SUV comparison
Tesla Model Y vs Toyota 4Runner
Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.
Tesla Model Y vs Toyota 4Runner: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Toyota 4Runner costs approximately $2,876 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
Toyota 4Runner
$42,805
purchase price
Gas saves
$2,876
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.
Toyota 4Runner Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$2,876
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$173
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
6.4 years
beyond ownership
The Toyota 4Runner costs $2,876 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model Y.
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
$2,876
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$173
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
6.4 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model Y · 4Runner · RAV4 Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Tesla Model YStandard RWDElectric | Toyota 4RunnerGas | Toyota RAV4 HybridXLE Premium AWDBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $41,630 | $42,805 | $38,950 |
| Monthly Fuel | $32 | $167 | $85 |
| Annual Fuel | $379 | $2,000 | $1,024 |
| Total Fuel | $1,895 | $10,000 | $5,122 |
| Total Maintenance | $3,000 | $5,750 | $5,000 |
| Total Insurance | $10,500 | $10,000 | $9,250 |
| Resale Value | $17,485 | $31,890 | $29,135 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $39,541 | $36,665 | $29,187 |
Tesla Model Y
Standard RWD
Electric
Toyota 4Runner
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 $7,478 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 $2000/year for gas in the 4Runner. That's $1621/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 $2750 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The 4Runner holds 75% 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 $2,000/year for the 4Runner in the total comparison.
Share Your Result
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At my mileage, the Toyota 4Runner beats the Tesla Model Y by $2,876 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 Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is a gas-powered suv achieving 21 MPG. Priced at $42,805, it costs around $1,150/year to maintain and $2,000/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.