The V6 engine has seen many faces over the decades, and while we see fewer of them in mainstream cars today compared to yesteryear, there are still several SUVs, sedans, and coupes that boast the humble six-cylinder V. Of them, some of them are very highly regarded and are now some of the sportiest options on the new market (thanks to the V8 also being utilized less and less).
While a lot of the market has turned toward turbo-fours for a balance of potency and turbo-fun, the V6 is still relevant today. Running costs may typically be higher for V6-equipped models compared to turbo-four-equipped models, but we’d say it was worth the extra cost for the smooth and relatively efficient power you can get from them. Here is how much it costs to own the top-rated V6 cars and SUVs over 10 years.
The below 10-year cost estimates for the top-rated V6-equipped cars and SUVs are based on the entry-level trims. Models are listed in descending order based on 10-year costs, from the least affordable to the most affordable.
10
2026 Porsche Cayenne
10-Year Cost: $157,019
Boasting a starting price of $92,250, the 2026 Porsche Cayenne is the height of SUV luxury and impressive power from the off. As standard, the new Porsche Cayenne is equipped with a turbocharged V6 that shifts out 348 horsepower, and can get you to 60 mph in around 5.7 seconds. Not bad for something that tips the scales at 4,678 pounds. Inside, even the base model is very nicely kitted out, and comes equipped with a 12.6-inch curved digital display, a Bose audio rig, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and soft-touch materials about the cabin.
While there is a lot to love about the new Porsche Cayenne, there is no escaping the fact that it will cost you a small fortune to own over 10 years. The highest long-term costs come in the shape of depreciation, as we see with many luxury SUVs; iSeeCars estimates that a Cayenne will lose just under 75 percent of its value in 10 years. Insurance is not cheap either, and according to FuelEconomy.gov, the V6-equipped Cayenne can only achieve 19 combined mpg, costing you $3,050 a year for gas. Over 10 years, that should add up to $30,500, but it is worth considering that fuel efficiency will likely drop as the Cayenne gets older, so in reality, it could cost you a little more to fill up.
|
Spec |
2026 Porsche Cayenne |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
74.8% / $69,003 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$30,500 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$31,000 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$12,310 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$9,225 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$4,981 |
Find 2026 Porsche Cayenne and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
9
2026 Audi Q8
10-Year Cost: $142,716
With a starting price of $76,895, the 2026 Audi Q8 is everything sporty and plush you’d expect from the illustrious mid-sized Audi SUV. It boasts an aggressive front end, a sloping coupe-like roofline, a bold front grille, and a mild-hybrid turbocharged V6 good for 355 horsepower, with power sent via Quattro AWD to all four wheels. In short, it looks the part, it is fast (0–60 mph in 5.3 seconds), and it has already received a decent rating of 76 out of 100 on J.D. Power.
This being a luxury German SUV means there is little escape from high maintenance costs and ungodly depreciation. RepairPal says that it will cost you $987 a year for maintenance; CarEdge has given a very different figure of $6,534 over a decade, though, but it is still high enough to mention. But the highest long-term cost of owning an Audi Q8 is undoubtedly depreciation. iSeeCars estimates that over 10 years, the Q8 will lose 80.5 percent of its original value. For the base trim, this works out at just under $62,000, so it can be quite easy to see why used luxury SUVs make for great buys.
|
Spec |
2026 Audi Q8 |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
80.5% / $61,900 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$30,500 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$31,940 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$6,534 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$7,690 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$4,152 |
Find 2026 Audi Q8 and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
8
2025 Audi RS5 Sportback
10-Year Cost: $132,214
We are all hanging on tenterhooks to see what the new Audi RS5 is going to look like and how it is going to behave; we have a strong suspicion it is going to be an animal. However, for now, we still have the final MY of the Audi RS5 Sportback, the 2025 model. This beast of a luxury sports coupe flaunts a 444-horsepower and 442-pound-foot V6 mated to a silky Tiptronic eight-speed auto box. 0–60 mph times have been clocked at around 3.9 seconds, and Quattro AWD shores up footing whether you live in a slippery part of the country or want to hoon it around the mountains.
The interior is as plush and German-designed as you’d expect, with heated and cooled sports seats, a minimal yet athletic cabin design, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and the Audi Virtual Cockpit all taking center stage. Overall, according to owner reviews on Kelley Blue Book (KBB), it doesn’t get better than the Audi RS5 Sportback. Owners have given it an overall rating of 5 out of 5, while CarEdge predicts that it will only cost you just over $6,500 for a decade’s worth of maintenance. Once again, as is customary for a luxury car, it is the high MSRP ($81,195 in 2025), depreciation, and insurance that take their toll and rack up the overall costs in the long run.
|
Spec |
2025 Audi RS 5 Sportback |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
71.5% / $58,135 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$23,100 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$31,940 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$6,534 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$8,120 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$4,385 |
Find 2025 Audi RS5 Sportback and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
7
2026 Lincoln Navigator
10-Year Cost: $127,996
As one of America’s most prestigious luxury SUVs, the 2026 Lincoln Navigator has already garnered high praise on KBB, with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5. Prices are relatively high, at $94,590 for the base-level Navigator Premiere, but you do get a different class of interior plush in the shape of a massive 48-inch panoramic display that stretches across the dash, leather-trimmed heated and ventilated front seats, 5G Wi-Fi connectivity, a 14-speaker Revel sound system, and three rows of spacious seating (legroom front/rear/third row: 43.5 inches/42 inches/36.5 inches).
