Honda Civic LX (gas)
$35,707 / 5 yr
$595/mo$0.59/mi
Lowest 5-yr cost
What an EV really costs in Utah — any EV, any hybrid, any gas car
As of August 2026: of the 85 models we price, the cheapest to own over 5 years in Utah is the Toyota Prius LE at $34,558 — a hybrid. The cheapest electric, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) ($43,741), runs about $9,183 more — we say it plainly when the gas or hybrid car wins.
Charging mostly at home, an EV usually costs about half as much per mile to run as a comparable gas car — but higher depreciation and insurance can erase that, and the federal $7,500 credit is gone (). The cheaper car depends on the exact vehicles, your mileage, and your local rates. Compare any below — every assumption shown and dated.
No referral fees. No manufacturer commissions. We tell you when gas wins.
The numbers behind every EV-vs-gas estimate
- Electricity, Utah
- 13.0¢/kWhEIA · 2026-05
- Gasoline, Utah
- $3.91/galAAA
- Charging loss (modeled)
- 12%EPA / SAE J1634
- Maintenance ($/mi)
- EV $0.06 vs gas $0.10AAA (est.)
- Insurance ($/yr, avg)
- EV $2,750 vs gas $2,200industry (est.)
- Federal EV purchase credit (2026)
- $0 — expired Sept 30, 2025IRS / OBBBA
Example comparison — change the vehicles belowOver 5 years, the Honda Civic LX (gas car) is the cheapest at $35,707 — about $12,985 less than the Chevrolet Equinox EV LT ($595/mo, $0.59/mi).
Total cost of ownership, cheapest first
Chevrolet Equinox EV LT
$48,692 / 5 yr
$812/mo$0.81/mi
+$12,985 more than the Honda Civic LX (36%)
Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD
$53,289 / 5 yr
$888/mo$0.89/mi
+$17,582 more than the Honda Civic LX (49%)
Lowest 5-year cost: Honda Civic LX (gas) at $35,707, $595 per month. Chevrolet Equinox EV LT $48,692; Tesla Model 3 Premium $53,289.
Cumulative cost over time
This shows your total spend by each year — purchase, charging/fuel, depreciation, insurance and financing combined. Where two lines cross is your payback point.
Tesla Model 3 PremiumHonda Civic LXChevrolet Equinox EV LT
Tesla Model 3 Premium never beats Honda Civic LX within 5 yrs · Chevrolet Equinox EV LT never beats Honda Civic LX within 5 yrs
Where the money goes (full breakdown)
| Cost component | Electric · Tesla Model 3 Premium | Gas · Honda Civic LX | Electric · Chevrolet Equinox EV LT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $24,644 (46%) | $9,144 (26%) | $20,997 (43%) |
| Charging / fuel | $2,872 (5%) | $6,510 (18%) | $3,331 (7%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$345) | — | 12% (~$400) |
| Maintenance | $3,660 (7%) | $4,620 (13%) | $3,660 (8%) |
| Insurance | $13,750 (26%) | $11,000 (31%) | $13,750 (28%) |
| Financing interest | $7,427 (14%) | $4,213 (12%) | $6,017 (12%) |
| Registration & fees | $936 (2%) | $220 (1%) | $936 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $53,289 | $35,707 | $48,692 |
The charging-loss row is the ~10–15% of electricity lost to AC charging that you pay for but never reaches the battery — most calculators silently omit it, which makes EVs look cheaper than they are. We include it.
Incentives (as of 2026-08-06)
- Federal EV purchase credit ($7,500 new / $4,000 used) — EXPIRED Sept 30, 2025. Ended under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — not available; never in our headline cost.
- Home charger credit (30C) — EXPIRED June 30, 2026. Was 30% of a home-charger install up to $1,000 (IRS Form 8911) — terminated for property placed in service after June 30, 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- New-vehicle auto-loan interest deduction — ACTIVE 2025–2028. Deduct interest on a new US-assembled vehicle loan, up to $10k/yr (income-limited).
- State & utility incentives — VARIES. Layered per location with a dated source — arriving with the state data packs.
Why trust this
- Unbiased. No referral fees, no manufacturer commissions, no utility-territory lock.
- Current. Live EIA electricity rates; every number sourced and dated.
- Honest. We model charging loss and show you when gas is the better buy.
- Full methodology & sources →
We take no manufacturer commissions, no utility-territory deals, and no referral fees that affect the calculator. Any affiliate links are clearly disclosed and never change the math. The site currently carries no advertising. We show you when gas wins.
What is different about Utah's numbers
Home electricity here is 13.0¢/kWh, 29.7% below the 18.4¢ U.S. average (EIA, 2026-05), and regular gas averages $3.91/gal, level with the national $3.85 (AAA). Utah also charges electric cars a $143.25/yr road-use fee on top of the $44 base registration — $716 across 5 years, folded into every EV figure on this page.
