This page last changed 2026.02.18 15:18 [1 time today, 2 times yesterday, and 8 total times]
I own a 2012 Toyota Prius and it's working fine. Should I get a new Tesla car to replace it?
There are 4 models of Tesla.
| Which | Type | Seats | Range | Price | Cargo space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3 | Compact Sedan | 5 | ~272-363mi | ~$39k-$47k | ~24 cu ft |
| Model Y | Compact SUV | 5-7 | ~260-330mi | ~$44k-$52k | ~76 cu ft |
| Model S | Luxury Sedan | 5 | ~405mi | ~75k+ | |
| Model X | Luxury SUB | 5-7 | ~335mi | ~80k |
My Prius has about 22 cu ft cargo space (seats up) or 39 cu ft (seats folded).
I would be most interested in considering the Model Y.
Compare cost per mile between 2012 Prius getting ~45mpg and Tesla Model Y AWD using realistic assumptions in Massachusetts.
Assuming:
Assume for calculations, gas $3.40/gal, Model Y 0.28kWh/mile, Electricity $0.32/kWh, super chargers $0.30-$0.45kWh
Prius
Cost per mile = gas price / mpg ⇒ 3.40/45 =0.076 or 7.6 cents/mile
Tesla
Cost per mile = kWh per mile * electricity price ⇒ 0.28 * 0.32 = 0.0896 or about 9 cents/mile.
Cost per mile using fast-charging 9-13 cents/mile
What this means:
Given cost of electricity,
Prius 7-8 cents/mile
Tesla 8-10 cents/mile (home charging)
Tesla 9-13 cents/mile (supercharging)
in other states where electricity is cheaper and/or using solar energy, EVs would win out on fuel cost.
Conclusion: Prius is usually cheaper to fuel.
Assuming 10,000 miles/year, approximate comparison:
| Prius 45mpg | ~$755/year |
| Model Y AWD (home charging) | ~$900/year |
| Model Y AWD (Supercharging) | $900-$1300 |
Note also that EV ownership saves money in that:
But on the other hand, on a Tesla
Insurance differences in Massachusetts
Reasons switching from Prius to Tesla makes sense
Reasons that switching might not make financial sense