SUV comparison

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.

Both vehicles are in the suv class — a fair apples-to-apples comparison.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Quick Verdict

Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Toyota Highlander Hybrid costs approximately $1,902 less over 5 years compared to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

$36,850

purchase price

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

$40,870

purchase price

Gas saves

$1,902

over 5 years

Customize your mileage, gas price, and electricity rate below to get a personalized comparison.

Your Numbers

Adjust the inputs to match your situation. Results update instantly.

Average American drives ~13,500 miles/year

Charge at home overnight — cheapest option

Enter what you actually pay to charge. On a time-of-use or EV plan (cheap overnight rates) or with solar, your rate may be well below the state average, e.g. 8¢ overnight vs 12¢ standard.

⚠️ It depends — the difference is smallmedium confidence

Too Close to Call

Gas saves you

$1,902

over 5 years

EV saves per month

$97

fuel + maintenance + insurance

Operating cost payback

6.7 years

beyond ownership

Best case (Home charging): EV costs $1,902
Worst case (Public charging only): EV costs $6,600

The difference between the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota Highlander Hybrid is small — only $1,902 over 5 years.

Operating cost payback falls outside your ownership period. You may not recover the extra upfront cost through fuel and maintenance savings alone.

Gas saves you

$1,902

over 5 years (all-in)

EV saves per month

$97

fuel + maintenance + insurance

Operating cost payback

6.7 years

beyond ownership period

Vehicles compared

Ioniq 5 · Highlander Hybrid · RAV4 Hybrid

EV · Gas · Hybrid

Full Cost Breakdown

Hyundai Ioniq 5

SE Standard Range RWD

Electric

Purchase Price$36,850
Monthly Fuel$38
Annual Fuel$452
Total Fuel$2,262
Total Maintenance$2,750
Total Insurance$9,750
Resale Value$15,109
Total Cost of Ownership$36,504

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Hybrid

Purchase Price$40,870
Monthly Fuel$97
Annual Fuel$1,167
Total Fuel$5,833
Total Maintenance$5,250
Total Insurance$9,500
Resale Value$26,852
Total Cost of Ownership$34,602

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

XLE Premium AWD

Hybrid

Best
Purchase Price$38,950
Monthly Fuel$85
Annual Fuel$1,024
Total Fuel$5,122
Total Maintenance$5,000
Total Insurance$9,250
Resale Value$29,135
Total Cost of Ownership$29,187

Cost Over 5 Years

Year 1RAV4 Hybrid leads
Ioniq 5
$8,971
Highlander Hybrid
$7,410
RAV4 Hybrid
$6,072
Year 2RAV4 Hybrid leads
Ioniq 5
$16,959
Highlander Hybrid
$14,555
RAV4 Hybrid
$12,020
Year 3RAV4 Hybrid leads
Ioniq 5
$24,124
Highlander Hybrid
$21,455
RAV4 Hybrid
$17,851
Year 4RAV4 Hybrid leads
Ioniq 5
$30,602
Highlander Hybrid
$28,132
RAV4 Hybrid
$23,571
Year 5RAV4 Hybrid leads
Ioniq 5
$36,504
Highlander Hybrid
$34,602
RAV4 Hybrid
$29,187
Hyundai Ioniq 5 (EV)Toyota Highlander Hybrid (HYBRID)Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (HYBRID)

Why This Result

At your inputs, neither option has a decisive cost advantage. Small changes in gas prices, electricity rates, or driving habits could tip the balance either way. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid may offer a good compromise between cost and efficiency.

Fuel vs Charging

Charging the Ioniq 5 costs about $452/year vs $1167/year for gas in the Highlander Hybrid. That's $714/year in fuel savings alone.

Your electricity rate matters

Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $35/year ($174 over 5 years) for the Ioniq 5. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.

Maintenance

EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Ioniq 5 saves roughly $2500 in maintenance over the ownership period.

Depreciation & Resale

The Highlander Hybrid holds 66% of its value vs 41% for the Ioniq 5. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.

Insurance

EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $1,950/year for the Ioniq 5 vs $1,900/year for the Highlander Hybrid in the total comparison.

Share Your Result

Let others see how the numbers compare.

EV vs Gas is a close call for me — only $1,902 difference over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com

About the Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a fully electric suv with an efficiency of 0.29 kWh per mile. Priced at $36,850, it costs around $550/year to maintain and $1,950/year to insure.

About the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a hybrid suv achieving 36 MPG. Priced at $40,870, it costs around $1,050/year to maintain and $1,900/year to insure. This is a direct apples-to-apples comparison within the same vehicle class.

How We Calculate Total Cost

Total cost of ownership includes purchase price, fuel or charging costs over your ownership period, annual maintenance, annual insurance, minus estimated resale value based on depreciation. This gives you the true all-in cost of each vehicle — not just the sticker price.

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