FIAT 500e Becomes America's Cheapest New Car; Dodge Charger EV Surprisingly Ranks Second

A total cost of ownership (TCO) study covering 50 all-new vehicles reveals the FIAT 500e as America's cheapest new car for 2026 — with an average annual operating cost of $3,557. This figure is not only far below comparable gasoline and hybrid models, but also nearly $1,300 lower than the HondaCIVIC hybrid version ($4,833).

The study, published by U.S. media outlet Self.Inc, evaluates four key annual expenses: energy costs, maintenance, insurance, and taxes. Data shows the average annual operating cost across all 50 models reached $6,913 in 2026 — up $451 from the same study conducted in 2024. Notably, hybrid vehicles delivered the strongest overall performance (average $5,734), followed by battery electric vehicles ($6,189), while conventional gasoline-powered cars ranked highest ($7,025).

Even more surprisingly, the second-place finisher was the Dodge Charger Daytona EV — also from Stellantis and sharing the same retro design language. Its average annual operating cost stands at $5,298, comprising $911 in electricity, $1,364 in maintenance (primarily tire replacement), $1,907 in insurance, and $1,117 in taxes. This is lower than both the TeslaModel 3 ($5,464) and the Hyundai IONIQ 6 ($5,476), and slightly above the HondaAccord ($5,047).

The study also highlights significantly higher operating costs for premium performance models: both Porsche 911 and Audi RS7 exceed $10,000 annually. The Lucid Air tops the EV segment at $10,049 — making it the most expensive electric vehicle in 2026.

Among all 50 models, the top ten are dominated by compact gasoline and hybrid vehicles — but EVs have firmly claimed positions #1 and #11. The FIAT 500e, with just $779 in annual electricity costs, $1,275 in maintenance, and $724 in taxes, demonstrates the unique lifecycle cost advantage of small-scale EV platforms.