agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Cars Compared on Driving Cost

Hybrids roof and tires above other drive train types on cost efficiency, research shows.

May 16, 2025
Cars Compared on Driving Cost

The Toyota Corolla Cross is the ninth cheapest small SUV to drive, at $2,404 per 1,000 miles, the research found

Credit:

Toyota

2 min to read


Hybrid cars are the cheapest on the road to drive, according to a new study.

Based on analysis of more than a million 3-year-old cars, the iSeeCars.com study found hybrid models cost less than $3,000 for every 1,000 miles driven per year. That’s well below the new-car average of $3,593 and less than half that of EVs.

Ad Loading...

That average hybrid cost to drive beat gas models, costing 15% less to drive, and blew plug-in hybrids and purely electric models out of the water.

The research found gas-powered cars cost a tad over $3,500 per 1,000 miles, plug-in hybrids more than $5,000 and EVs more than $6,400.

Hybrids have an advantage over other fuel types due to many of them, including the Toyota Corolla, costing much less to buy, plus the fact that they’re driven the most, likely due to lower fuel cost, iSeeCars said.

To arrive at its findings, the online automotive search engine and research provider examined odometer readings and historical new-vehicle prices for 3-year-old cars sold between November and this past April. It determined that the average new-car price is $44,223 and average annual mileage 12,307.

EVs are the most expensive to drive because they cost the most to buy on average and tend to be driven the fewest miles, iSeeCars said. Their average price new is $68,692, and the average is driven under 11,000 miles per year.

Ad Loading...

Electric drive trains appear to limit driving of pure EVs, the company surmised.

DIG DEEPER: Car Types Depreciate Differently

 

 

More Industry

Photo of Cadillac Lyriq SUV on road with partly cloudy sky in background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Used Autos Selling for More

A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.

Read More →
Photo of facade of Waldorf Toyota car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Maryland Auto Group Sells

A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.

Read More →
Line graphic showing Cox Automotive's March Credit Availability Index status
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 13, 2026

Auto Lending Opens Up in March

Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
electric vehicle next to an urban charging station. EV Demand Diverges. F&I and Showroom logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 10, 2026

EV Interest Varies Regionally

U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Read More →
Photo of the rear of a Mercedes GLC 400 electric SUV with a skyline in the background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

Brands Weighed on Projected Recalls

Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.

Read More →
Photo of white 2026 Ford Bronco on a sandy beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

March New-Vehicle Sales Don’t Reflect War

Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of several cars on lifts in a service center
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 9, 2026

Franchised Dealers Stand to Gain Service Business

Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.

Read More →
Photo of office desk with open laptop on it and an empty chair next to it
IndustryApril 9, 2026

What Matters Most in Building Your Agency

The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.

Read More →
car with hood open, an arm holding a wrench, The most loyal generation text, Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 9, 2026

Service Drives Gen Z Loyalty

The dealership profit center plays an important role in customer retention, and generation Z customers are showing the highest loyalty rates, based on recent CDK Global data.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of man with most of his face hidden as he types on a computer keyboard
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 2, 2026

Fake Auto Dealer Websites Frauding Consumers

The Point Predictive study traced a pattern across more than 100 websites it believes are being developed by an international theft ring.

Read More →