Sedan comparison
Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Civic
Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.
Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Civic: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Honda Civic costs approximately $4,649 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 Civic
$24,950
purchase price
Gas saves
$4,649
over 5 years
Customize your mileage, gas price, and electricity rate below to get a personalized comparison.
Your Numbers
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Average American drives ~13,500 miles/year
Charge at home overnight — cheapest option
Toyota Camry Hybrid Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$4,649
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$65
fuel + maintenance
Operating cost payback
7.3 years
beyond ownership
The Honda Civic costs $4,649 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model 3.
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
$4,649
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$65
fuel + maintenance
Operating cost payback
7.3 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model 3 · Civic · Camry Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Tesla Model 3Electric | Honda CivicGas | Toyota Camry HybridBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $38,990 | $24,950 | $30,450 |
| Monthly Fuel | $33 | $97 | $67 |
| Annual Fuel | $390 | $1,167 | $808 |
| Total Fuel | $1,950 | $5,833 | $4,038 |
| Total Maintenance | $2,750 | $4,750 | $4,750 |
| Total Insurance | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Resale Value | $22,224 | $16,717 | $21,315 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $31,466 | $26,817 | $26,423 |
Tesla Model 3
Electric
Honda Civic
Gas
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 $393 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 $1167/year for gas in the Civic. That's $777/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 Civic holds 67% 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 $1,600/year for the Civic in the total comparison.
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At my mileage, the Honda Civic beats the Tesla Model 3 by $4,649 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 Civic
The Honda Civic is a gas-powered sedan achieving 36 MPG. Priced at $24,950, it costs around $950/year to maintain and $1,600/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.