How Far Can $100 Take You in America’s Most Popular Cars?
Key Takeaways
- A Tesla Model Y charged at home travels nearly six times as far on $100 as a diesel Chevrolet Silverado.
- The diesel Chevrolet Silverado ranks last at just 366 miles per $100, followed by the diesel GMC Sierra at 374 miles.
- The Toyota Corolla hybrid travels nearly 40% farther on $100 than its gasoline-powered counterpart.
The cost of driving varies dramatically depending on the vehicle, from electric SUVs to gasoline-powered pickup trucks.
While purchase prices often dominate car-buying decisions, fuel and electricity costs can add up over time. This visualization compares how far popular U.S. vehicles can travel on $100 worth of gasoline, diesel, or electricity.
The data comes from Kadoa, using EPA fuel-economy ratings, EIA energy prices, and Cox Automotive EV sales estimates. The comparison uses U.S. fuel prices from October 19, 2026, and electricity rates from August 2026, with electric vehicles assumed to charge at home.
Electric Vehicles Lead on Energy Costs
Electric vehicles dominate the top of the ranking, with the Tesla Model Y traveling 2,110 miles on $100 of home electricity. The Tesla Model 3 follows closely at 2,086 miles, while the Toyota bZ reaches 2,025 miles.
| Rank | Model | Version | Miles on $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | Electric | 2,110 mi |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 | Electric | 2,086 mi |
| 3 | Toyota bZ | Electric | 2,025 mi |
| 4 | Chevrolet Equinox EV | Electric | 1,689 mi |
| 5 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Electric | 1,664 mi |
| 6 | Rivian R1S | Electric | 1,278 mi |
| 7 | Toyota Prius | Hybrid | 1,237 mi |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | Hybrid | 1,212 mi |
| 9 | Honda Civic | Hybrid | 1,132 mi |
| 10 | Toyota Corolla | Hybrid | 1,109 mi |
| 11 | Toyota Camry | Hybrid | 1,074 mi |
| 12 | Honda Accord | Hybrid | 1,072 mi |
| 13 | Kia Sportage | Hybrid | 1,065 mi |
| 14 | Hyundai Tucson | Hybrid | 1,033 mi |
| 15 | Toyota RAV4 | Hybrid | 957 mi |
| 16 | Kia Sportage | Hybrid | 891 mi |
| 17 | Honda CR-V | Hybrid | 864 mi |
| 18 | Ford Maverick | Hybrid | 864 mi |
| 19 | Hyundai Tucson | Hybrid | 863 mi |
| 20 | Subaru Crosstrek | Hybrid | 840 mi |
| 21 | Subaru Forester | Hybrid | 817 mi |
| 22 | Toyota Corolla | Combustion | 794 mi |
| 23 | Honda Civic | Combustion | 794 mi |
| 24 | Hyundai Elantra | Combustion | 794 mi |
| 25 | Honda Accord | Combustion | 735 mi |
| 26 | Nissan Rogue | Combustion | 724 mi |
| 27 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Hybrid | 700 mi |
| 28 | Honda CR-V | Combustion | 688 mi |
| 29 | Chevrolet Trax | Combustion | 688 mi |
| 30 | Subaru Forester | Combustion | 654 mi |
| 31 | Subaru Crosstrek | Combustion | 640 mi |
| 32 | Hyundai Tucson | Combustion | 629 mi |
| 33 | Chevrolet Equinox | Combustion | 618 mi |
| 34 | Kia Sportage | Combustion | 607 mi |
| 35 | Jeep Wrangler | Hybrid | 588 mi |
| 36 | Ford Maverick | Combustion | 572 mi |
| 37 | Ford F-Series | Hybrid | 548 mi |
| 38 | Toyota Tacoma | Hybrid | 537 mi |
| 39 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Combustion | 514 mi |
| 40 | Chevrolet Traverse | Combustion | 502 mi |
| 41 | Toyota Tacoma | Combustion | 490 mi |
| 42 | Ford Explorer | Combustion | 490 mi |
| 43 | Ram Pickup | Combustion | 478 mi |
| 44 | Jeep Wrangler | Combustion | 467 mi |
| 45 | Ford F-Series | Combustion | 444 mi |
| 46 | Chevrolet Silverado | Combustion | 397 mi |
| 47 | GMC Sierra | Combustion | 397 mi |
| 48 | GMC Sierra | Combustion | 374 mi |
| 49 | Chevrolet Silverado | Combustion | 366 mi |
Even the Rivian R1S, a large electric SUV, travels 1,278 miles on $100 of home electricity, slightly outperforming the Toyota Prius at 1,237 miles. This highlights how lower electricity costs can offset the higher energy consumption of larger EVs.
Importantly, these figures represent cumulative driving distances across multiple charges, not the range of a single charge. They also assume home electricity rates, meaning trips that rely on public fast charging could cost considerably more.
Hybrids Offer a Middle Ground
Hybrid vehicles occupy much of the middle of the ranking, offering better fuel economy than comparable gasoline-powered models without requiring drivers to plug in.
The Toyota Prius leads this group at 1,237 miles per $100, followed by the Hyundai Elantra at 1,212 miles and Honda Civic at 1,132 miles.
The savings become clearer when comparing versions of the same vehicle. The Toyota Corolla hybrid travels 1,109 miles on $100, compared with 794 miles for the gasoline version, a nearly 40% improvement in driving distance.
Pickup Trucks Are Among the Most Expensive to Fuel
At the opposite end of the ranking, large pickup trucks generally deliver the fewest miles per $100. Their greater size, weight, and energy consumption contribute to higher operating costs.
The gasoline-powered Ford F-Series achieves 444 miles, while its hybrid counterpart improves that figure to 548 miles. Fuel type and energy prices also play an important role in determining how far each vehicle can travel on a fixed budget.
Which Cars Are Winning the Sales Race?
Fuel costs are only one factor in vehicle purchasing decisions. Despite ranking among the most expensive vehicles to fuel, pickup trucks remain U.S. bestsellers.
According to GoodCarBadCar, the Ford F-Series led the market with approximately 562,000 vehicles sold through September 2026, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado at 423,000 and Honda CR-V at 337,000.
Among electric vehicles, the Tesla Model Y remained the clear leader, with an estimated 262,491 U.S. sales, far ahead of the Model 3 at 106,962, according to Car and Driver.
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