(February 28, 2012) Insurance rescource web site Insure.com surveyed auto insurance rates for more than 900 vehicles in the 2012 model year and found that this year’s least expensive vehicle to insure is the four-cylinder Toyota Sienna LE minivan. Insure.com estimates the average insurance bill for the Sienna LE is $1,111.

At the other end of the road is the 2012 Audi R8 Spyder Quattro convertible.  With an MSRP north of $160,000, this 10-cylinder two-seater is the most expensive car to insure in this model year. Average insurance bill for the Audi is $3,384.

Another Sienna model was second, and two Jeep vehicles, the Patriot Sport and the Compass Sport were rated third and fourth least expensive to insure. Other vehicles in the top 10 are: fifth, GMC Sierra K1500 regular cab; sixth, Chevrolet Silverado regular cab; seventh, Dodge Grand Caravan SXT; eighth, Ford Escape XLS; ninth, Toyota Sienna; and 10th, Chevrolet Silverado extended cab.

See charts below.

Insure.com found that high-priced cars with powerful engines and European pedigrees come with the highest car insurance quotes. The reasons: More crashes, higher repair bills and expensive injuries.

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to provide a report of average auto insurance rates. We calculated rates using data for six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm) in 10 ZIP codes per state. Not all models were available, especially exotic cars.

Averages are based on insurance for a single 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on personal factors.

At the most expensive end of the spectrum, the Mercedes CL600 Coupe is second, the Mercedes S600 third, the Audi R8 4.2 Coupe fourth, and the Porsche Panamera Turbo, fifth.

Jim Whittle, assistant general counsel of the American Insurance Association trade group, points out the economic realities of insuring luxury cars.

"Oftentimes they are expensive because [manufacturers] only produce a certain amount of those vehicles,” he says. “Sometimes they are made with handmade parts. The cost to repair is a big driver in the cost to insure a vehicle."