Tesla · Large cars · Electric
Tesla Model S: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
The Tesla Model S is an electric model rated at 124 MPGe combined, using 27.1 kWh per 100 miles, with up to 410 miles of electric range; in its class it is 2nd of 25 large cars, in the top quarter, ahead of 96% of the others.
- 124MPGe combined2nd of 25 in class
- $600a year in fuel2nd of 25 in class
- 0g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the electric models of its class it is 2nd of 5 electric large cars, in the top quarter, ahead of 75% of the others. The median of that narrower group is 98 MPGe, against 28 MPGe for all large cars together.
Among all electric models of the year, regardless of size, it is 9th of 66 electric models, in the top quarter, ahead of 88% of the others.
Within the 5 Tesla models rated for 2026 it is 3rd on combined rating; the median of the make's line-up is 124 MPGe.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Lucid Air at 146 MPGe and just behind it is the Mercedes-Benz EQS at 98 MPGe.
Electric models use no fuel and have no tailpipe CO2. Efficiency is given in MPGe, the miles driven on 33.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is the energy in one gallon of gasoline. The annual cost is electricity at $0.15 per kWh.
Fuel cost and CO2
The file prices the fuel for its most efficient version at about $600 a year, assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and electricity at $0.15 per kWh. That is $2,350 less than the large cars median of $2,950.
It has no tailpipe emissions, so the CO2 column is zero; the emissions from making the electricity are not part of this figure.
Rated versions
The city rating of 132 is 16 above the highway rating of 116. 3 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, Model S: electric motor, Automatic (A1), AWD, gets 124 MPGe; the least efficient listed, Model S Plaid (21in wheels): electric motor, Automatic (A1), AWD, gets 93 MPGe, a gap of 31 MPGe. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $200 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile | Electric range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model S: electric motor, Automatic (A1), AWD | 124 | 132 | 116 | $600 | 0 | 410 |
| Model S Plaid: electric motor, Automatic (A1), AWD | 110 | 114 | 105 | $700 | 0 | 368 |
| Model S Plaid (21in wheels): electric motor, Automatic (A1), AWD | 93 | 97 | 89 | $800 | 0 | 309 |
Year by year
The Tesla Model S is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Between 2019 and 2026 the best combined rating rose by 13 MPGe, from 111 to 124. The number of rated versions shrank from 7 to 3. Fuel cost for the best version is $600 in the latest data against $700 in 2019, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 124 | 93 | $600 | 0 | 28 |
| 2025 | 3 | 124 | 93 | $600 | 0 | 26.5 |
| 2024 | 3 | 122 | 96 | $600 | 0 | 26.5 |
| 2023 | 1 | 120 | 120 | $650 | 0 | 23 |
| 2022 | 3 | 120 | 101 | $650 | 0 | 24 |
| 2021 | 4 | 120 | 96 | $650 | 0 | 23 |
| 2020 | 5 | 117 | 97 | $650 | 0 | 23 |
| 2019 | 7 | 111 | 97 | $700 | 0 | 23 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Air | Electric | 146 | $500 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | Electric | 98 | $750 | 2026 |
| Dodge Charger Electric | Electric | 95 | $800 | 2026 |
| BMW i7 | Electric | 88 | $850 | 2026 |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | Hybrid | 51 | $1,300 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Large cars, Electric, Tesla.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.