Japanese carsNew import tariffs and global uncertainties are making plenty of things more expensive across the board, but it sure seems like cars are especially spendy at the moment. The average transaction price of a new car is floating around $49,000, with average monthly payments over $750. That's despite 72 months increasingly being the most common term for a loan on a new car!But when it comes to buying a new car, you shouldn't just factor in the up-front costs. Some cars get much more expensive down the road. Choose wisely, and you'll have a trouble-free ownership experience with a car that holds its value and requires only minor servicing and repairs. But, choose poorly, and you could be looking at some substantial fees for upkeep and fixes plus steep depreciation.While Japanese cars definitely have a well-earned reputation for being among the most reliable cars in their segments, that doesn't mean they're always inexpensive to run. We'll run you through some of the standouts, but before we get started, a little context is important: According to CarEdge.com, which aggregates and estimates the financial burden of car ownership, the worst offender is the ultra-luxe Bentley Continental GT, with a five-year cost of $254,129. The best performer? The humble Toyota Corolla, costing just $30,541 for five years of efficient motoring. Nissan GT-RLike most sports cars, the Nissan GT-R isn't a cheap date.With up to 600 horsepower coming from a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, Nissan's GT-R is an icon. When it first went on sale in the U.S. in 2008, it quickly earned a reputation for its ability to outperform cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini on the track despite costing a fraction of the price of those storied supercars.AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, it also earned a reputation of being nearly as expensive to operate as those exotics, thanks at least in part to race-grade components like carbon-ceramic brake discs. CarEdge estimates the GT-R's total cost of ownership over five years at $150,290, with half of that going to depreciation, the rest covering fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Infiniti QX80 The Infiniti QX-80's total cost of ownership over five years cracks six figures.Infiniti's large and in-charge SUV, the QX80, comes up next in our list. With seating for eight across three rows mixed with stellar off-road capability, it literally stands out in its class, but it can also take a toll on your wallet.Over five years, the cost of ownership is estimated to be $114,610. 60 percent depreciation in a half-decade is quite a penalty and makes up the majority of that figure, but you'll also need to spend quite a bit at the pump to keep this thirsty SUV sated. Lexus LS 500The hybrid version of the Lexus LS 500 has slightly more affordable ownership costs over five years.From a giant SUV, we pivot to a flagship luxury sedan, the Lexus LS 500. While SUVs dominate sales these days, the LS is the hallmark for the Lexus brand. Predictably, it's also the brand's priciest over the long term.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe hybrid LS 500h is estimated to cost you $95,182 for a five year period, while the non-hybrid is a bit less painful at $88,538. That's despite the hybrid saving you $4,000 in fuel costs over that time. Significantly steeper depreciation is the killer on the 500h. Nissan Armada The Armada doesn't hail from a luxury brand, but it comes with a rather rich ownership bill.With the Infiniti QX80 placing high on the list, it's no surprise that its corporate cousin, the Nissan Armada, ranks as well. The two SUVs share basically everything under the skin, from chassis to that big, 5.6-liter V8. The Armada does away with some of the QX80's finer touches and is less expensive at the dealer, but ownership will still cost you $92,942. A 52-percent depreciation estimate is, per usual, the big pain point here, but insurance and fuel take their toll as well. Lexus LC 500The Lexus LC 500 is a beauty, but owning one costs a pretty penny over five years.From a giant SUV we pivot to a lovely and lithe coupe, the Lexus LC 500. Though it's a decade old now and hasn't seen much in the way of updates since its introduction, the LC 500 is still among the most beautiful cars on the road. It's also among the priciest to run, though.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe LC 500 is estimated to cost $81,722, while the hybrid is a bit less painful at $76,022. Both lose roughly 40 percent of their value over five years and have similar insurance costs. The difference? That mostly comes down to fuel costs, with the hybrid saving nearly $1,000 per year. Japanese brands with the highest average maintenance costsAll those figures above factor in total ownership costs of a given car, with depreciation generally being the biggest hit. If you're just wondering about maintenance costs, things look a bit different.Consumer Reports tracks the out-of-pocket maintenance costs for new brands at various intervals, with the 10-year value being most telling. Why? Well, the average car on the road today is now nearly 13 years old, and so that cost over a decade approximates a real-world lifespan for a new car.Infiniti comes in worst for the Japanese brands, with average maintenance costs of $10,200 over a decade of ownership. Subaru comes next, at $7,920 in cost, with Acura one place better, at $7,725. Lexus averages at $7,400, with Honda at $6,550.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe best of the Japanese brands is Toyota, at $5,950, which puts it in third place among all brands worldwide. The best performer overall is Buick, at $5,260, with Lincoln in second just $400 behind. The worst offender globally? That would be Land Rover, averaging $19,460 in maintenance costs over 10 years. 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