Database / Comparisons / Tesla Model Y vs Toyota RAV4
Tesla Model Y vs Toyota RAV4: fuel cost
Same job, different fuel. Five years of EPA fuel-cost data, head to head. Updated October 2026.
2026 Tesla Model Y
2025 Toyota RAV4Side by side
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 2025 Toyota RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Battery electric | Gasoline |
| EPA economy | 357 mi EPA range | 30 mpg combined |
| EPA fuel cost / year | $550 | $2,250 |
| 5-year fuel cost | $2,750 | $11,250 |
| 5-year fuel savings (EV) | $8,500 | |
What the numbers say
- The Model Y costs $8,500 less in fuel over five years ($2,750 vs $11,250).
- America’s best-selling SUV vs America’s best-selling EV: the fuel math isn’t close.
- The RAV4 burns $2,250 of gas a year at EPA estimates — the Model Y runs on $550 of electricity.
Our take
Over five years the Tesla Model Y saves $8,500 in fuel versus the 2025 Toyota RAV4 ($2,750 vs $11,250). That's $1,700 a year, every year, before a single oil change. The bigger your mileage, the bigger the gap — at 20,000 miles a year, scale these figures by a third.
Fuel costs only — EPA annual estimates at 15,000 miles/year. Purchase price, insurance, and maintenance aren’t in this comparison.
Questions, answered
How much cheaper is the Tesla Model Y to fuel than the Toyota RAV4?
$8,500 over five years at EPA estimates: $2,750 vs $11,250.
What does the Tesla Model Y cost per year in fuel?
$550 a year at the EPA’s 15,000-miles-per-year estimate — about $46/month in electricity.
Does the fuel saving cover the price difference?
That depends on the gas car’s transaction price, which we don’t track — this page compares fuel only. But $8,500 in fuel savings plus no oil changes is the core of the EV value case.
Fuel figures: U.S. EPA via fueleconomy.gov (annual fuel cost at 15,000 miles/year; 5-year = 5× annual). EV price is verified starting MSRP before destination. Gas trim shown is the EPA test trim stated.