Best Value Medium SUVs

11 August, 2026

Written by

The big surprise in the mid-sized SUV category was the Honda ZR-V VTi X, flying the flag for traditional players amid the expected flurry of budget-focused Chinese newcomers.

Only the Chery Tiggo 7 Urban and its plug-in hybrid alternative edged out the Honda and its extraordinarily cheap servicing costs. The Tiggo 7 PHEV matched the Honda’s competitive $39,990 drive-away purchase price and just edged out its petrol sibling for the top spot thanks to a much smaller fuel bill. That said, its petrol version is more than $3300 cheaper to own and run than the Honda ZR-V over five years.

It’s worth noting, however, that the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV’s 1.4L/100km fuel consumption claim is dependent on consistent charging its battery so it can run on EV power. Failure to do so will result in a higher fuel bill than the pure petrol version, as the PHEV has a 200kg weight penalty.

Another surprise result was the Leapmotor C10 Style, which finished last out of nearly 30 contenders courtesy of its inflated drive-away price and $20,000 projected depreciation.

Some other hybrid and PHEV models (most notably the BYD Sealion 5 and 6 and Geely Starray) finished further down the list than expected due to higher comprehensive insurance premiums.

Winners and finalists

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 7 Urban PHEV

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $39,990
Depreciation: $19,590
Fuel/electricity: $1,471
Insurance: $8,127
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,595
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,259*

Drive-away price: $39,990
Depreciation: $19,590
Fuel/electricity: $1,471
Insurance: $8,127
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,595
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,259*

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 7 Urban PHEV

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $39,990
Depreciation: $19,590
Fuel/electricity: $1,471
Insurance: $8,127
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,595
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,259*

Drive-away price: $39,990
Depreciation: $19,590
Fuel/electricity: $1,471
Insurance: $8,127
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,595
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,259*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 7 Urban

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $29,990
Depreciation: $15,790
Fuel/electricity: $7,249
Insurance: $7,738
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $1,445
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,902*

Drive-away price: $29,990
Depreciation: $15,790
Fuel/electricity: $7,249
Insurance: $7,738
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $1,445
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,902*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 7 Urban

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $29,990
Depreciation: $15,790
Fuel/electricity: $7,249
Insurance: $7,738
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $1,445
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,902*

Drive-away price: $29,990
Depreciation: $15,790
Fuel/electricity: $7,249
Insurance: $7,738
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $1,445
Tyres: $576
Total: $36,902*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Honda ZR-V VTi X

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $39,900
Depreciation: $19,700
Fuel/electricity: $7,354
Insurance: $7,292
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $995
Tyres: $788
Total: $40,233*

Drive-away price: $39,900
Depreciation: $19,700
Fuel/electricity: $7,354
Insurance: $7,292
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $995
Tyres: $788
Total: $40,233*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Honda ZR-V VTi X

Category: Medium SUV

Drive-away price: $39,900
Depreciation: $19,700
Fuel/electricity: $7,354
Insurance: $7,292
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $995
Tyres: $788
Total: $40,233*

Drive-away price: $39,900
Depreciation: $19,700
Fuel/electricity: $7,354
Insurance: $7,292
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,104
Servicing: $995
Tyres: $788
Total: $40,233*

*Costs over five years

Full results

Select a criterion to filter the chart:

