toyota Camry will cost you an average of $26,276.
Maintenance Cost
Depending on your service provider, the maintenance costs and repairing a Toyota Corolla ranges between $80 and $4453, averaging at $489.
Common Repair costs
- Camshaft position sensor replacement: $235 on average.
- Control arm assembly replacement: $342 on average.
- Brake caliper replacement: $272 on average.
Looking for other awesome 5 seater cars?
Tacoma
Purchasing cost (new and used)
The price of a brand new 2020 Toyota Tacoma starts at $26,050 – just a tad above the average cost of a compact pickup truck. This is the base model that comes with a 4-cylinder engine and a 4-seat cab.
There are higher trim levels with 5 seats that start around $26,900. The Tacoma with a V6 engine starts at $28,310 while the 4-wheel-drive model will cost a minimum of $29,125. The top trim Tacoma TRD Pro starts at a hefty $46,665.
As for used Toyota Tacoma cars, you’ll have to pay about $26,116 for the 2016 edition, $28,443 for 2017, $30,015 for 2018, and $31,111 for a 2019 Camry. A used 2020 Toyota Tacoma will have an average cost of $34,934.
Maintenance Cost
Depending on your service provider, the maintenance costs like oil changes, rotations, and repairing a Toyota Tacoma ranges between $80 and $2,089, averaging at $611.
Common Repair costs
- Oil pan replacement: $697 on average.
- Exterior car door handle replacement: $169 on average.
- Valve cover gasket replacement: $273 on average.
Looking at ratings from established data analytics and consumer intelligence agencies such as J.D. Power and Edmunds, it’s safe to say: yes, they are.
If you take a look at consumers’ reports of the popular models mentioned above, you can definitely see that the majority of Toyota car owners agree on the reliability of their vehicles.
On ReliabilityIndex.com, Toyota earning a reliability of 58. Also, the Toyota IQ came in 1st on their list of the Top 100 cars ranked by the Reliability index. Toyota Yaris is 19th, and Toyota Prius is 25th.
of highly reliable vehicles, and here are a couple of reasons why:
- Toyota puts function ahead of form – when you buy a Toyota car, you’re guaranteed superior handling, remarkable comfort, and outstanding dependability.
- The company’s focus on function doesn’t mean their cars are out of style, but they simply prioritize reliability to provide you with infrequent breakdowns and low maintenance demands.
- Toyota doesn’t rush new features – The Japanese manufacturer doesn’t aim to “outrun” competitors with adding the latest tech gadget or steering wheel design. Instead, Toyota takes it slowly until it makes sure that the new features are safe and ready to stand the test of time.
- Toyota makes the longest-lasting cars – longevity is probably the main reason behind the company’s exceptional reputation when it comes to reliability. Investing in a Toyota is publicly considered a safe bet, thanks to the lower maintenance demands due to the less frequent incidence of mechanical failures.
We wrote an entire article on Toyota reliability. Check it out for more details!
and fixes with Toyota vehicles:
- Toyota Sequoia – excessive fuel consumption (2001)
- Toyota Corolla – transmission failure (2003)
- Toyota Prius – windshield cracks easily (2016)
- Toyota RAV4 – shifting problems (2001)
- Toyota Tercel – poor safety rating
- Toyota FJ Cruiser – awkward blind spot
- Toyota Land Cruiser – low miles per gallon (2019)
- Toyota Tacoma – automatic transmission issues (2016)
- Toyota Camry – issues with the transmission system (2007)
- Toyota RAV4 – engine failures (2007)
Conclusion
Toyota isn’t just a reliable brand, but it’s been manufacturing some of the most dependable cars on the roads for decades now. Thanks to the infrequent demands for repairs, you can safely consider Toyotas to have lower maintenance costs and be more affordable in the long run.
