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Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord Cost of Ownership

Tesla Model 3 against a gas Honda Accord: 7-year cost of ownership with charging, 32 mpg gas, depreciation and battery wear.

Updated · By Niraj Kumar · 6 sources

The cars

$

Standard RWD starting price. Replace it with your quote.

$

LX, 32 mpg combined.

Where and how you charge

%
0%100%

The rest is public fast charging. Most owners with a driveway charge 80-90% at home.

¢/kWh

California residential average (EIA). Enter the all-in rate from your bill to override.

¢/kWh

Driving

years
1 yr10 yrs
$per gallon

California average for regular (AAA).

Fine-tune

%
0%10%
%
0%10%
%
0%8%

About 2% is typical; the loss slows after that. Hot climates and frequent fast charging push it up.

$

The federal credit ended for cars bought after 30 September 2025.

$

Set to 0 if you already have one or will use a standard outlet.

$
$

Assumed full coverage; replace both with quotes.

How you payHow you pay
Over 7 yearsGas saves $2,355The EV does not catch up within 7 years

The Tesla Model 3 costs 9.1¢ a mile to charge, against 19.3¢ a mile in gas for the Honda Accord.

Tesla Model 3, total cost
$59,551
70.9¢ a mile, all in
Honda Accord, total cost
$57,196
68.1¢ a mile, all in
EV price premium repaid
Not in 7 yrs
from running savings, before resale
Battery at the end
92%
about 296 of 321 miles of range
CO₂ avoided
15.5 tonnes
at the US grid average
Cost of ownership if sold at the end of each yearTesla Model 3Honda Accord
$0$20 K$40 K$60 K$59.55 K$57.2 K1234567
Cash saved by choosing the EV, before resaleStill to recoverAhead
$-12.5 K$-10 K$-7.5 K$-5 K$-2.5 K$001234567
Where the money goes over 7 years
CostTesla Model 3Honda Accord
Purchase less resale$28,514$17,329
Charging or gas$8,350$17,257
Maintenance$5,040$7,560
Insurance$16,800$15,050
EV registration fees$847$0
Total$59,551$57,196
Year-by-year costs and battery healthShow
YearChargingGasBatteryRangeEV cost to dateGas car cost to date
1$1,095$2,32198%313 mi$17,314$12,375
2$1,129$2,36896%310 mi$26,122$20,528
3$1,160$2,41595%306 mi$33,852$28,160
4$1,192$2,46395%304 mi$40,875$35,558
5$1,225$2,51394%301 mi$47,190$42,720
6$1,258$2,56393%298 mi$53,539$49,932
7$1,292$2,61492%296 mi$59,551$57,196

How the Tesla Model 3 vs Honda Accord Cost of Ownership works

TCO = Price × (1 + tax) − rebates + charger + Σ₍y₎ [energy₍y₎ + maintenance + insurance + fees] + interest − resale₍N₎

This page uses the same method as the EV vs Gas Total Cost of Ownership Calculator, which explains each term and assumption in full.

Worked example

A Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD ($36,990) against a Honda Accord LX ($28,395) in California, driven 12,000 miles a year for 7 years, paid in cash, charging 80% at home.

  1. 1Home electricity costs about 33.6¢ a kWh; with 20% fast charging at 48.0¢ the blend is 36.5¢
  2. 2At 25 kWh/100 mi the Tesla Model 3 costs 9.1¢ a mile; at 32 mpg and $6.19 a gallon the Honda Accord costs 19.3¢ a mile
  3. 3Buying costs $41,830 for the EV with tax and a home charger, against $30,959
  4. 4After 7 years the battery keeps about 92% of its capacity, and the cars would sell for about $13,316 and $13,630

Over 7 years the Tesla Model 3 costs $59,551 to own and the Honda Accord $57,196, so the gas car comes out $2,355 cheaper at these assumptions.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tesla Model 3 cheaper to own than the Honda Accord?

At California prices and 12,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model 3 costs about 9.1¢ a mile to charge and the Honda Accord 19.3¢ a mile in gas; its running savings do not repay the higher price within 7 years. Counting depreciation, the Honda Accord comes out about $2,355 cheaper to own over 7 years. Cheaper home electricity, more miles, a rebate or a lower price than list all move the result, so try your own figures.

Why compare the Model 3 with a gas Accord rather than the hybrid?

Because many buyers cross-shop the base Accord LX, which costs about $8,600 less than the Model 3 but uses a gallon every 32 miles. That makes the fuel saving much larger than against a hybrid, and the question is whether it repays the price gap before the Model 3's faster depreciation catches up.

How much more does the Tesla Model 3 cost upfront than the Honda Accord?

Paid in cash in California, the Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD costs $41,830 on day one with sales tax and a home charger, against $30,959 for the Honda Accord LX, $10,871 more. Charging then costs about $1,095 a year against $2,321 in gas at 12,000 miles, a difference of $1,227 a year before maintenance and insurance.

Sources

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