EVCostIQ

The EV cost intelligence platform

EV vs petrol cost in Malaysia (2026) — the true 5-year total

As of July 2026: of the 17 models we track in Malaysia, the cheapest to own over 5 years is the Perodua Bezza 1.3 X AT at RM 55,612 — a petrol car. The cheapest electric, the Proton e.MAS 5 Premium (RM 85,399), runs about RM 29,787 more — we say it plainly when the petrol or hybrid car wins.

What an EV really costs to own in Malaysia versus petrol or a hybrid: depreciation, home charging, insurance, road tax and financing — every figure sourced and dated. Subsidised RON95 at RM1.99/L is a genuine tailwind for petrol cars, the CBU EV import exemption ended in December 2025, and BEV resale values are unproven — so a Myvi, City or Corolla Cross hybrid often wins the 5-year total. But cheap CKD EVs (Proton e.MAS 5 from RM72,800) change the entry-level math. Each comparison shows exactly which wins, and when.

Example comparison — change the vehicles belowOver 5 years, the Perodua Myvi 1.5 H (gas car) is the cheapest at RM 62,431 — about RM 22,968 less than the Proton e.MAS 5 Premium (RM 1,041/mo, RM 0.83/km).

Total cost of ownership, cheapest first

Lowest cost Gas

Perodua Myvi 1.5 H

RM 62,431 / 5 yr
RM 1,041/moRM 0.83/km
Lowest 5-yr cost
Electric

Proton e.MAS 5 Premium

RM 85,399 / 5 yr
RM 1,423/moRM 1.14/km
+RM 22,968 more than the Perodua Myvi 1.5 H (37%)
Electric

Proton e.MAS 7 Prime

RM 111,006 / 5 yr
RM 1,850/moRM 1.48/km
+RM 48,575 more than the Perodua Myvi 1.5 H (78%)

Cumulative cost over time

Total spend by each year — purchase, charging/fuel, depreciation, insurance and financing combined. Where two lines cross is your payback point.

Proton e.MAS 5 PremiumPerodua Myvi 1.5 HProton e.MAS 7 Prime
Cumulative cost of ownership by year for each vehicle The full data is available in the breakdown table below. RM 0RM 29,972RM 59,943RM 89,915RM 119,8860yr 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5Proton e.MAS 5 PremiumPerodua Myvi 1.5 HProton e.MAS 7 Prime

Proton e.MAS 5 Premium never beats Perodua Myvi 1.5 H within 5 yrs · Proton e.MAS 7 Prime never beats Perodua Myvi 1.5 H within 5 yrs

Where the money goes (full breakdown)

5-year total cost of ownership by component, by vehicle (MYR). Estimates; sources dated in the methodology.
Cost componentElectric · Proton e.MAS 5 PremiumGas · Perodua Myvi 1.5 HElectric · Proton e.MAS 7 Prime
Depreciation (estimated)RM 43,680 (51%)RM 24,705 (40%)RM 62,280 (56%)
Charging / fuelRM 7,292 (9%)RM 7,015 (11%)RM 8,468 (8%)
↳ of which charging loss12% (~RM 875)—12% (~RM 1,016)
MaintenanceRM 4,500 (5%)RM 7,500 (12%)RM 4,500 (4%)
InsuranceRM 16,000 (19%)RM 13,000 (21%)RM 16,000 (14%)
Financing interestRM 13,127 (15%)RM 9,761 (16%)RM 18,958 (17%)
Registration & feesRM 800 (1%)RM 450 (1%)RM 800 (1%)
Total cost of ownershipRM 85,399RM 62,431RM 111,006

Malaysia reference numbers

Electricity (Malaysia)
0.46RM/kWhTNB (RP4) · 2026-07-01
Petrol (Malaysia)
RM1.99/LBUDI95 subsidised RON95 (MOF)
Charging loss (modeled)
12%EPA / SAE J1634
Maintenance (RM/yr)
EV RM900 vs petrol RM1500est.
Insurance (RM/yr, avg)
EV RM 3,200 vs petrol RM 2,600est.
EV purchase rebate
none (CBU duty exemption ended Dec 2025)MAA / MOF

