EVCostIQ

The EV cost intelligence platform

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

As of July 2026: of the 53 models we track in the UK, the cheapest to own over 5 years is the Dacia Sandero Expression TCe 100 at £24,770 — a petrol car. The cheapest electric, the BYD Dolphin Surf (£28,239), runs about £3,469 more — we say it plainly when the petrol or hybrid car wins.

What an electric car really costs to own in the UK versus petrol or a hybrid: depreciation, charging at 26.11p/kWh (with the charging loss most calculators ignore), maintenance, insurance, VED and financing — every figure sourced and dated. The expired purchase grants are shown honestly; the Electric Car Grant is layered separately. In the UK, drivers paid an average of £551 for comprehensive cover in Q3 2025 (ABI — a market average, not a quote for this car or driver), and the ABI reports electric cars cost about 25% more to repair and take 14% longer than comparable petrol cars.

Example comparison — change the vehicles belowOver 5 years, the Kia Niro Hybrid (hybrid) is the cheapest at £32,398 — about £7,853 less than the Tesla Model 3 (£540/mo, £0.54/mi).

Total cost of ownership, cheapest first

Lowest cost Hybrid

Kia Niro Hybrid

£32,398 / 5 yr
£540/mo£0.54/mi
Lowest 5-yr cost
Electric

Tesla Model 3

£40,251 / 5 yr
£671/mo£0.67/mi
+£7,853 more than the Kia Niro Hybrid (24%)
Electric

Tesla Model Y

£49,811 / 5 yr
£830/mo£0.83/mi
+£17,413 more than the Kia Niro Hybrid (54%)

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.

Tesla Model YKia Niro HybridTesla Model 3
Cumulative cost of ownership by year for each vehicle The full data is available in the breakdown table below. £0£13,449£26,898£40,347£53,7960yr 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5Tesla Model YKia Niro HybridTesla Model 3

Tesla Model Y never beats Kia Niro Hybrid within 5 yrs · Tesla Model 3 never beats Kia Niro Hybrid within 5 yrs

Where the money goes (full breakdown)

5-year total cost of ownership by component, by vehicle (GBP). Estimates; sources dated in the methodology.
Cost componentElectric · Tesla Model YHybrid · Kia Niro HybridElectric · Tesla Model 3
Depreciation (estimated)£30,374 (61%)£15,135 (47%)£23,554 (59%)
Charging / fuel£5,508 (11%)£6,511 (20%)£4,837 (12%)
↳ of which charging loss12% (~£661)—12% (~£580)
Maintenance£1,500 (3%)£1,998 (6%)£1,500 (4%)
Insurance£2,780 (6%)£2,625 (8%)£2,780 (7%)
Financing interest£8,649 (17%)£5,129 (16%)£6,581 (16%)
Registration & fees£1,000 (2%)£1,000 (3%)£1,000 (2%)
Total cost of ownership£49,811£32,398£40,251

UK reference numbers

Electricity (UK)
26.11p/kWhOfgem cap · 2026-07-01
Petrol (UK)
£1.53/litreGOV.UK weekly
Charging loss (modeled)
12%EPA / SAE J1634
Maintenance (£/yr)
EV £300 vs petrol £450UK est.
Insurance (£/yr, avg)
EV £556 vs petrol £491Insurify/ABI 2026
EV grant (2026)
up to £3,750GOV.UK ECG

