WhoCanFixMyCar reveals the average cost of repairing some of the most popular Japanese cars.
Japanese cars have an impressive reputation for reliability, thanks to their sturdy builds and high-quality parts. When you own one, you can drive carefree, knowing that a breakdown or hefty repair bill is probably many miles away.
But on those rare occasions when a trip to the garage is required, how much can you expect to pay, and which model is the cheapest? Find out in this guide.
Contents
Methodology
Cheapest Japanese cars to repair
The least expensive model
The most expensive model
Data insights
Methodology
All prices in this guide are averages based on quotes from the WhoCanFixMyCar platform in 2023.
To calculate the top ten, we looked at the most popular Japanese cars and compared them based on their price in four repair categories:
We added the prices from these categories to create a total repair cost for each model, which you can see in the table below.
Cheapest Japanese cars to repair
Here are the top ten cheapest Japanese cars to repair.
| Model | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Honda Jazz | £1,142.76 |
| Toyota Aygo | £1,130.48 |
| Nissan Micra | £1,174.87 |
| Mazda 3 | £1,202.96 |
| Suzuki Swift | £1,335.35 |
| Honda Civic | £1,411.11 |
| Nissan Juke | £1,450.57 |
| Toyota Yaris | £1,452.19 |
| Nissan Qashqai | £1,476.84 |
| Mazda CX-5 | £1,535.27 |
The least expensive model
The Honda Jazz, a smart and sensible hatchback, is the cheapest model for repairs overall. Let's take a closer look at its individual average prices.
| Honda Jazz | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Brake pads and discs | £310.86 |
| Clutch | £434.22 |
| Cambelt & water pump | £455.21 |
| Electrical faults | £53.74 |
| TOTAL | £1,142.76 |
Despite the Jazz being the cheapest overall, the Aygo and Micra beat it in the brake pads and discs category. It's similar in the cambelt and water pump category, where the Mazda 3 is£85.75cheaper.
Find out about common problems with the Honda Jazz.
The most expensive model
The final model in our top ten is the Mazda CX-5, an outstanding family SUV model with a glowing four-star review from WhatCar?.
| Mazda CX-5 | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Brake pads and discs | £458.92 |
| Clutch | £538.58 |
| Cambelt & water pump | £476.64 |
| Electrical faults | £61.13 |
| TOTAL | £1,535.27 |
The CX-5 is the most expensive model for brake pads and discs and cambelt and water pump replacement. In the clutch replacement category, it is beaten by several models, including the Nissan Qashqai and, surprisingly, the Toyota Yaris.
Overall, it's £392.51 more expensive than the Honda Jazz. Read about common problems with the Mazda CX.
Data insights
The most expensive model for replacing brake pads and discs is the Mazda CX-5; the least expensive is the Toyota Aygo, costing just £219.24.
The most expensive model for a clutch replacement is the Toyota Yaris (£632); the cheapest is the Honda Jazz (£434.22).
Cheapest for a cambelt and water pump replacement is the Mazda 3 (costing £258.19), while the most expensive model is the CX-5.
Finally, the cheapest model for an electrical fault is the Suzuki Swift, costing £53.52 compared to the most expensive model, the Nissan Juke, with a price of £81.44.
Looking for affordable repairs & maintenance? Whatever your car needs, you can use the UK's most trusted garage network to find the right garage at the right price.
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