Gas vs Electric · Head-to-head running cost
Tesla Model Y vs Honda CR-V: what it really costs to run
The Tesla Model Y and Honda CR-V are the best-selling crossovers on each side of the fuel line, so the calculator below is already set to both — Model Y at about 3.5 mi/kWh from ~$45,000, CR-V at about 30 mpg from ~$31,000.
When you come out ahead
Showing cumulative fuel savings. Add the two cars' prices in the controls to plot your exact break-even point.
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On per-mile running cost this is not a close race when the Model Y charges at home. At roughly 3.5 mi/kWh against home electricity near $0.17/kWh, each mile costs a small fraction of what the CR-V burns at about 30 mpg with regular gas around $3.30 a gallon. The gap only widens as gas prices climb, since the CR-V's cost tracks the pump directly while the Model Y's tracks your electric rate. Lean on public DC fast-charging near $0.48/kWh, though, and that advantage shrinks fast.
The catch is the sticker. The Model Y starts near $45,000 and the CR-V near $31,000 — a gap of roughly $14,000 you have to earn back in fuel and the roughly $0.03/mile the Model Y tends to save on maintenance. The federal EV tax credit ended September 30, 2025, so don't count on it; only state or utility incentives might still help, and those vary. The CR-V Hybrid at about 37 mpg narrows the running-cost story and closes part of that price gap up front.
What to keep in mind
- Home charging is what makes the Model Y cheap per mile — if you'd mostly rely on public DC fast-chargers near $0.48/kWh, run those numbers before assuming big savings over the CR-V.
- The CR-V Hybrid at ~37 mpg cuts the gas CR-V's per-mile cost meaningfully; if you're cross-shopping the Model Y, compare against the hybrid, not just the ~30 mpg base.
- The ~$14,000 sticker gap between the ~$45,000 Model Y and the ~$31,000 CR-V is real money the fuel and ~$0.03/mile maintenance savings have to pay back over the miles you actually drive.
Tesla Model Y vs Honda CR-V: common questions
Does the Model Y really cost less to run than the CR-V?
Charging at home, yes — at about 3.5 mi/kWh on ~$0.17/kWh electricity, the Model Y's per-mile cost is well below the CR-V's at about 30 mpg on ~$3.30 gas. That edge narrows if you depend on public DC fast-charging near $0.48/kWh. The calculator above shows the difference at your own rates and mileage.
Does the CR-V Hybrid change the math?
It helps. At about 37 mpg versus the base CR-V's ~30, the hybrid lowers the gas per-mile cost and closes part of the price gap against the ~$45,000 Model Y up front. The Model Y charged at home still tends to win per mile, but by less. Plug the hybrid's mpg into the calculator to see where you land.