There's a big difference between buying a cheap car and one that's affordable to own.

The latter guarantees you the lowest running costs throughout the period you keep it - and that you get the biggest chunk of the purchase price back when it comes time to sell. But which models will be best to your bank balance?

This is Money can exclusively tell you which 10 new vehicles in showrooms today offer the cheapest ownership costs of all. 

The exclusive data propping up the top 10 list has been supplied to us by automotive data experts at HPI.

It ran the total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation for every single new motor in showrooms based on a three-year ownership period with an average mileage of 10,000 miles per year.

The running costs include a variety of controlled factors, including retail price, the cost of servicing, fuel bills and repair costs, and arguably the most commonly overlooked ownership drain on finances, depreciation.

Other elements to ownership that are more variable due to the driver - namely insurance - have been omitted to make the comparison as fair as possible.

Andrew Turner from HPI tells us: 'There are many costs associated with owning a car, which are often overlooked, impacting motorists after they’ve already parted with their cash. 

'Accurately showing all the running costs associated with car ownership means no unexpected surprises six months or three years down the line. 

'Understanding and considering costs is important before committing to buying a car. 

'By helping drivers work out the costs involved in a vehicle they are interested in and with so many choices available, we are confident we can help motorists decide on a great value vehicle that is cheap to run.'

*Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out how you can discover the TCO for the motor you own - or one you're planning to buy. 

THE 10 CHEAPEST NEW CARS TO OWN FOR 3 YEARS 

10. Dacia Duster - TCO £13,435.74

Variant: 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel Expression 5dr

There's a new Dacia Duster coming - you can read our full review of the 2024 Duster here - but retailers still have remaining stock of the outgoing car. And, according to HPI, it could be well worth snapping one of them up. 

That's because the second-generation Duster is the only family-size model to break into the top 10 list of most affordable motors to own, based on the 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel variant.

Over a three-year spell, encompassing purchase price, fuel bills, replacing consumable parts, vehicle excise duty, servicing, MOTs and other financial outlays involved with vehicle ownership, drivers will spend just over £13,400 over a three-year period. This is helped by Dacia's strong resale values as a brand generally, with the Duster depreciating just 45 per cent of its retail price after 36 months. 

9. Suzuki Ignis  - TCO £13,299.75

Variant: 1.2 Dualjet 12V Hybrid SZ5 5dr

The first in a flurry of small, affordable cars to make the league table is the Suzuki Ignis, which by all accounts is a practical and reliable little motor.

The total cost of ownership over a three-year spell is a shade under £13,300, which is partly thanks to the 1.2-litre hybrid's impressive fuel economy and the Ignis' relatively affordable outgoings for general maintenance and upkeep.

Again, strong residual values mean owners will get back over half of the money they spent when they purchased the car from the dealer some 36 months earlier.

8. Fiat Panda - TCO £12,738.66

Variant: 1.0 Mild Hybrid Top [Touch] [5 Seat] 5dr

Like the Dacia Duster, this version of the Panda is due to made extinct by the Italian brand as a new replacement is in the pipeline.

But given the low total cost of ownership of the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid version, there's a very good argument to consider getting one of the last examples of this budget-busting city car.

Impressive claimed fuel economy figures of 57.6mpg, low tax and relatively cheap servicing and parts make this a good option in terms of low costs to run. That's despite it not holding value quite as well as others in this list.

7. Suzuki Swift - TCO £12,237.63

Variant: 1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion 5dr CVT 

Suzuki's current Swift is another supermini that will be particularly kind to your wallet.

Again, the Japanese marque has a strong track record for reliability and low maintenance costs, but the 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol in this generation of Swift is super frugal too, returning a claimed 60.1mpg.

But where owners will benefit most is the Swift's impressive residuals, shedding just 39 per cent of its original price after three years, meaning owners will get £12,000 back from their original £20k outlay.

6. Citroen C3 - TCO £12,130.52

Variant: 1.2 PureTech You 5dr 

Citroen has already showcased the next-generation C3, which will arrive in 2025 exclusively as the electric e-C3, with petrol versions to follow later. But the C3 in our list is the model that showrooms still have in stock right now - and are most likely looking to do a deal on to make way for the new car to be delivered.

HPI's total cost of ownership calculation shows it costing £12,130 over three years, once you've added together fuel and garage bills, as well as VED.

The Citroen's low starting price is what helps it find a position in this order, though value retention is far from class leading, with the C3 losing almost half of its original cost after 36 months, the analysis shows. 

5. MG3 - TCO £12,049.18

Variant: 1.5 Hybrid SE 5dr Auto

One of the latest models on this list is the new MG3, which the Chinese brand unveiled earlier this year. 

For the first time, the company's smallest model now comes with a hybrid powertrain (it's also the cheapest full hybrid on sale in Britain right now), and this is making the 3 a low-cost option on two fronts.

Firstly, it is the most economical motor in our list - on paper anyway. With a 64.2mpg return, describing it as frugal doesn't do the MG justice. The hybrid powertrain has also triggered a boost to resale values, with this version predicted to lose only 42 per cent of its value after a three-year ownership period.

4. Toyota Aygo X - TCO £11,983.52

Variant: 1.0 VVT-i Pure 5dr

The Aygo X is one of the smallest cars on our list and also the first to offer three-year total ownership costs below the £12,000 ceiling.

With 58.9mpg as the official fuel economy figure, it won't cost you an arm and a leg in petrol bills. But it's also the Aygo X's strong reliability, low cost of parts and affordable servicing that makes it a favourable choice for your wallet.

In terms of depreciation, HPI says buyers can expect it to have around 56 per cent of its original value after three years, if they're planning to cash in and sell up.

3. Kia Picanto - TCO £11,981.28

Variant: 1.0 GT-line 5dr Auto [4 seats]

Kia's Picanto for years has been among the most affordable city cars on the market - and that status remains today.

But thanks to an efficient 1.0-litre engine returning an official 52.3mpg, low-cost servicing, easy access to repairs and strong residuals, it's among the top three cheapest new cars to buy, run and then sell, the calculation proves.

HPI's total cost of ownership is at £11,981, which works out at around £333 a month.

2. Hyundai i10  - TCO £11,765.78

Variant: 1.0 Advance 5dr Auto

Given the i10 and Kia Picanto are essentially sister models, it's no surprise to see Hyundai's city car in this list with a total cost of ownership over three years very similar to that of its sibling.

Their MPG figures are like-for-like for the cheapest-to-run models identified by HPI, while the new price of the Hyundai is marginally cheaper. 

Where the i10 makes up ground on the Kia is its slightly slower depreciation, retaining around 60 per cent of its original price by the time an owner wants to sell after three years of driving. 

1. Dacia Sandero - TCO £11,042.84

Variant: 1.0 Tce Bi-Fuel Essential 5dr

It might not come as a massive shock that Britain's least expensive new car to buy is also the most affordable to run.

The Dacia Sandero has been a huge hit ever since it entered the UK market, and in its latest guise feels more grown up, classier and a genuine rival to more established counterparts.

The version identified as the cheapest new car of all to own for three years returns just over 51mpg and has respectable depreciation of around half its original value. But it's the bargain upfront price, low servicing bills and ease to repair that bring the total cost of ownership to an impressive £11,043 over 36 months.

*TCO or Total Cost of Ownership takes into account depreciation (loss in value), service and maintenance costs, fuel costs, Vehicle Excise Duty, tyre and brake pad replacement costs