When it comes to buying a car, there's no beating a great deal, but as Kiplinger has proven once again not all deals are created equal.

With the recent release of Kiplinger's 2011 top 10 cheapest cars to own consumers can get a solid look into what kinds of vehicles will give them the biggest bang for their buck, and although all of the cars on the list are compact or subcompact, the savings are huge.

Topping the list for this year is the Nissan Versa 1.6 Base four-door with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $10,922.  Not far off, and rounding out the top 10, is the Ford Focus S four-door at just under $13,700. However, the sticker price alone isn't what makes these vehicles wallet friendly.

Kiplinger's top 10 cheapest cars to own survey looked at myriad variables that contribute to how much a vehicle actually costs over the long term, which for the purposes of this survey was over a five-year period.

Insurance, depreciation, taxes and fees, what you pay over the years for fuel, service and repairs, and even the opportunity cost of the money you lay out as a down payment are all important ingredients in the cost of owning a vehicle, and all of those factors combined, among several others, rendered this year's top 10 list.

Consumer advocates say considering all sides to owning a vehicle is crucial when shopping for a new ride, especially when the opportunity to take savings from things like excellent gas mileage and low APR financing can be applied to other things like purchasing comprehensive and collision insurance policies which more thoroughly protect drivers against unexpected losses.

For the complete list of the top 10 cheapest cars to own visit Kiplinger's website at www.kiplinger.com.

—AJ Register