The 10 Cheapest Cars To Insure For 2015

2014 Jeep Wrangler ・ Photo by Jeep

When considering a list of the cheapest cars to insure, one of the biggest affordability factors is the amount of risk an insurance company is potentially taking on with a given model. In other words, it’s a safe bet any model appearing on our list of the top 10 most ticketed cars will probably not be found here. When you’re trying to determine the affordability of any given car, this is a key consideration.

If you’re car shopping, once you’ve narrowed your search to the top three or four models, it’s always a good idea to check with some insurers to see what it’d cost to insure each of them. This information should definitely be one of your determining factors. After all, you’ll be paying the premium for as long as you own the car.

Keep in mind; situations do vary from individual to individual. While females usually enjoy lower premiums than males, younger people – regardless of their gender – will typically encounter higher premiums. Insurance rates are all about perceived risk. Young males tend to engage in riskier driving behaviors than females in general. Similarly, younger drivers tend to have more accidents than older, more experienced drivers. 

Methodology

This listing of the cheapest cars to insure was compiled based upon the findings of a survey conducted by the car insurance Website, Insure.com. The quotes listed average the annual premiums of six of the largest insurance carriers, and are based upon what they’d charge to fully cover a 40-year old male with a 24-mile daily commute, a clean driving record and good credit. The quotes include uninsured motorist coverage.

Other elements factored into the average premium include a $500 deductible, $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries, and $50,000 for property damage in an accident (also known as 100/300/50 coverage). The ZIP code where the car is parked at night also comes into play – because of the potential for theft. For this list, 10 ZIP codes from each state were factored into the average.

With all of those considerations, the 10 cheapest cars to insure for 2015 are…

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD

The base trim level within the Jeep Wrangler model range, Wrangler Sport is a durable model designed with ruggedness in mind. The most affordable Wrangler is fitted with front and rear tow hooks, fog lights, and manually operated accessories including windows, mirrors, and door locks. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 ft-lbs of torque. Four-wheel drive with high and low-range gearing is standard equipment. A six-speed manual transmission with hill-start assist comes standard; a five-speed automatic – also with hill-start assist and incorporating hill descent control is optional. Pricing starts at $22,795; the average premium is $1,134 annually.

2. Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD

Jeep’s Patriot Sport is the second of three Jeep models appearing on this list of the 10 cheapest cars to insure. Billed as the best priced SUV in America, the five-passenger Patriot Sport’s standard features include roof rails, foglights, manually operated accessories, and cruise control. The base engine is a 156-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine good for 141 ft-lbs of torque. The front-wheel drive powertrain is tied together using a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. A six-speed manual is offered as an option. Pricing starts at $16,695; the average premium is $1,136 annually.

3. Honda CR-V LX 4WD

Yes, low insurance premiums are yet another reason Honda’s CR-V is one of America’s favorite compact crossover suvs. For 2015, the model gets a new four-cylinder direct injected engine from the Accord mated to a continuously variable transmission. The styling has been refreshed as well. The 185-horsepower engine displaces 2.4-liters and produces 181 ft-lbs of torque. While front-wheel drive is standard, the all-wheel drive CR-V garnered the lowest insurance rates in the survey. Standard features include full power accessories, a rearview camera, cruise control, and air conditioning, along with Bluetooth handsfree telephony and audio streaming. Pricing starts at $23,445, the average premium is $1,160 annually.

4. Dodge Grand Caravan SE Plus 2WD

If you’d rather avoid driving a sport utility vehicle, but you like a high seating position and need room for up to six other people, the Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the best alternatives. One of the two original contemporary minivans, the Dodge is still going strong. The SE Plus trim package of the seven-passenger Grand Caravan features body-colored housings for the heated exterior mirrors, power accessories, tri-zone climate control, and captain’s chair second-row seating capable of folding into the floor (AKA Stow ‘n Go). Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 with 283 horsepower and 260 ft-lbs of torque. The front-wheel drive powertrain uses a six-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $21,395; the average annual premium is $1,162.

5. Honda Odyssey LX

Roundly considered by most automotive critics to be the best minivan on the market, it comes as little surprise to find Honda’s Odyssey on this list of the cheapest cars to insure. With its easy handling, versatile interior treatment, and top crash test scores, some people consider Odyssey the ultimately in family transportation. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 good for 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque. The front-wheel drive powertrain employs a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include keyless entry, dual-zone air conditioning, power seats for the driver and front passenger, Bluetooth handsfree telephony and audio streaming, along with a rear view camera and variable intermittent windshield wipers. Pricing starts at $28,975, the average annual premium is $1,163.

6. Jeep Compass Sport 2WD

Boasting more models on this list of the ten cheapest cars to insure than any other manufacturer, Jeep’s Compass is the third of three of the iconic brand’s nameplates registering here. A 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 141 ft-lbs of torque powers Compass. A five-passenger crossover sport utility vehicle, the Compass Sport model features a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment along with front-wheel drive. Other standard features include foglights, cruise control, and manually operated door locks, windows and mirrors. Air conditioning is standard too. Pricing starts at $18,995; the annual premium averages $1,164.

7. (Tie) Ford Edge SE 2WD

Completely redesigned for the 2015 model year, Ford’s Edge comes to the fore with a sleek new look, a more luxurious interior treatment, and cutting edge safety kit. Power for the base SE model comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 270 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission feeds the front wheels to complete the powertrain. Riding upon a platform shared with the Ford Fusion, the new Edge promises agility, comfort, and smoothness to go along with the powerful engine. Standard features include Ford’s Sync handsfree infotainment system, full power accessories, keyless entry and pushbutton start. Pricing starts at $28,100; the average annual insurance premium runs $1,176.

Photo by Ford

7. (Tie) Subaru Outback 2.5 AWD PZEV

One of but two actual cars on this list, the Subaru Outback is, in actuality, a Subaru Legacy station wagon. Redesigned for the 2015 model year, the Outback is now more spacious, returns better fuel economy, and has a nicer interior. The base 2.5i iteration of the Outback uses a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with 175-horsepower and 174 ft-lbs of torque. The all-wheel drive powertrain runs a continuously variable transmission, hill descent control, and hill start assist. Standard features include a roof rack with deployable crossbars, full power accessories, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, a 6.2-inch touchscreen, a rear view camera, cruise control, and air conditioning. Pricing starts at $24,895; the average annual premium came in at $1,176.

9. Smart ForTwo Pure

When it comes to urban transportation, very few cars can best the spunky little Smart ForTwo’s primary attribute for city life – its diminutive size. With an all-new model waiting in the wings, the 2015 smart fortwo goes into the 2015 model year with no changes. Power for the two-passenger model comes from a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with 70 horsepower and 68 ft-lbs of torque. The rear drive powertrain is fed through a five-speed automated manual transmission. Standard features include keyless entry, power door locks, automatic climate control, and a fold-flat passenger seat to increase cargo capacity. Pricing starts at $13,270; the annual insurance premium averages $1,186.

Photo by Megan Green

10. Ford Escape S

Over the years, Ford’s entry-level crossover sport utility has evolved into a quiet, smooth, and agile vehicle – leaving behind its original truck based roots for a unit body approach more carlike in demeanor. The 2015 Ford Escape also boasts sleek styling, a handsome interior treatment, and a generous array of standard features. These include full power accessories, foglights, keyless entry, cruise control, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, a rear view camera, and Sync voice control. Power comes from a 168-horsepwower, 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 170 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission feeds the front wheels. For 2015, Ford Escape S pricing starts at $22,960; the average insurance premium came in at $1,190 per year.