Under the hood sits a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 good for 444 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. This translates to a rapid-for-its-girth rest-to-60 time of 5.1 seconds, and a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds (with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package fitted). The Lincoln Navigator unfortunately loses the vast majority of its value over 10 years, equating to nearly $76,000 out of the $95,000 it costs to buy a base-level model. Fuel costs can be seen as reasonable, averaging out at around $2,600 a year, and maintenance could certainly be worse, considering its size and luxurious breeding, at an average of $876 a year. Bear in mind, the first five years are likely to see fewer problems and maintenance needs compared to the latter five.
|
Spec |
2026 Lincoln Navigator |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
80.24% / $75,899 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$25,760 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$30,010 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$8,760 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$9,459 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$5,108 |
Find 2026 Lincoln Navigator and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
6
2026 Lexus GX
10-Year Cost: $123,098
Available from $75,600, the 2026 Lexus GX 550 is the kind of luxury SUV that means you don’t need to make a decision between a model that offers a serene on-road cruise and a seriously impressive off-road presence. The Lexus GX can do it all in immense style. Under the hood of the Lexus GX is a potent 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that pushes out 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This means a maximum towing capacity of 9,096 pounds and 0–60 mph times of 6.3 seconds. Pretty rapid for a luxury SUV that measures 197.1 inches in length and 78 inches in width.
Power from the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 is never an issue thanks to 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. I never once missed the old V8. Paired to a ten-speed automatic gearbox, this engine is punchy, smooth, and energetic and has no issue getting this big guy up to high velocity with ease.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
Like a lot of Lexus models, the new GX is estimated to hold its value very well over 10 years. According to iSeeCars, the value retention rate currently sits at 66.6 percent over a decade, which is better than some luxury beasts’ value retention after five years. The depreciation of the GX is still going to be the highest cost overall, but it is the cost of insurance that isn’t too far behind. On average, it will cost you around $3,300 a year to insure. Maintenance may seem high for a Lexus model, at just over $8,200 for a decade’s worth, but bear in mind that this is a full-size luxury SUV, which typically have higher garage costs.
|
Spec |
2026 Lexus GX |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
66.6% / $44,579 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$27,180 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$32,820 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$8,212 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$7,560 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$4,082 |
5
2026 Genesis G70 3.3T
10-Year Cost: $122,567
Possessing European sedan-like luxury levels, a reasonable starting price for its caliber, a very potent available V6, and a balanced ride that will make you forget you are driving a classy sedan, the 2026 Genesis G70 is a much-overlooked luxury beast in the world of Audis and BMWs. To benefit from a six-cylinder engine, you’ll have to shell out for the Genesis G70 3.3T, which comes equipped with a twin-turbo V6 good for 365 horsepower. It costs around $55,000 for the 3.3T, but it is worth it for the extra juice compared to the standard inline-four engine, and quicker 0–60 mph times than the standard engine-equipped models: 4.5 seconds vs. 5.9 seconds.
The twin-turbocharged, 3.3-liter V-6 remains a gem of a powerplant, one with enough horsepower and torque on tap to take the fight to, say, a BMW M340i or an Audi S4.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
Depreciation can be seen as reasonable compared to some of its German rivals, and so can average fuel costs, considering the speed and power that is available. However, average insurance costs are over $5,000 a year, and 10-year maintenance costs are predicted to be more than those of the more powerful and arguably much sportier RS5 Sportback. This is redeemed by owner feedback, though, with owners on KBB giving the 2026 G70 an overall score of 4.8 out of 5, which includes a rating of 4.9 out of 5 for performance.
|
Spec |
2026 Genesis G70 3.3T |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
68.1% / $36,502 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$19,250 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$51,340 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$7,221 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$5,360 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$2,894 |
4
2025 Audi S4
10-Year Cost: $114,247
The 2025 model was the last MY of the Audi S4, and it bowed out with a flourish of executive meets sporty. Starting prices last year were $56,195, and regardless of what grade you opt for (Premium, Premium Plus, or Prestige), you get a V6 under the hood. The 2025 Audi S5 is well-equipped for on-road fun, with the 3.0-liter turbo V6 under the hood pumping out 349 horsepower; Quattro all-wheel drive taking care of the traction and handling, and a rigid chassis to complete the luxury sports sedan experience.
