Over time, a Mitsubishi Lancer could cost $3,000 more than a Mini Cooper Clubman.A less-expensive car can cost you more in the long run than a more-expensive alternative, our new ownership-costs comparisons have found.

At about $17,500, a Mitsubishi Lancer could cost $5,000 less than a Mini Cooper Clubman to drive home. But when you estimate the total costs of ownership for each car, the Lancer could cost you $3,000 more over five years. A Toyota Highlander can cost you $3,000 more to purchase than a Ford Explorer V6, but owning the Ford after five years can cost $6,500 more.

In addition to shopping for a good deal, car buyers should also consider how much a model will cost them to own. That includes depreciation, fuel costs, interest, insurance, sales tax, and maintenance and repair costs.

To help, Consumer Reports is introducing its new owner-costs estimates, which can help you compare models and could save you thousands of dollars. The "owner costs" Ratings cover one, three, five, and eight years of ownership and are based on a comparison of all models within the Consumer Reports database over eight years. Because depreciation is factored in our estimates, we assume that the vehicle will be traded in at the end of the term.

COSTS VARY AMONG SIMILAR MODELS

While Hyundai and Kia models have low prices and long warranties, the savings are often offset by poor resale values. Hyundai's Accent and Elantra don't prove any less expensive after five years than Honda's more expensive Fit and Civic.

Most Lexus models have relatively high maintenance and repair costs (primarily due to maintenance), despite excellent reliability. The Lexus ES racks up an average of $2,300 in maintenance and repair in the first five years, about twice what you'd pay on a Lincoln MKZ.

A little sports car can cost less to own than a family sedan. The Mazda Miata and Mazda6 V6 sell for about the same price. But at the end of five years, we estimate the Miata owner will be about $6,000 ahead.

The Toyota Prius is one of the few hybrids that can save you money. It costs about $7,500 more than a similarly sized Chevrolet Cobalt to buy but costs almost $2,000 less over five years.