Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne: 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 Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) is the cheaper car to own — about $93,255 vs $95,840 for the Porsche Cayenne, saving roughly $2,585. It costs more to buy but pulls ahead in year 3. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsTesla Model S Long Range (electric) · $93,255 total · $2,585 less than the Porsche Cayenne
Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Tesla Model S Long | Gas · Porsche Cayenne |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $52,779 (57%) | $39,186 (41%) |
| Charging / fuel | $4,576 (5%) | $12,148 (13%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$549) | — |
| Maintenance | $3,480 (4%) | $8,520 (9%) |
| Insurance | $16,000 (17%) | $19,245 (20%) |
| Financing interest | $15,420 (17%) | $15,741 (16%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (1%) | $1,000 (1%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $93,255 | $95,840 |
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 Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) win?
At 12,000 mi/yr the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) is already the cheaper car, breaking even in year 3 — drive more or keep it longer and its lead only grows.
Call this one a tie — $2,585 separates the two 5-year totals, inside the noise of a forecast this long. Choose on fit and features, not on this number.
What decides the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne verdict
The biggest single line, depreciation, actually falls the Porsche Cayenne's way ($52,779 on the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) against $39,186 on the Porsche Cayenne) — yet the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) still finishes $2,585 ahead on everything else combined. On the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric), depreciation alone is 57% of its $93,255 total; on the Porsche Cayenne it is 41% of $95,840.
- Energy: $4,576 of charging for the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs $12,148 of gas for the Porsche Cayenne — $7,572 more in the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric)'s favor.
- Maintenance: Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) $3,480, Porsche Cayenne $8,520 — $5,040 more in the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric)'s favor.
- Insurance: Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) $16,000, Porsche Cayenne $19,245 — $3,245 more in the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric)'s favor.
The Porsche Cayenne's best answer is depreciation, $13,593 back the other way — more than the final $2,585 gap on its own, but the remaining rows pull the verdict back to the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric). The Porsche Cayenne starts $1,705 behind the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) at the dealer, and ownership widens it — the 5-year gap grows to $2,585. Year by year: the Porsche Cayenne starts ahead, with the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) $938 behind after year 1, but the running-cost gap closes it — the cumulative lines cross in year 3 and the Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) ends year 5 $2,585 in front.
Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne, side by side
Tesla Model S Long Range (electric)
- 5-yr total cost
- $93,255
- Cost / month
- $1,554
- Cost / mile
- $1.55
- MSRP
- $84,990
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 28 kWh/100mi
Porsche Cayenne
- 5-yr total cost
- $95,840
- Cost / month
- $1,597
- Cost / mile
- $1.60
- MSRP
- $86,695
- Powertrain
- Gas
- Efficiency
- 19 mpg
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne by state
Local rates flip this verdict in 3 states: in Hawaii, Indiana, Rhode Island, the Porsche Cayenne comes out ahead at default assumptions — each link opens that state's per-model cost table.