Run all 80 models that have their own cost page through the kernel at both rate sets and the average electric car's 5-year total in Utah lands $1,668 below its U.S.-average figure, while the average gas or hybrid car lands $644 below its own. Net effect: Utah narrows the gap an EV has to close by about $1,024. Head-to-head that comes out as EVs taking 14 of 55 matchups at Utah rates against 14 nationally — we publish that whichever way it falls.
Ranked against the other 50 state rate sets by what the whole priced fleet costs to run, Utah is 6th cheapest for an electric car and 31st for a gas or hybrid one. Its residential rate has moved 11.5¢ → 13.3¢/kWh across the 24 months to 2026-04 (+15.7%); on a Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD that shift alone is about $399 more electricity over 5 years than the same car would have cost at the 2024-05 rate.
Across the 37 matchups where an electric car faces a gas or hybrid one, the median EV costs $12,866 more over 5 years than the gas or hybrid car it is matched against at Utah rates — against $13,751 more nationally. Utah closes it by about $885. The EV that comes closest here is the Rivian R1S Dual-Motor (Standard Pack) against the Cadillac Escalade, $17,337 ahead; the furthest behind is the Kia EV9 Light Long Range RWD (electric) against the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid LE FWD, $24,386 adrift.
Running cost, Utah prices: a Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD draws about $3.68 of electricity per 100 miles at home (charging loss included), against $13.02 of gas for a 30 mpg car. A gas car would need 106 mpg to match the EV's fuel bill here. That is the running-cost line only — depreciation and insurance are what usually decide the 5-year total, and they are why most of the matchups below still go to the gas or hybrid car.
Utah EV incentive: none we can verify. Federal support ended too — the $7,500 new / $4,000 used credits expired Sept 30, 2025 — so nothing is discounted anywhere on this page.
Cheapest EVs to own in Utah
Ranked by true 5-year cost of ownership at Utah rates (12,000 mi/yr, all-in):
Utah cost by model
Utah is one of the six cheapest states in the country for 37 of the 80 models we price — Tesla Model Y RWD at $56,004, Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD at $57,891, Chevrolet Equinox EV LT at $48,692 and 34 more. Sorted by 5-year cost to own at Utah rates; the order is not the national order.
| Type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius LE (hybrid) | Hybrid | $28,350 | $34,558 | $576 | $1,149 cheaper than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota Corolla LE (gas) | Gas | $23,000 | $34,707 | $578 | $1,000 cheaper than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Honda Civic LX (gas) | Gas | $25,400 | $35,707 | $595 | $1,000 more than the Toyota Corolla LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid LE | Hybrid | $29,000 | $37,466 | $624 | $1,759 more than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE | Hybrid | $31,900 | $38,451 | $641 | $1,979 cheaper than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Hyundai Kona SE (gas) | Gas | $25,600 | $38,578 | $643 | $1,852 cheaper than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Honda Accord LX (gas) | Gas | $28,000 | $38,986 | $650 | $3,279 more than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) | Gas | $30,000 | $40,430 | $674 | $318 cheaper than the Honda CR-V LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Honda CR-V LX (gas) | Gas | $31,000 | $40,748 | $679 | $318 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport | Hybrid | $35,630 | $41,579 | $693 | $1,149 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE | Plug-in hybrid | $43,865 | $43,138 | $719 | $2,708 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Toyota Tacoma SR | Gas | $32,145 | $43,237 | $721 | $9,611 cheaper than the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at Utah rates |
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) | Electric | $27,800 | $43,741 | $729 | $9,183 more than the Toyota Prius LE (hybrid) at Utah rates |
| Nissan Leaf SV+ | Electric | $28,140 | $44,249 | $737 | $9,691 more than the Toyota Prius LE (hybrid) at Utah rates |
| Toyota bZ XLE (electric) | Electric | $34,900 | $46,504 | $775 | $6,074 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE | Electric | $35,000 | $47,531 | $792 | $7,101 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Fiat 500e | Electric | $35,700 | $48,199 | $803 | $12,492 more than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV LT | Electric | $34,995 | $48,692 | $812 | $8,262 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Hyundai Kona Electric SEL (Long Range) | Electric | $36,875 | $49,362 | $823 | $8,932 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Volvo EX30 Single motor extended range | Electric | $38,950 | $50,663 | $844 | $10,233 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Kia Niro EV Wind | Electric | $39,600 | $51,248 | $854 | $10,818 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Ford F-150 XLT (gas) | Gas | $42,000 | $52,848 | $881 | $989 more than the Ram 1500 Tradesman Quad Cab at Utah rates |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Select | Electric | $39,995 | $53,492 | $892 | $13,062 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Volkswagen ID.4 Pro | Electric | $39,735 | $53,796 | $897 | $13,366 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Nissan Ariya Engage | Electric | $39,590 | $53,960 | $899 | $13,530 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Kia EV6 Wind | Electric | $43,000 | $54,570 | $910 | $14,140 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV FWD | Electric | $44,995 | $55,602 | $927 | $15,172 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | Electric | $44,990 | $56,004 | $933 | $15,574 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD | Electric | $48,990 | $57,891 | $965 | $17,461 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Subaru Solterra Premium | Electric | $44,995 | $58,612 | $977 | $18,182 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Audi Q4 45 e-tron | Electric | $50,900 | $59,745 | $996 | $19,315 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Honda Prologue EX | Electric | $47,400 | $60,235 | $1,004 | $19,805 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 Performance | Electric | $54,490 | $62,490 | $1,042 | $26,783 more than the Honda Civic LX (gas) at Utah rates |
