Cheapest used cars to run under $20,000

At 14,000 km a year and this week's fuel prices, the lowest running costs among used models with a typical NZ dealer asking price under $20,000 are the 2012 Toyota Aqua ($1,780 a year), the 2022 Nissan Note ($1,780 a year) and the 2021 Honda Fit ($1,780 a year).

Running cost is Rightcar's real-world fuel or energy use at 14,000 km a year, at MBIE's national average for the week to 2 October 2026: 91 petrol $3.43/L, diesel $3.17/L. Electric cars use electricity at 42.1c/kWh, plus 10% for charging losses. Diesel and electric cars add road user charges. Servicing, insurance and repairs aren't included, and plug-in hybrids aren't ranked because their split between battery and petrol can't be known. Each model appears once, at its model year with the lowest running cost and a typical asking price under $20,000. Ties go to the higher safety rating.