Truck comparison
Rivian R1T vs Subaru Forester
Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.
Rivian R1T vs Subaru Forester: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Subaru Forester costs approximately $31,699 less over 5 years compared to the Rivian R1T. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.
Rivian R1T
$81,885
purchase price
Subaru Forester
$33,520
purchase price
Gas saves
$31,699
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.
Subaru Forester Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$31,699
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$40
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
70.8 years
beyond ownership
The Subaru Forester costs $31,699 less over 5 years than the Rivian R1T.
These vehicles are in different classes. The comparison is still valid but keep the size/class difference in mind.
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
$31,699
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$40
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
70.8 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Rivian R1T · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Rivian R1TPremium Dual-Motor AWDElectric | Subaru ForesterPremium (gas, AWD)Gas | Toyota RAV4 HybridXLE Premium AWDBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $81,885 | $33,520 | $38,950 |
| Monthly Fuel | $51 | $121 | $85 |
| Annual Fuel | $616 | $1,448 | $1,024 |
| Total Fuel | $3,081 | $7,241 | $5,122 |
| Total Maintenance | $3,250 | $5,250 | $5,000 |
| Total Insurance | $12,500 | $8,750 | $9,250 |
| Resale Value | $36,848 | $22,592 | $29,135 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $63,868 | $32,169 | $29,187 |
Rivian R1T
Premium Dual-Motor AWD
Electric
Subaru Forester
Premium (gas, AWD)
Gas
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
XLE Premium AWD
Hybrid
Cost Over 5 Years
Why This Result
The gas vehicle's lower purchase price and depreciation outweigh the EV's fuel savings at your current mileage. Consider the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as a middle ground — it costs $2,982 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Rivian R1T costs about $616/year vs $1448/year for gas in the Forester. That's $832/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $47/year ($237 over 5 years) for the Rivian R1T. 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 Rivian R1T saves roughly $2000 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Forester holds 67% of its value vs 45% for the Rivian R1T. 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 $2,500/year for the Rivian R1T vs $1,750/year for the Forester in the total comparison.
Share Your Result
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At my mileage, the Subaru Forester beats the Rivian R1T by $31,699 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
About the Rivian R1T
The Rivian R1T is a fully electric truck with an efficiency of 0.395 kWh per mile. Priced at $81,885, it costs around $650/year to maintain and $2,500/year to insure.
About the Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a gas-powered truck achieving 29 MPG. Priced at $33,520, it costs around $1,050/year to maintain and $1,750/year to insure. Note that these vehicles are in different classes — keep size and use-case differences in mind.
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.