Hybrid vs gas versions of the same model: where the fuel savings are biggest
In model year 2026, 36 models were sold with both a gas and a hybrid version that can be compared like for like. At 15,000 miles a year and EIA's Sep 2026 national price of $4.36 a gallon for regular, the hybrid version costs a median of $560 a year less to fuel (20%), and it costs less in 32 of the 36 models.
The widest gap is the Lexus NX: $3,310 a year as a gas version against $2,060 as a hybrid, a difference of $1,250. In 4 of the 36 models the matched hybrid version costs the same or more to fuel than the gas version it was set against, so the answer depends on the model.
Each row sets the cheapest-to-fuel hybrid version of a model against the cheapest gas version it is comparable with: same fuel grade, same drive layout and an engine size within 1.0 L. Click a column heading to sort. The other 9 models sold both ways in MY2026 have no comparable pair, so they are left out rather than guessed.
Data: EPA file 2026-09-29, EIA prices g2026-09_e2026-07 · Gallonly Editorial Team
Models compared
36
Median saving
$560
Hybrid cheaper
32 / 36
Hybrid vs gas, model by model, MY2026
| Lexus NX NX 350 F Sport vs NX 350h (premium) | $1,250 | 38% | $3,310 | $2,060 | 24 | 39 |
| Hyundai Palisade Palisade vs Palisade Hybrid Blue (regular) | $1,160 | 38% | $3,080 | $1,920 | 21 | 34 |
| Lexus RX RX 350 vs RX 350h (premium) | $1,150 | 34% | $3,380 | $2,230 | 24 | 36 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Santa Fe vs Santa Fe Hybrid (regular) | $970 | 35% | $2,760 | $1,790 | 24 | 36 |
| Toyota Grand Highlander Grand Highlander LE/XLE vs Grand Highlander Hybrid (regular) | $900 | 33% | $2,710 | $1,810 | 24 | 36 |
| Toyota Highlander Highlander vs Highlander Hybrid LTD/PLAT (regular) | $890 | 32% | $2,750 | $1,860 | 24 | 35 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT AMG GT 63 4matic Plus vs AMG GT 43 4matic Plus (premium) | $800 | 17% | $4,610 | $3,810 | 17 | 21 |
| Kia Sportage Sportage vs Sportage Hybrid (regular) | $790 | 34% | $2,330 | $1,540 | 28 | 42 |
| Mazda CX-50 CX-50 vs CX-50 (regular) | $790 | 31% | $2,520 | $1,730 | 26 | 38 |
| Hyundai Sonata Sonata w/Stop-Start vs Sonata Hybrid Blue (regular) | $770 | 37% | $2,060 | $1,290 | 32 | 51 |
| Ford Maverick Maverick vs Maverick HEV (regular) | $760 | 31% | $2,480 | $1,720 | 26 | 38 |
| Hyundai Tucson Tucson vs Tucson Hybrid Blue (regular) | $750 | 30% | $2,470 | $1,720 | 26 | 38 |
| Kia Sorento Sorento vs Sorento Hybrid (regular) | $710 | 29% | $2,480 | $1,770 | 26 | 37 |
| Honda Accord Accord vs Accord Hybrid (regular) | $680 | 33% | $2,040 | $1,360 | 32 | 48 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class AMG CLA45 S 4matic vs CLA250 4matic (premium) | $670 | 19% | $3,480 | $2,810 | 23 | 29 |
| Hyundai Elantra Elantra w/Stop-Start vs Elantra Hybrid Blue (regular) | $660 | 35% | $1,880 | $1,220 | 35 | 54 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross Corolla Cross vs Corolla Cross Hybrid (regular) | $620 | 28% | $2,180 | $1,560 | 30 | 42 |
| Lexus TX TX 350 vs TX 500h (premium) | $590 | 17% | $3,530 | $2,940 | 23 | 27 |
| Toyota Corolla Corolla (1-mode TM) vs Corolla Hybrid (regular) | $560 | 30% | $1,870 | $1,310 | 35 | 50 |
| Honda CR-V CR-V vs CR-V (regular) | $530 | 25% | $2,150 | $1,620 | 30 | 40 |
| Honda Civic Civic 4Dr vs Civic 4Dr (regular) | $480 | 27% | $1,810 | $1,330 | 36 | 49 |
| Subaru Crosstrek Crosstrek vs Crosstrek Hybrid (regular) | $450 | 20% | $2,250 | $1,800 | 29 | 36 |
| Ford F-150 F-150 Pickup vs F-150 Pickup HEV (regular) | $400 | 13% | $3,120 | $2,720 | 21 | 24 |
| Subaru Forester Forester vs Forester Hybrid (regular) | $390 | 17% | $2,280 | $1,890 | 29 | 35 |
| Lexus LX LX 600 vs LX 700h (premium) | $340 | 8% | $4,340 | $4,000 | 19 | 20 |
| Toyota Tundra Tundra vs Tundra Hybrid (regular) | $300 | 9% | $3,220 | $2,920 | 20 | 22 |