Like a lot of high-end German sedans, the 2025 Audi S4 is likely to shed a ton of its value over a decade. iSeeCars says that it will lose around 73 percent of its value, or simply: a huge chunk of what it was originally worth, while CarEdge is a little kinder, and estimates that the S4 will lose around $36,000 of its value over a decade (or around 64 percent of its value). Fuel costs level things out slightly, with an average fuel cost of $1,925 a year, and maintenance could be a heck of a lot worse, considering that it is a posh German sedan. The slightly lower MSRP of the base trim also helps with long-term repayment costs, and it means you’re not missing out on real V6 fun.
|
Spec |
2025 Audi S4 |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
73% / $41,022 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$19,250 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$38,990 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$6,330 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$5,620 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$3,035 |
3
2026 Cadillac CT5-V
10-Year Cost: $110,674
This year sees the last model year of the beloved Cadillac CT5-V, and along with it, goes the CT4, CT5, and the Blackwing. It will cost you $57,600 for the 2026 Cadillac CT5-V. This legendary American sports sedan comes equipped with Brembo brakes, magnetic ride control, a rear-wheel drive layout as standard or optional AWD, and, most importantly here, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that sends out 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. The mill is mated to a 10-speed automatic, with power sent to either the rear two wheels or all four wheels. This results in 0–60 mph times of around 4.7 seconds; it is a properly fast family car.
While we could see this year’s CT5-V become a future classic, because of its end-of-an-era build, it is more likely that the last iterations of the V8-equipped Blackwing will be. Unless, of course, people want a V-engine in the future but want lower fuel costs. As it stands, iSeeCars predicts that the new CT5-V will lose around 74 percent of its original value over a decade, which makes up for the majority of costs. 10-year maintenance costs are predicted to stay reasonably low; we can thank the GM LGY V6 for that, while insurance costs are around the average mark for a powerful V6-equipped luxury sedan.
|
Spec |
2026 Cadillac CT5-V |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
74% / $42,624 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$29,000 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$30,180 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$6,242 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$5,760 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$3,110 |
2
2026 Acura MDX
10-Year Cost Range: $104,641
Every 2026 Acura MDX comes equipped with a V6. Depending on what model you go for, though, will depend on how many ponies you get. There are six Acura MDX trims this year, with prices ranging from $51,800 to $77,300. This year’s Acura MDX trims are:
- 2026 Acura MDX: $51,800
- 2026 Acura MDX Technology: $58,650
- 2026 Acura MDX A-Spec: $63,850
- 2026 Acura MDX Advance: $68,350
- 2026 Acura MDX A-Spec Advance: $70,350
- 2026 Acura MDX S Type: $77,300
All models from the base trim to the A-Spec Advance get a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Type S is the sportiest option and is equipped with a 355-horsepower V6 and all-wheel drive as standard. The Acura MDX Type S is comfortably fast for its size, and gets you to 60 mph in around five and a half seconds, while light-load towing is also within the MDX’s wheelhouse. Front-wheel drive models can tow up to 3,500 pounds, and all-wheel-drive models can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Unlike other midsize three-row SUVs that constantly feel top-heavy and not particularly athletic, the MDX always feels light on its feet, nimble, agile, and always well-glued to the tarmac.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
Being the luxury arm of Honda has its perks; the main one is reliability. RepairPal has given the MDX a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, and owners have given it a reliability rating of 77 out of 100 on J.D. Power. What may be slightly surprising, though, is that the Acura MDX has very high predicted 10-year maintenance costs of over $10,000. This makes it one of the most expensive to maintain out of all the models on this list. Fuel costs and insurance costs help to level the playing field, though.
|
Spec |
2026 Acura MDX |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
76.6% / $39,679 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$22,000 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$24,420 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$10,565 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$5,180 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$2,797 |
1
2026 Nissan Z
10-Year Cost: $90,752
Boasting an overall KBB rating of 5 out of 5 and a low starting price of $44,165, the 2026 Nissan Z is the last Nissan Z model available before the lineup as we know it is dropped. It is real Japanese sports coupe goodness. It boasts a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 as standard; a 420-horsepower V6 is also offered; it actually comes with a manual transmission; the most potent version can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and it is made to be driven. The Nissan Z comes equipped with a front-engine/RWD layout, a mechanical limited-slip differential, available launch control, available No-Shift Lift, and a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. In short, it is made for winding roads.
After pushing the bejesus out of the Z Nismo at Sonoma raceway next to its non-Nismo counterparts, this is one hell of a track machine.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
There are four grades available for the last Nissan Z model as we know it: the Performance, the Sport, the Heritage Edition, and the almighty NISMO (which gets the 420-horsepower V6). Seeing as this is the last MY of the Z, we think it will likely become a collector’s model in the future; it boasts bags of heritage, it has a manual box, and both six-cylinder options are healthy VR30DDTT units. As it stands, the Nissan Z is only predicted to lose around 60 percent of its value over a decade, maintenance costs are good for its sporty heritage, and insurance costs are also reasonable for its caliber. In short, it looks like a fun car to own both short and long-term.
|
Spec |
2026 Nissan Z |
|---|---|
|
10-Year Depreciation |
60.1% / $26,544 |
|
10-Year Fuel Cost |
$23,100 |
|
10-Year Insurance Cost |
$29,810 |
|
10-Year Maintenance Cost |
$4,496 |
|
Down Payment (10% of MSRP) |
$4,417 |
|
6% Interest On Repayments |
$2,385 |
Sources: iSeeCars, CarEdge, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, Kelley Blue Book, and RepairPal.