Rising gas prices caused by the on-again, off-again Iran War are wreaking havoc on drivers who are paying hundreds of dollars more to fill up their tanks. But the rise in fuel costs hasn’t been even. In fact, some models have added more than double the national average to fill their gas tanks.
But according to iSeeCars, a 46% increase in fuel prices has led gas-powered vehicles to cost $706 more per year to fill up now than in January. Those weekly trips to the gas station start adding up over the weeks and months.
The firm says consumers in the hunt for a new vehicle should consider electric or hybrids because “Fuel price spikes can play havoc with a consumer’s monthly budget, but consumers can reduce this risk by buying a hybrid or plug-in hybrid,” according to Karl Brauer, an iSeeCars executive analyst. “And, if a driver’s lifestyle and transportation needs can be fulfilled by an electric vehicle, EVs can help insulate consumers from recurring and substantial swings in fuel prices.”
Hybrids are popular, and their fuel cost increase is much lower than that of their ICE counterparts, at just $486.
But while EVs cost less to drive, part of the reason they are losing popularity in the U.S. is that they are, on average, more expensive to purchase and insure than traditional ICE vehicles.
So most Americans probably aren’t going to ditch their favorite gas-guzzlers to buy EVs.
In fact, iSeeCar compiled a list of the most popular cars that have seen the biggest increase in fuel costs.
5 popular car models that cost more to fill up
Fuel economy plays a large part in the fuel cost equation, and Americans love low-economy options like trucks.
Trucks and minivans were hit the hardest by fuel price increases, with minivans averaging the highest increase at $1,139, rising from $2,472 to fill up a minivan for the year in January, to $3,610 in April.
That larger increase, remember that the average was just $703, is tied to the fact that more minivans are driven as the primary transportation than other types of vehicles. The segment averages 19,292 miles per year, nearly 5,000 miles more than the second-most driven segment: trucks.
Truck fuel costs, meanwhile, are up by $992 over the same period, so that now, filling up a truck for the year will cost the average American $3,146.
So it’s no surprise that the list for the vehicles with the highest fuel cost increase is full of minivans and trucks. Here are the biggest increases, according to an iSeeCars study.
- Toyota Sequoia – Annual fuel cost increase $1,623 to $5,145
- Chevy Suburban – Annual fuel cost increase $1,542 to $4,889
- Nissan Armada – Annual fuel cost increase $1,513 to $4,797
- GMC Yukon XL – Annual fuel cost increase $1,471 to $4,664
- Chevy Tahoe – Annual fuel cost increase $1,317 to $4,177
Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, here are five non-EVs that had the smallest fuel cost increases. Unsurprisingly, most are hybrids.
- Toyota Prius Prime – Annual fuel cost increase $163 to $955
- Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid – Annual fuel cost increase $163 to $885
- Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid – Annual fuel cost increase $181 to $1,006
- Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid – Annual fuel cost increase $183 to $987
- Ford Mustang – Annual fuel cost increase $193 to $613.
Buying EVs is the surest way to save money on gas
Though Toyota Sequoia owners are now paying over $400 a month in gas, chances are most won’t trade in their vehicle for an electric.
But according to iSeeCars, one of the best ways to save at the pump is to consider how far you drive, what type of vehicle you have, and how efficiently that vehicle turns uses its fuel.
“Fuel price spikes can play havoc with a consumer’s monthly budget, but consumers can reduce this risk by buying a hybrid or plug-in hybrid,” said Brauer. “And, if a driver’s lifestyle and transportation needs can be fulfilled by an electric vehicle, EVs can help insulate consumers from recurring and substantial swings in fuel prices.”
While they do have higher upfront costs, “Electric vehicles have an undeniable fuel cost advantage over gas-consuming models, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids,” Brauer said. “This can help offset their higher upfront purchase price and insurance rates.”
The average annual energy cost for an EV was $725 in April, compared to $2,240 for gasoline models. Meaning the annual cost of fueling an EV is nearly as much as the $706 increase in gas vehicle fueling costs since January.
Related: GM, Ford, Stellantis CEOs go back to the drawing board with EVs
