SUV comparison
Tesla Model Y 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.
Both vehicles are in the suv class — a fair apples-to-apples comparison.
Tesla Model Y vs Subaru Forester: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Subaru Forester costs approximately $7,372 less over 5 years compared to the Tesla Model Y. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.
Tesla Model Y
$41,630
purchase price
Subaru Forester
$33,520
purchase price
Gas saves
$7,372
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
$7,372
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$97
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
11.3 years
beyond ownership
The Subaru Forester costs $7,372 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model Y.
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
$7,372
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$97
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
11.3 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model Y · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Tesla Model YStandard RWDElectric | Subaru ForesterPremium (gas, AWD)Gas | Toyota RAV4 HybridXLE Premium AWDBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $41,630 | $33,520 | $38,950 |
| Monthly Fuel | $32 | $121 | $85 |
| Annual Fuel | $379 | $1,448 | $1,024 |
| Total Fuel | $1,895 | $7,241 | $5,122 |
| Total Maintenance | $3,000 | $5,250 | $5,000 |
| Total Insurance | $10,500 | $8,750 | $9,250 |
| Resale Value | $17,485 | $22,592 | $29,135 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $39,541 | $32,169 | $29,187 |
Tesla Model Y
Standard RWD
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 Model Y costs about $379/year vs $1448/year for gas in the Forester. That's $1069/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $29/year ($146 over 5 years) for the Model Y. 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 Model Y saves roughly $2250 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Forester holds 67% of its value vs 42% for the Model Y. 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 $2,100/year for the Model Y vs $1,750/year for the Forester in the total comparison.
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At my mileage, the Subaru Forester beats the Tesla Model Y by $7,372 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
About the Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y is a fully electric suv with an efficiency of 0.243 kWh per mile. Priced at $41,630, it costs around $600/year to maintain and $2,100/year to insure. It's widely regarded as the Most Popular EV option in its class.
About the Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a gas-powered suv achieving 29 MPG. Priced at $33,520, it costs around $1,050/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.