Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — Tesla Model Y or Toyota bZ?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Toyota bZ is about $7,702 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — Tesla Model Y or Toyota bZ?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — Tesla Model Y or Toyota bZ?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the Tesla Model Y better than the Toyota bZ?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	Tesla Model Y	Toyota bZ
MotiveGrid Score	76	84
Cost of Ownership	67	81
Powertrain	71	83
Driver Assistance	30	49
Livability	46	39
Safety	100	94
5-Year Cost to Own	$52,689	$44,986
Depreciation (5-yr)	$25,034	$21,737
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$2,863	$2,520
Insurance (5-yr)	$14,260	$10,945
Maintenance (5-yr)	$1,050	$925
Tires (5-yr)	$1,750	$1,750
Financing (5-yr)	$6,017	$5,469
Registration (5-yr)	$1,715	$1,640
Starting Price	$39,990	$36,350
Horsepower	295 hp	168 hp
Electric range	321 mi	236 mi
Cargo volume	76 cu ft	27.7 cu ft
Seating	5	5
Towing capacity	3,500 lbs	—
Drivetrain	RWD	FWD

Tesla Model Y vs. Toyota bZ

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

Where these rank

What each one costs at the counter

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