Car prices vs. true 5-year cost to own in the UK

Every model we price, cheapest to own first — sort by price or true 5-year cost, 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
Dacia Sandero Expression TCe 100Petrol£15,765£24,770£413
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 TurboPetrol£20,240£27,778£463
BYD Dolphin SurfElectric£21,950£28,239£471
Hyundai InsterElectric£23,495£29,024£484
Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid IconHybrid£27,295£30,507£508
Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost HybridHybrid£27,145£31,730£529
Renault 5 E-TechElectric£26,995£32,084£535
Nissan Juke Hybrid N-ConnectaHybrid£29,095£32,176£536
Kia Niro HybridHybrid£30,270£32,398£540
MINI Cooper CPetrol£25,265£32,515£542
Toyota Corolla 1.8 HybridHybrid£30,845£32,804£547
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSIHybrid£30,665£34,002£567
MG4 EVElectric£29,995£34,207£570
Nissan Qashqai e-PowerHybrid£34,995£35,649£594
Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI SportPetrol£30,895£36,238£604
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HybridHybrid£34,425£37,040£617
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60Electric£32,795£37,211£620
MG HS Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid£31,495£37,356£623
Vauxhall Corsa ElectricElectric£34,080£37,647£627
Volvo EX30 Single Motor ERElectric£33,060£37,679£628
Skoda Elroq 60Electric£33,995£37,949£632
Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi HybridHybrid£36,000£38,258£638
Nissan LeafElectric£35,950£38,904£648
BMW X1 sDrive20i SportHybrid£37,540£39,317£655
Kia EV3Electric£35,995£39,357£656
Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV ST-Line (full hybrid)Hybrid£38,360£39,446£657
BYD Seal U DM-i BoostPlug-in hybrid£33,205£39,954£666
Volvo XC40 B3 Core (mild-hybrid petrol)Hybrid£36,560£40,144£669
Tesla Model 3Electric£37,990£40,251£671
Cupra Born V2Electric£36,475£40,346£672
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 eTSI Life (mild hybrid)Hybrid£38,620£40,396£673
Jaecoo 7 SHS Luxury (Plug-in Hybrid)Plug-in hybrid£35,065£40,531£676
Volkswagen ID.3Electric£38,000£40,815£680
Audi Q3 TFSI 150 SportHybrid£39,045£40,953£683
Kia Niro EVElectric£37,385£41,012£684
Skoda Enyaq 85Electric£39,510£42,590£710
BYD Atto 3 EvoElectric£38,990£42,633£711
Ford Explorer EV Standard Range RWDElectric£39,875£43,094£718
BMW iX1 eDrive20 SportElectric£43,555£45,466£758
Polestar 2Electric£45,210£46,757£779
Kia EV6Electric£45,585£46,944£782
BMW 320i SportPetrol£41,945£47,626£794
BYD Seal Design RWDElectric£45,705£47,712£795
Hyundai Ioniq 5Electric£47,000£48,620£810
BYD Sealion 7 Comfort RWDElectric£46,990£49,584£826
Tesla Model YElectric£48,990£49,811£830
Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d 4Matic AMG LineHybrid£51,855£51,788£863
BMW i4 eDrive35 SportElectric£51,730£53,762£896
Audi Q4 e-tron 45Electric£51,950£54,611£910

UK head-to-head: EV vs petrol/hybrid

Vauxhall Corsa ElectricvsVauxhall Corsa 1.2 TurboVolkswagen ID.3vsVolkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSITesla Model YvsNissan Qashqai e-PowerTesla Model YvsKia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HybridHyundai Ioniq 5vsHyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi HybridKia EV6vsKia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HybridKia EV3vsKia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HybridMG4 EVvsToyota Corolla 1.8 HybridRenault 5 E-TechvsVauxhall Corsa 1.2 TurboBYD Atto 3 EvovsNissan Qashqai e-PowerTesla Model 3vsVolkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSINissan LeafvsFord Puma 1.0 EcoBoost HybridMG4 EVvsVolkswagen ID.3Tesla Model YvsPolestar 2Kia Niro EVvsMG4 EV

