Fiat 500e tops US ownership-cost study at $3,557

A compact Fiat 500e sits at the top of Self.Inc's list of 50 new cars, with an estimated $3,557 in annual running costs. That makes the retro-styled electric car the cheapest vehicle to own and drive in the study, ahead of the Honda Civic Hybrid at $4,833.

The calculation is broader than the electricity bill. Self.Inc combines annual fuel or energy costs, maintenance, insurance, and fees and taxes. For the Fiat, those figures are $779 for energy, $1,275 for maintenance, $779 for insurance, and $724 for fees and taxes.

The surprise arrives at number two among electric cars. The retro-styled Dodge Charger Daytona EV carries an estimated annual cost of $5,298: $911 for energy, $1,364 for maintenance, $1,907 for insurance, and $1,117 for fees and taxes. In the overall table, it ranks 11th, but its annual cost is about $200 below the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai IONIQ 6.

The comparison also complicates the usual efficiency story. Hybrid cars tested by Self.Inc averaged $5,734 a year, versus $6,189 for battery-electric cars and $7,025 for gasoline-powered vehicles. Across all 50 cars, the average was $6,913, up $451 from the company's previous study in 2024.

So, concretely, the list gives shoppers a way to compare the costs that arrive after purchase, not just the vehicle category on the window sticker. The Fiat 500e's lead comes from its low energy and insurance estimates, while the Charger EV ranks second among electric cars in this calculation. These remain Self.Inc estimates.