Car maintenance cost comparison – Part 2: Premium and Executive Sedans

Carrying on from Part 1 of our Maintenance Cost Comparison, we bring you Part 2, which deals with the Premium and Executive Sedan segments. Be sure to check out our criteria and methodology for this detailed study from the link above.

Thanks to the ever-growing popularity of the SUV, the higher-end sedan segments, namelypremium and the executive sedans, consists of very few players. The former category is made up of just two – the Skoda Superb and the Toyota Camry, while the latter is comprised of the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and, though it’s a far more expensive CBU import, the Skoda Octavia RS245, which we’re including in the survey. Just how much does the overall maintenance for these cars cost over 60,000km? Read on to find out.

• Maintenance costs calculated over 60,000km
• Premium and Executive sedan maintenance costs compared
• Factors in service parts & life, labour rates and service intervals

Premium sedan maintenance costs

• The premium sedan segment consists of just two models and both are offered in petrol avatars, with the Camry being a hybrid.
• Over the course of 60,000km, the Camry Hybrid has six periodic services, whereas the Skoda has only four, but it’s the Camry that costs less to maintain.
• In addition to the standard replacement parts, the Superb also requires its drivebelt and spark plugs to be replaced, which isn’t the case with the Camry. Higher labour and parts costs make the Skoda much more expensive to maintain.

Premium executive sedans maintenance costs (in Rupees)
	Skoda Superb	Toyota Camry Hybrid
Engine	2.0P	2.5P
COST OF PARTS
Air Filter	1103	1781
Oil Filter	1244	717
Washer Drain Plug	248	59
Spark Plug (for entire set)	2256	NA
Fan Belt/ Drivebelt	1132	NA
Engine Oil	5472	1463
Brake fluid	518	173
Pollen / HVAC filter	989	3838
SERVICE INTERVALS	1 year or 15,000km	1 year or 10,000km
1st Service Cost (parts+labour)	7183	2611
2nd Service Cost (parts+labour)	17386	6448
3rd Service Cost (parts+labour)	13978	6092
4th Service Cost (parts+labour)	21121	12338
5th Service Cost (parts+labour)	-	6092
6th Service Cost (parts+labour)	-	9929
Total Cost (up to 60,000km)	59668	43510
Maintenance cost per km	0.99	0.73

Executive sedan maintenance costs

• The executive sedan segment has dwindled down to merely the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra. The third car in the segment, the fully imported Skoda Octavia RS245, isn’t exactly a direct competitor due to its price and performance.
• The Hyundai Elantra is much cheaper to maintain than the Honda Civic, costing a little more than half of what the Civic does per kilometre. Interestingly, Hyundai also charges for labour from the 40,000km service onwards at a flat Rs 2,855 for each service.
• Driving up the Civic’s costs a bit more are coolant and brake fluid replacements, which aren’t necessary for the Elantra, as well as higher labour charges applicable from the 20,000km service onwards.
• In the Skoda’s case, the engine oil itself costs Rs 5,472 during each service, plus additional items like spark plugs, fan belt/drivebelt, transmission/transaxle oil and brake fluid further add to its total costs. Also, higher labour costs of over Rs 5,700 for the 30,000km and 45,000km service, and over Rs 6,500 for the 60,000km service, makesthe Skodathe costliest to maintain.

Executive sedans maintenance costs (in Rupees)
Manufacturer	Honda Civic		Hyundai Elantra		Skoda Octavia RS245
Engine	1.6D	1.8P	2.0P	1.5D	2.0P
COST OF PARTS
Air Filter	645	495	781	781	1103
Oil Filter	395	175	172	360	1244
Fuel Filter	1250	NA	1851	1725	NA
Washer Drain Plug	36	36	NA	NA	279
Spark Plug (for entire set)	NA	NA	NA	NA	2256
Fan Belt/ Drivebelt	NA	NA	NA	NA	1132
Coolant	1633	1821	NA	NA	NA
Engine Oil	1978	1169	1288	1594	5472
Transmission/Transaxle Oil	NA	1775	NA	NA	1554
Brake fluid	330	330	NA	NA	596
Pollen / HVAC filter	949	949	381	1321	989
SERVICE INTERVALS	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 15,000km
1st Service Cost (parts+labour)	3358	2329	1460	1954	7909
2nd Service Cost (parts+labour)	8852	7997	1841	5781	17597
3rd Service Cost (parts+labour)	6331	5102	2241	1954	13642
4th Service Cost (parts+labour)	8852	12195	4696	7531	28503
5th Service Cost (parts+labour)	7634	4772	4315	4810	NA
6th Service Cost (parts+labour)	10195	8327	7327	7531	NA
Total Cost (up to 60,000km)	45222	40722	21880	29561	67651
Maintenance cost per km	0.75	0.68	0.36	0.49	1.13

Did you find this maintenance cost comparison helpful? Tell us what you think in the comments section, and stay tuned for more maintenance cost comparison surveys of other segments that are coming soon.

Also see:

SUV maintenance cost comparison – Part 1: Premium and Executive SUVs