UK cost by model

Electric

Tesla Model YElectric£49,8115-yr costTesla Model 3Electric£40,2515-yr costMG4 EVElectric£34,2075-yr costBYD Dolphin SurfElectric£28,2395-yr costRenault 5 E-TechElectric£32,0845-yr costHyundai InsterElectric£29,0245-yr costKia EV3Electric£39,3575-yr costKia EV6Electric£46,9445-yr costHyundai Ioniq 5Electric£48,6205-yr costVolkswagen ID.3Electric£40,8155-yr costVauxhall Corsa ElectricElectric£37,6475-yr costNissan LeafElectric£38,9045-yr costPolestar 2Electric£46,7575-yr costKia Niro EVElectric£41,0125-yr costBYD Atto 3 EvoElectric£42,6335-yr costSkoda Elroq 60Electric£37,9495-yr costSkoda Enyaq 85Electric£42,5905-yr costVolvo EX30 Single Motor ERElectric£37,6795-yr costCupra Born V2Electric£40,3465-yr costAudi Q4 e-tron 45Electric£54,6115-yr costRenault Megane E-Tech EV60Electric£37,2115-yr costBYD Sealion 7 Comfort RWDElectric£49,5845-yr costBYD Seal Design RWDElectric£47,7125-yr costFord Explorer EV Standard Range RWDElectric£43,0945-yr costBMW i4 eDrive35 SportElectric£53,7625-yr costBMW iX1 eDrive20 SportElectric£45,4665-yr cost

Plug-in hybrid

BYD Seal U DM-i BoostPlug-in hybrid£39,9545-yr costMG HS Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid£37,3565-yr costJaecoo 7 SHS Luxury (Plug-in Hybrid)Plug-in hybrid£40,5315-yr cost

Hybrid

Kia Niro HybridHybrid£32,3985-yr costFord Puma 1.0 EcoBoost HybridHybrid£31,7305-yr costKia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi HybridHybrid£37,0405-yr costNissan Qashqai e-PowerHybrid£35,6495-yr costVolkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSIHybrid£34,0025-yr costHyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi HybridHybrid£38,2585-yr costToyota Corolla 1.8 HybridHybrid£32,8045-yr costVolvo XC40 B3 Core (mild-hybrid petrol)Hybrid£40,1445-yr costVolkswagen Tiguan 1.5 eTSI Life (mild hybrid)Hybrid£40,3965-yr costNissan Juke Hybrid N-ConnectaHybrid£32,1765-yr costFord Kuga 2.5 FHEV ST-Line (full hybrid)Hybrid£39,4465-yr costToyota Yaris Cross Hybrid IconHybrid£30,5075-yr costBMW X1 sDrive20i SportHybrid£39,3175-yr costMercedes-Benz GLC 220d 4Matic AMG LineHybrid£51,7885-yr costAudi Q3 TFSI 150 SportHybrid£40,9535-yr cost

Petrol

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 TurboPetrol£27,7785-yr costMINI Cooper CPetrol£32,5155-yr costDacia Sandero Expression TCe 100Petrol£24,7705-yr costBMW 320i SportPetrol£47,6265-yr costAudi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI SportPetrol£36,2385-yr cost

FAQ

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

Usually not at typical mileage, as of July 2026: the cheapest model we track in the UK is the Dacia Sandero Expression TCe 100 (a petrol car) at £24,770 over 5 years, while the cheapest electric — the BYD Dolphin Surf at £28,239 — runs about £3,469 more. High mileage or cheap home charging can flip it; each comparison page shows exactly when.

Which EV is cheapest to own in the UK?

As of July 2026, the BYD Dolphin Surf — about £28,239 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, VED and financing.

What do electricity and petrol cost in the UK right now?

Our totals use 26.11p/kWh for home electricity (Ofgem cap) and £1.53/litre for petrol (GOV.UK weekly), 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, VED and financing interest — every source dated. The UK Electric Car Grant is shown separately, never inside the totals.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?

About £7.06 per 100 miles at home on the Ofgem price-cap rate (26.1p/kWh), including the ~12% charging loss — using a Tesla Model Y as the reference. Off-peak EV tariffs can cut that substantially; public rapid charging is billed per session and costs more. Each electric model page shows its exact figure — or see the cost to charge every EV in the UK.

EVCostIQ in other markets

Estimates for planning, not financial advice. UK depreciation, insurance and maintenance are dated estimates calibrated to UK sources (cap hpi / Auto Trader, Insurify/ABI). How we calculate →