According to a recent Auto Club survey, the cost of fuel is among the most important items that can lead to an increase in vehicle operating costs.

Due to the higher than normal interest rates charged by bad credit lenders, the monthly payments of many of these types of vehicles put them at or over the limit of most budgets.
More expensive car insurance and lower fuel economy also adds to their cost.

AAA survey
Based on driving 15,000 miles per year, these are the average costs of operating a vehicle based on its size and type:
Small sedan – 43.3 cents per mile or $6,496 per year
Medium sedan – 56.2 cents per mile or $8,436 per year
Minivan – 62.0 cents per mile or $9,301 per year
Large sedan – 70.2 cents per mile or $10,530 per year
4WD SUV – 73.9 cents per mile or $11,085 per year