Illustrative example comparison — not a market ranking

Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo — example ownership cost comparison

This page compares the estimated total cost of ownership for a Ford Fiesta 2010 and a Volkswagen Polo 2013, using two real 73 Auto example reports. It breaks the same cost categories — depreciation, fuel/energy, insurance, servicing, tax and more — down side by side, so you can see exactly where the two figures agree or diverge. An illustrative side-by-side comparison of two real 73 Auto example scenarios — a 2010 Ford Fiesta diesel and a 2013 Volkswagen Polo petrol — showing how the same cost categories are broken down and compared. This is not a market-wide claim that one model is cheaper than the other; the two examples differ in registration year and fuel type.

Ford Fiesta 2010

£4,284

per year, this example

£357 per month

Volkswagen Polo 2013

£4,411

per year, this example

£368 per month

Difference: £127 per year (£11 per month) Volkswagen Polo 2013 costs 3% more than Ford Fiesta 2010.

Which costs less to own?

Ford Fiesta 2010 is estimated to cost less to own than Volkswagen Polo 2013 in these two examples, by £127 per year — 2.9% less than Volkswagen Polo 2013.

Category comparison

CategoryFord Fiesta 2010Volkswagen Polo 2013Difference
Depreciation£543(13%)£633(14%)£90
Fuel / Energy£887(21%)£923(21%)£36
Insurance£510(12%)£510(12%)£0
Service & MOT£920(21%)£856(19%)£64
Maintenance & Repairs£654(15%)£608(14%)£46
Urban Costs (CC / ULEZ / Parking)£240(6%)£240(5%)£0
VED / Road Tax£20(0%)£110(2%)£90
Tyres£135(3%)£135(3%)£0
Roadside Assistance£149(3%)£139(3%)£10
Finance / Leasing£227(5%)£258(6%)£31
Total per year£4,284£4,411£127

Figures shown are each category's annual cost as printed in the source report. A percentage in brackets is that category's share of the vehicle's own total, only where the source report states one.

What the numbers show

Both figures are indicative estimates for these two specific example vehicles and scenarios — not quotations, not financial advice, and not a claim that either model is generally cheaper to own. Actual costs vary by exact registration, condition, location, driving pattern, insurance profile, finance agreement and market changes. See the full Ford Fiesta 2010 report and Volkswagen Polo 2013 report, plus the methodology and data sources behind these figures.
Calculate the cost of your exact car

More comparisons · Individual ownership-cost examples