Sedan comparison
Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord 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 sedan class — a fair apples-to-apples comparison.
Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord Hybrid: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Honda Accord Hybrid costs approximately $2,714 less over 5 years compared to the Tesla Model 3. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.
Tesla Model 3
$38,990
purchase price
Honda Accord Hybrid
$33,990
purchase price
Gas saves
$2,714
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
Toyota Camry Hybrid Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$2,714
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$53
fuel + maintenance
Operating cost payback
6.7 years
beyond ownership
The Honda Accord Hybrid costs $2,714 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model 3.
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
$2,714
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$53
fuel + maintenance
Operating cost payback
6.7 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model 3 · Accord Hybrid · Camry Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Tesla Model 3Electric | Honda Accord HybridHybrid | Toyota Camry HybridBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $38,990 | $33,990 | $30,450 |
| Monthly Fuel | $33 | $73 | $67 |
| Annual Fuel | $390 | $875 | $808 |
| Total Fuel | $1,950 | $4,375 | $4,038 |
| Total Maintenance | $2,750 | $4,750 | $4,750 |
| Total Insurance | $10,000 | $8,750 | $8,500 |
| Resale Value | $22,224 | $23,113 | $21,315 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $31,466 | $28,752 | $26,423 |
Tesla Model 3
Electric
Honda Accord Hybrid
Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid
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 Camry Hybrid as a middle ground — it costs $2,328 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Model 3 costs about $390/year vs $875/year for gas in the Accord Hybrid. That's $485/year in fuel savings alone.
Maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Model 3 saves roughly $2000 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Accord Hybrid holds 68% of its value vs 57% for the Model 3. 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 $2,000/year for the Model 3 vs $1,750/year for the Accord Hybrid in the total comparison.
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At my mileage, the Honda Accord Hybrid beats the Tesla Model 3 by $2,714 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
About the Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is a fully electric sedan with an efficiency of 0.25 kWh per mile. Priced at $38,990, it costs around $550/year to maintain and $2,000/year to insure. It's widely regarded as the Best Value EV option in its class.
About the Honda Accord Hybrid
The Honda Accord Hybrid is a hybrid sedan achieving 48 MPG. Priced at $33,990, it costs around $950/year to maintain and $1,750/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.