Gasoline vehicles saw annual fuel costs rise US$706 between January and April 2026.
EV energy costs increased US$11, based on blended home and public charging.
Toyota Sequoia had the highest model-level increase, rising US$1,623 annually.
A sharp rise in U.S. gasoline prices early in 2026 created a much larger operating-cost burden for gasoline vehicle owners than for electric vehicle drivers, according to a new study.
It found annual fuel costs for gasoline-only vehicles increased by an average of US$706 between January and April 2026. EV energy costs rose by US$11 over the same period.
| Fuel Cost Increase By Drivetrain: January vs. April 2026 | ||||
| Drivetrain | Average Miles per Year | Annual Cost of Fuel, Jan. 2026 | Annual Cost of Fuel, Apr. 2026 | $ Increase, Jan. – Apr. |
| Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles | 13,323 | $1,533 | $2,240 | $706 |
| Conventional Hybrids | 14,696 | $1,055 | $1,540 | $486 |
| Plug-In Hybrids | 11,660 | $1,385 | $1,676 | $291 |
| EVs | 11,880 | $714 | $725 | $11 |
Gasoline prices climbed nearly 46% from Jan. 1 to April 30. The analysis used more than 2.1 million three-year-old used vehicles sold in 2025 to estimate annual mileage and fuel costs by drivetrain and model.
Gasoline vehicles averaged 13,323 miles (21,441 km) per year, with annual fuel costs rising from US$1,533 in January to US$2,240 in April. EVs averaged 11,880 miles (19,119 km) annually, with estimated charging costs moving from US$714 to US$725.
Conventional hybrids were driven the most, at 14,696 miles (23,651 km) per year, but remained less costly to fuel than gasoline vehicles. Their annual fuel bill rose US$486, from US$1,055 to US$1,540. Plug-in hybrids posted a US$291 increase.
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The largest increases were concentrated in heavier, less efficient vehicle categories. Minivans recorded the largest segment-level increase, up US$1,139 annually, reflecting both higher fuel consumption and higher usage. Trucks followed with a US$992 increase.
Among individual models, the Toyota Sequoia had the steepest increase. Its estimated annual fuel cost rose from US$3,523 in January to US$5,145 in April, a US$1,623 jump.
Other large utility vehicles also ranked high, including the Chevrolet Suburban, Nissan Armada, GMC Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade ESV. The Chrysler Pacifica was the only minivan in the top 10, with a US$1,236 increase.
The findings point to a growing ownership-cost divide as fuel prices rise and to how increasingly attractive electric vehicles can be. These findings certainly help explain why EV sales are slowly but surely recovering following sharp decreases last year and in the first months of 2026.
Source: iSeeCars