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Rank	Vehicle	New price	On-road costs	Drive-away price	Depreciation	Fuel/electricity	Comprehensive insurance	Registration (Years 2–5)	CTP (Years 2–5)	Servicing	Tyre replacement set (same as EOM tyre fitted)	Total five-year ownership cost
1	Chery Tiggo 7 Urban (PHEV)	$37,990	$2,000	$39,990	$19,590	$1,471	$8,127	$2,644	$2,256	$1,595	$576	$36,259
2	Chery Tiggo 7 Urban	$27,990	$2,000	$29,990	$15,790	$7,249	$7,738	$1,848	$2,256	$1,445	$576	$36,902
3	Honda ZR-V VTi X	$39,900	$0	$39,900	$19,700	$7,354	$7,292	$1,848	$2,256	$995	$788	$40,233
4	MG HS Vibe	$33,990	$0	$33,990	$18,390	$7,908	$7,176	$2,644	$2,256	$2,091	$572	$41,037
5	BYD Sealion 5 Essential (PHEV)	$33,990	$3,321	$37,311	$20,411	$4,728	$8,323	$2,644	$2,256	$2,345	$1,440	$42,147
6	BYD Sealion 6 Essential (PHEV)	$42,990	$3,699	$46,689	$24,889	$1,261	$8,571	$2,644	$2,256	$1,593	$1,440	$42,654
7	Jaecoo J7 Track PHEV	$43,990	$0	$43,990	$22,690	$1,051	$10,757	$2,644	$2,256	$1,895	$572	$41,865
8	Geely Starray EM-i Complete (PHEV)	$37,490	$3,117	$40,607	$23,007	$2,751	$9,971	$2,644	$2,256	$1,487	$0	$42,115
9	BYD Atto 3 Essential	$39,990	$3,609	$43,599	$25,599	$2,886	$7,215	$2,644	$2,256	$1,628	$828	$43,056
10	KGM Torres ELX	$35,700	$3,300	$38,000	$20,300	$8,481	$8,015	$1,848	$2,256	$1,898	$0	$42,798
11	Hyundai Tucson FWD 2.0	$39,100	$1,000	$40,100	$21,800	$8,510	$7,158	$1,848	$2,256	$2,128	$0	$43,700
12	Skoda Karoq Select	$38,490	$2,642	$41,132	$21,332	$7,569	$8,628	$1,848	$2,256	$2,590	$0	$44,224
13	Honda CR-V VTi X	$44,900	$0	$44,900	$23,300	$7,460	$7,771	$2,644	$2,256	$995	$0	$44,426
14	Renault Koleos 2.5 Evolution	$34,990	$2,000	$36,990	$19,590	$8,510	$8,759	$2,644	$2,256	$2,715	$0	$44,474
15	Nissan X-Trail ST	$38,140	$3,859	$41,999	$23,099	$7,775	$6,754	$2,644	$2,256	$1,995	$0	$44,523
16	Jaecoo J7 1.6 Track	$37,990	$0	$37,990	$20,590	$8,023	$9,435	$2,644	$2,256	$1,895	$0	$44,842
17	GWM Haval H6 Lux	$34,490	$1,500	$35,990	$22,790	$7,775	$8,096	$2,644	$2,256	$1,560	$0	$45,121
18	KGM Torres K30 (hybrid)	$42,567	$2,433	$45,000	$23,400	$6,418	$8,567	$2,644	$2,256	$2,058	$0	$45,343
19	Mazda CX-5 Pure	$39,990	$4,114	$44,104	$23,704	$7,775	$7,510	$2,644	$2,256	$2,201	$0	$46,090
20	Mitsubishi Outlander ES	$39,990	$4,428	$44,418	$24,018	$7,885	$7,477	$2,644	$2,256	$1,875	$0	$46,155
21	MG HS Hybrid+ Excite	$40,990	$3,428	$44,418	$25,118	$5,960	$8,273	$2,644	$2,256	$2,166	$0	$46,417
22	GWM Haval H6 Lux (hybrid)	$39,490	$1,500	$40,990	$25,790	$5,464	$8,275	$2,644	$2,256	$2,020	$0	$46,449
23	Leapmotor C10 REEV Style (hybrid)	$43,888	$3,623	$47,511	$27,311	$946	$11,644	$2,644	$2,256	$2,482	$0	$47,282
24	Hyundai Tucson FWD 1.6 hybrid	$42,850	$4,509	$47,359	$26,659	$5,148	$8,377	$2,644	$2,256	$2,290	$0	$47,374
25	Kia Sportage S HEV (hybrid)	$44,450	$4,701	$49,151	$27,751	$5,148	$7,160	$2,644	$2,256	$2,613	$0	$47,572
26	Geely EX5 Complete Ext. Range	$41,990	$3,360	$45,350	$27,250	$2,886	$11,185	$2,644	$2,256	$1,487	$0	$47,708
27	Subaru Forester Base	$43,490	$5,176	$48,666	$26,666	$8,300	$6,679	$2,644	$2,256	$2,299	$0	$48,844
28	Leapmotor C10 Style	$45,888	$3,721	$49,609	$29,409	$3,337	$11,987	$2,644	$2,256	$1,799	$0	$51,432

How we crunch the numbers

Purchase price
The NSW drive-away price, not the manufacturer suggested retail price, reflects the actual cost for consumers. Redbook’s ‘drive-away’ calculator is used for consistency and promotional drive-away deals are included where relevant. Prices are correct as of June 30, 2026.

Depreciation
Data is sourced from AutoEdge and based on the vehicle’s estimated trade-in value after five years/60,000km.

Fuel costs
For combustion vehicles, the five year figure is calculated using the official combined fuel economy, NSW average fuel price (minimum RON for each car) and average annual driving distance. ABS data was used for annual distance figures, while pricing is based on NSW average fuel costs over the first six months of 2026.

Electricity costs
For electric vehicles, a blended model is used – 70 per cent home charging, 20 per cent public charging and 10 per cent solar. This creates a realistic national average of 32.5c/kW. The formula is calculated using combined energy consumption (kWh/100km) and weighted electricity cost over 55,500km.

Insurance
The comprehensive insurance premium from NRMA Insurance is based on a 30-year-old male living in Chatswood and using the car for personal use, with a clean driving history and $1000 excess.

Servicing and maintenance
Our servicing costs are the total spend for the first five services. These figures don’t include consumables like fi ters, which can change the price depending on your individual vehicle. LDV is the only brand without capped price servicing, with those figures based on dealer estimates.

Registration and CTP
The figures are based on NSW ownership over years 2-5, as these costs are already included in on-roads for the first year.

Total cost
The ownership cost is effectively everything you spend over five years, minus what the car is still worth if you were to sell it.

Tyres
One replacement set is included over five years. Tyroola provided pricing as of June 30, 2026, with replacement tyres being the same spec and brand as fitted from the factory.