| Toyota 4Runner 4Runner vs 4Runner Hybrid (regular) | $280 | 9% | $3,080 | $2,800 | 21 | 23 |
| Toyota Tacoma Tacoma SR5/Sport/Off-Road/Limited vs Tacoma Hybrid (regular) | $280 | 9% | $3,080 | $2,800 | 21 | 23 |
| Audi A6 A6 Sedan vs A6 Allroad quattro (premium) | $200 | 6% | $3,500 | $3,300 | 23 | 24 |
| Ram 1500 1500 vs 1500 (regular) | $190 | 6% | $3,190 | $3,000 | 21 | 22 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Outlander Sport vs Outlander (regular) | $130 | 5% | $2,550 | $2,420 | 26 | 27 |
| Land Rover Defender Defender 110 vs Defender 90 MHEV (premium) | $20 | 0% | $4,090 | $4,070 | 20 | 20 |
| Genesis G90 G90 vs G90 MHEV (premium) | -$180 | -5% | $3,860 | $4,040 | 21 | 20 |
| Land Rover Discovery Discovery vs Discovery MHEV (premium) | -$320 | -8% | $3,820 | $4,140 | 21 | 19 |
| Audi Q7 Q7 vs Q7 quattro (premium) | -$320 | -9% | $3,660 | $3,980 | 22 | 20 |
| Genesis GV80 GV80 vs GV80 MHEV (premium) | -$400 | -10% | $3,850 | $4,250 | 21 | 19 |
Click a column heading to sort.
Median saving by class
| Small SUVs | $710 | 12 | 12 / 12 |
| Standard SUVs | $280 | 10 | 7 / 10 |
Click a column heading to sort.
How this was calculated
Population: every model with at least one gas and one hybrid configuration in model year 2026 in the EPA file of 2026-09-29. MY2026 is the latest complete model year; MY2027 is still being filled by EPA and is not used. Annual cost = 15,000 miles divided by the combined MPG, times the EIA national price of the fuel grade, rounded to the nearest $10. The saving is the gas cost minus the hybrid cost, both already rounded, so the table adds up exactly. The percentage is that saving divided by the gas cost.
- Comparable versions share the fuel grade (regular, midgrade or premium), the drive layout (FWD, RWD, AWD or 4WD) and an engine size within 1.0 L. Within a model we take the cheapest-to-fuel comparable hybrid and the cheapest-to-fuel gas version it matches, which is the conservative reading of the saving.
- EPA's hybrid category includes mild hybrids as well as full hybrids. Trim names are shown under each model so you can see what was compared; they are not always the same trim level.
- Class medians are shown only for classes with at least 5 pairs. The median is the lower of the two middle values when the count is even, so it always equals a value in the table.
- Plug-in hybrids, electric and diesel versions are not part of this comparison, and prices are the national EIA averages, not state prices.
Download the data
Licence: CC BY 4.0. The first lines of the file carry the licence, the citation and the data stamp.
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Gallonly, “Hybrid vs gas versions of the same model: where the fuel savings are biggest”, https://gallonly.com/insights/hybrid-vs-gas-fuel-savings-by-model (EPA file of 2026-09-29; EIA price set g2026-09_e2026-07).
Questions about this story
How much do hybrids save on fuel compared with gas versions of the same model?
At the median $560 a year (20%) in MY2026 across 36 models, at 15,000 miles a year and the EIA Sep 2026 national price. The range runs from -$400 to $1,250 a year, so it depends heavily on the model.
Why do some hybrids cost the same or more to fuel than the gas version?
In 4 of the 36 models the matched hybrid costs the same or more per year than the matched gas version. EPA's hybrid category includes mild hybrids, and a matched hybrid can be a different trim or engine tune. The table lists the trims on both sides; we report what the EPA data shows and do not assign a cause.
Does a lower fuel bill mean a hybrid pays for itself?
No. This story compares fuel cost only. Purchase price, maintenance, resale value, how you drive and local prices change the total. Try the hybrid savings calculator with your own mileage and prices.