Engine Type Comparison
Estimate ownership cost over 1 to 10 years — depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, financing and taxes. Useful when choosing between two cars or comparing new vs used.
Engine Type Comparator
Compare ICE, hybrid, PHEV, battery-EV and hydrogen on annual energy and maintenance.
| Powertrain | Efficiency | Annual energy | Maintenance |
|---|
How It Works
Aggregates depreciation curves (steepest first 3 years), historical maintenance schedules by make/model, average insurance by class, and current fuel prices.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter purchase price, ownership years and annual miles.
- Set fuel economy and fuel price.
- Add insurance and financing.
- Calculator returns total cost broken down by year and category.
Worked Example
Reference Table
Cumulative depreciation reaches 55–60% by year 5 on average.
| Year | Major cost driver |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Depreciation 18–22%, no major maintenance |
| Year 2 | Depreciation 12–15%, first major service ~$300 |
| Year 3 | Depreciation 10–12%, tire replacement $600–1 200 |
| Year 4 | Depreciation 8–10%, brake service $400–800 |
| Year 5 | Depreciation 7–9%, timing belt or major scheduled service |
| Year 6+ | Depreciation flattens to 5–7%, repair costs rise |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from 5-Year TCO?
The TCO tool gives a single 5-year total. This tool shows the year-by-year curve so you can see when costs spike and plan for them.
What’s the cheapest year of ownership?
Usually years 3–4 — depreciation has slowed, the original warranty is still active or recently expired, and major repairs haven’t started yet.
