Tesla Model 3 RWD vs Honda Civic e:HEV: 5-year cost to own (Singapore)
Over 5 years in Singapore (17,500 km/yr), as of August 6, 2026, the Tesla Model 3 RWD is cheaper — about S$143,632 over 5 years vs S$196,676 for the Honda Civic e:HEV, a S$53,044 difference. In Singapore the EV usually wins on running cost (cheap electricity vs S$3.42/L petrol) while COE dominates both cars — we say so plainly.
COE is set by a biweekly auction and swings thousands of dollars — every figure here uses the S$124,790 (Cat A) / S$126,236 (Cat B) COE assumption. Confirm the current COE before you commit; it is the single biggest line in the price. Source: LTA registration-cost sheet, 2026-08-06.
EV Early Adoption Incentive: the EEAI (45% off ARF, capped S$7,500) is baked into the EV figures for 2026 registrations — and it sunsets 31 Dec 2026. Register a BEV from 2027 and it costs more. Source: LTA.
Cheaper to own over 5 years · SingaporeTesla Model 3 RWD · S$143,632 total · S$53,044 less than the Honda Civic e:HEV
Tesla Model 3 RWD vs Honda Civic e:HEV — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Tesla Model 3 RWD | Hybrid · Honda Civic e:HEV |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | S$104,000 (72%) | S$145,500 (74%) |
| Charging / fuel | S$4,430 (3%) | S$12,569 (6%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 10% (~S$443) | — |
| Maintenance | S$3,500 (2%) | S$4,813 (2%) |
| Insurance | S$10,000 (7%) | S$8,500 (4%) |
| Financing interest | S$13,901 (10%) | S$19,276 (10%) |
| Registration & fees | S$7,801 (5%) | S$6,019 (3%) |
| Total cost of ownership | S$143,632 | S$196,676 |
Electricity vs petrol — and why COE still rules
On running cost the Tesla Model 3 RWD is far cheaper — about S$4,430 of electricity over 5 years vs S$12,569 of petrol for the Honda Civic e:HEV (S$3.42/L is dear). But COE + ARF dominate both cars — around S$144,791 on the EV and S$167,004 on the petrol car — so the 5-year winner is decided mostly by price with COE and how much you recover at de-registration.
Where the money really goes — COE + ARF dwarf the fuel
The registered price with COE for the Tesla Model 3 RWD is S$179,999. COE + ARF alone are S$144,791 of that — many multiples of the electricity or petrol you'll ever buy. That is the honest story of Singapore car cost.
- COE (quota licence)
- S$124,790biweekly auction · dominates the price
- ARF (net of VES / EEAI)
- S$20,001gross S$50,001 − VES rebate S$22,500 − EEAI S$7,500
- OMV (open-market value)
- S$41,053declared import value
- Excise (20%) + GST (9%)
- S$12,645on OMV
- Registration fee
- S$350LTA flat
- Dealer / direct-sales adj.
- S$-18,839sold below current-COE cost
- Registered price (with COE)
- S$179,999what you pay to put it on the road
- Recovered at de-registration (yr 5)
- S$75,999unused COE S$62,395 + PARF S$6,000 + residual value S$7,604
How depreciation works here: it is the registered "price with COE" minus what you get back at de-registration — the unused COE (rebatable over the 10-year licence), the PARF rebate (a capped % of ARF paid), and the car's remaining market value. Where a published Singapore depreciation figure exists (PaperValue / sgCarMart), we use it — the straight-line S$/yr buyers actually quote. That is why the S$100k+ upfront, not electricity or petrol, dominates the 5-year total. What you'd get back at deregistration (official PARF + COE rebate) →
Tesla Model 3 RWD vs Honda Civic e:HEV, side by side
Tesla Model 3 RWD
- 5-yr total cost
- S$143,632
- Cost / month
- S$2,394
- Cost / km
- S$1.64
- Price with COE
- S$179,999
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 13.1 kWh/100km
Honda Civic e:HEV
- 5-yr total cost
- S$196,676
- Cost / month
- S$3,278
- Cost / km
- S$2.25
- Price with COE
- S$237,999
- Powertrain
- Hybrid
- Efficiency
- 4.2 L/100km
- Singapore electricity
- 34.78c/kWh SP Group
- Singapore petrol (95)
- S$3.42/litre motorist.sg
- COE assumption (Cat A / B)
- S$124,790 / S$126,236 LTA