Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Tesla Model Y RWD: 5-year cost to own in the U.S.
As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years (U.S. average, 12,000 mi/yr), the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is cheaper from day one — about $55,158 over 5 years vs $57,428 for the Tesla Model Y RWD, a $2,270 difference. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsFord Mustang Mach-E Select · $55,158 total · $2,270 less than the Tesla Model Y RWD
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Tesla Model Y RWD — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Ford Mustang Mach-E Select | Electric · Tesla Model Y RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $24,397 (44%) | $26,544 (46%) |
| Charging / fuel | $5,394 (10%) | $4,576 (8%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$647) | 12% (~$549) |
| Maintenance | $3,660 (7%) | $3,660 (6%) |
| Insurance | $13,750 (25%) | $13,750 (24%) |
| Financing interest | $6,958 (13%) | $7,897 (14%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (2%) | $1,000 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $55,158 | $57,428 |
The charging-loss row is the ~10–15% of electricity lost to AC charging that you pay for but never reaches the battery — we include it; most calculators don't.
When does the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select win?
At 12,000 mi/yr the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is already the cheaper car — drive more or keep it longer and its lead only grows.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Select finishes ahead, but only by $2,270 (about 4%): a lead that lives inside our default assumptions, so test it against your own miles and rates.
What decides the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Tesla Model Y RWD verdict
The single biggest mover is depreciation: $24,397 on the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select against $26,544 on the Tesla Model Y RWD, a $2,147 gap in the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select's favor — the largest slice of the $2,270 verdict. On the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select, depreciation alone is 44% of its $55,158 total; on the Tesla Model Y RWD it is 46% of $57,428.
- Financing interest: Ford Mustang Mach-E Select $6,958, Tesla Model Y RWD $7,897 — $939 more in the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select's favor.
- Energy: $5,394 of charging for the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs $4,576 of charging for the Tesla Model Y RWD — $818 the other way, to the Tesla Model Y RWD.
The Tesla Model Y RWD's best answer is energy — $818 back the other way — which covers 36% of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select's $2,270 lead. At the dealer the Tesla Model Y RWD starts $4,995 behind the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select; running costs claw back $2,725 of that, but the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select still ends $2,270 ahead. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is ahead from the first year — $1,028 after year 1 — and finishes year 5 with the full $2,270 lead; the cumulative lines never cross.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Tesla Model Y RWD, side by side
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select
- 5-yr total cost
- $55,158
- Cost / month
- $919
- Cost / mile
- $0.92
- MSRP
- $39,995
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 33 kWh/100mi
Tesla Model Y RWD
- 5-yr total cost
- $57,428
- Cost / month
- $957
- Cost / mile
- $0.96
- MSRP
- $44,990
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 28 kWh/100mi
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Tesla Model Y RWD by state
No state's electricity or gas prices flip this verdict at default assumptions — the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is the cheaper car in all 51 states we track.