Cheapest to own in Malaysia

Every model, ranked by true 5-year cost at Malaysia rates (15,000 km/yr, all-in). Tap a column to sort, or filter by type:

Starting price vs. the honest 5-year cost to own, every model. Tap a column to sort, or filter by type.
Type
Perodua Bezza 1.3 X ATPetrolRM 43,980RM 55,612RM 927
Proton Saga 1.5 Premium (MC3)PetrolRM 49,990RM 59,596RM 993
Perodua Myvi 1.5 HPetrolRM 54,900RM 62,431RM 1,041
Proton e.MAS 5 PremiumElectricRM 72,800RM 85,399RM 1,423
Proton X50 1.5T ExecutivePetrolRM 89,800RM 87,237RM 1,454
Honda City 1.5L VPetrolRM 94,900RM 89,297RM 1,488
Toyota Vios 1.5 G ATPetrolRM 96,600RM 89,784RM 1,496
Honda City 1.5L e:HEV RSHybridRM 111,900RM 94,552RM 1,576
Perodua QV-EElectricRM 87,499RM 98,042RM 1,634
BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard RangeElectricRM 100,740RM 107,889RM 1,798
Proton e.MAS 7 PrimeElectricRM 103,800RM 111,006RM 1,850
Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEVHybridRM 140,800RM 113,170RM 1,886
BYD M6 Standard RangeElectricRM 110,600RM 115,659RM 1,928
BYD Atto 3 UltraElectricRM 125,800RM 128,343RM 2,139
Tesla Model 3 StandardElectricRM 147,600RM 143,936RM 2,399
BYD Seal PremiumElectricRM 171,800RM 164,654RM 2,744
Tesla Model Y Standard Range RWDElectricRM 195,450RM 182,645RM 3,044

Malaysia cost by model

Electric

Proton e.MAS 5 PremiumElectricRM 85,3995-yr costProton e.MAS 7 PrimeElectricRM 111,0065-yr costBYD Atto 3 UltraElectricRM 128,3435-yr costBYD M6 Standard RangeElectricRM 115,6595-yr costBYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard RangeElectricRM 107,8895-yr costBYD Seal PremiumElectricRM 164,6545-yr costTesla Model 3 StandardElectricRM 143,9365-yr costTesla Model Y Standard Range RWDElectricRM 182,6455-yr costPerodua QV-EElectricRM 98,0425-yr cost

Hybrid

Honda City 1.5L e:HEV RSHybridRM 94,5525-yr costToyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEVHybridRM 113,1705-yr cost

Gas

Perodua Myvi 1.5 HGasRM 62,4315-yr costPerodua Bezza 1.3 X ATGasRM 55,6125-yr costProton Saga 1.5 Premium (MC3)GasRM 59,5965-yr costProton X50 1.5T ExecutiveGasRM 87,2375-yr costHonda City 1.5L VGasRM 89,2975-yr costToyota Vios 1.5 G ATGasRM 89,7845-yr cost

FAQ

Is an electric car cheaper to own than a petrol car in Malaysia?

Usually not at typical mileage, as of July 2026: the cheapest model we track in Malaysia is the Perodua Bezza 1.3 X AT (a petrol car) at RM 55,612 over 5 years, while the cheapest electric — the Proton e.MAS 5 Premium at RM 85,399 — runs about RM 29,787 more. High mileage or cheap home charging can flip it; each comparison page shows exactly when.

Which EV is cheapest to own in Malaysia?

As of July 2026, the Proton e.MAS 5 Premium — about RM 85,399 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, road tax and financing.

What do electricity and petrol cost in Malaysia right now?

Our totals use 0.46RM/kWh for home electricity (TNB (RP4)) and RM1.99/L for petrol (BUDI95 subsidised RON95 (MOF)), as of July 1, 2026.

What does the 5-year total include?

Depreciation, charging or fuel (including the ~12% AC charging loss most calculators omit), insurance, maintenance, road tax and financing interest — every source dated.

EVCostIQ in other markets

Estimates for planning, not financial advice. Malaysia depreciation, insurance and maintenance are dated estimates calibrated to Malaysia sources. How we calculate →