| Ford F-150 Lightning Pro | Electric | $54,780 | $64,823 | $1,080 | $11,975 more than the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 RWD | Electric | $58,955 | $66,724 | $1,112 | $26,294 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Kia EV9 Light Long Range RWD (electric) | Electric | $57,900 | $69,398 | $1,157 | $28,968 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Cadillac Lyriq Luxury (electric) | Electric | $59,200 | $73,537 | $1,226 | $33,107 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Audi Q6 e-tron (base RWD, electric) | Electric | $65,095 | $74,446 | $1,241 | $60,104 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Rivian R1T Dual-Motor | Electric | $69,900 | $77,099 | $1,285 | $24,251 more than the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at Utah rates |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range | Electric | $69,100 | $78,443 | $1,307 | $25,595 more than the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at Utah rates |
| 2026 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor | Electric | $79,995 | $82,927 | $1,382 | $42,497 more than the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at Utah rates |
| Tesla Cybertruck AWD | Electric | $79,990 | $83,200 | $1,387 | $30,352 more than the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at Utah rates |
| Porsche Macan Electric (base RWD) | Electric | $75,300 | $87,595 | $1,460 | $46,955 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) | Electric | $67,100 | $90,317 | $1,505 | $44,233 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) | Electric | $84,990 | $91,831 | $1,531 | $42,719 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Rivian R1S Dual-Motor (Standard Pack) | Electric | $76,990 | $94,869 | $1,581 | $39,681 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) | Electric | $74,900 | $95,175 | $1,586 | $39,375 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Porsche Taycan (electric) | Electric | $99,400 | $105,602 | $1,760 | $28,948 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Audi e-tron GT quattro (electric) | Electric | $107,995 | $121,245 | $2,021 | $13,305 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ (electric) | Electric | $104,400 | $131,102 | $2,185 | $3,448 cheaper than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
| Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE | Gas | $113,300 | $134,550 | $2,243 | $39,303 more than the Porsche Cayenne at Utah rates |
| BMW i7 xDrive60 (electric) | Electric | $124,200 | $147,885 | $2,465 | $13,335 more than the Land Rover Range Rover P400 SE at Utah rates |
This is the Utah-relevant slice of the fleet. The full 80-model table at U.S.-average rates is on every model — price vs 5-year cost.
Matchups that change hands in Utah
None of them. All 55 head-to-head matchups come out the same way at Utah rates as at the U.S. average — local prices move the totals here by $1,668 on an average EV, but never enough to change a winner. See every matchup →
Car insurance in Utah
Drivers in Utah spent an average of $1,169 a year on auto insurance — 8.7% below the $1,281 national average (NAIC, 2023, the latest published figure; a state average across all drivers, not a quote for any one car or driver, and premiums have moved since). Electric cars typically add about 42% on top of a comparable gas car, 18% for 2024-and-newer models (Insurify, June 2026, modeled at a standard driver profile).
Our 5-year totals use a labeled per-model estimate for each car, not this average — see how EV insurance moves the 5-year cost.
FAQ
Is an electric car cheaper to own than a gas car in Utah?
Usually not at typical mileage, as of August 2026: the cheapest model we track in Utah is the Toyota Prius LE (a hybrid) at $34,558 over 5 years, while the cheapest electric — the Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) at $43,741 — runs about $9,183 more. High mileage or cheap home charging can flip it; each comparison page shows exactly when.
Which EV is cheapest to own in Utah?
As of August 2026, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) — about $43,741 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, registration fees and financing.
What do electricity and gas cost in Utah right now?
Our totals use 13.0¢/kWh for home electricity (EIA) and $3.91/gal for gas (AAA), as of August 6, 2026.
What does the 5-year total include?
Depreciation, charging or fuel (including the ~12% AC charging loss most calculators omit), insurance, maintenance, registration fees and financing interest — every source dated. The federal $7,500 EV credit expired Sept 30, 2025 and is not applied.
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Utah?
About $4 per 100 miles at home at Utah's residential rate (13.0¢/kWh, EIA), including the ~12% charging loss — using a Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD as the reference. See the cost to charge in every state.
How much is car insurance in Utah?
Drivers in Utah spent an average of about $1,169 a year — 8.7% below the $1,281 national average (NAIC, 2023; a state average across all drivers, not a quote for a specific car or driver, and premiums have moved since). Electric cars typically run about 42% above comparable gas cars (18% for 2024-and-newer models; Insurify, June 2026). EVCostIQ's 5-year totals use our own labeled per-model estimate, not this average.
States whose numbers look like Utah's
Closest matches on home electricity and pump price — the states where the same car lands nearest to its Utah total — plus the cheapest and most expensive states in the country to run an EV: