Tesla Model 3 and Model Y among Canada’s most efficient EVs in CAA’s 2026 EV Circuit

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have finished near the top of a new Canadian EV comparison, with both vehicles ranking among the most energy-efficient and recording the lowest public charging costs in CAA’s 2026 EV Circuit.

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) tested 22 EVs on the same 230 km route from Blue Mountain to Vaughan, Ontario, measuring energy consumption, charging speeds, and the cost of adding range at public fast chargers.

All 22 vehicles completed the drive without charging, using approximately 40% of their battery capacity on average.

The revamped Toyota bZ topped the efficiency rankings at 11.43 kWh/100 km, followed closely by the Tesla Model Y at 11.81 kWh/100 km and Model 3 at 11.85 kWh/100 km. The Kia EV4 and Nissan LEAF rounded out the top five.

At the opposite end, the Lucid Gravity recorded the highest consumption at 28.91 kWh/100 km, followed by the GMC HUMMER EV SUV (23.55), Tesla Cybertruck (23.41), Rivian R1T (19.96), and Cadillac LYRIQ (19.10).

Rank	Lowest Energy Consumption	kWh/100 km	Highest Energy Consumption	kWh/100 km
1	Toyota bZ	11.43	Lucid Gravity	28.91
2	Tesla Model Y	11.81	GMC HUMMER EV SUV	23.55
3	Tesla Model 3	11.85	Tesla Cybertruck	23.41
4	Kia EV4	11.89	Rivian R1T	19.96
5	Nissan LEAF	12.48	Cadillac LYRIQ	19.10

Tesla also performed well when it came to charging costs. The Model 3 recorded the lowest cost at $7.28 per 100 km of range added, followed by the Model Y at $8.23. The Nissan LEAF placed third at $10.13.

However, there’s an important caveat. All vehicles charged at Tesla Superchargers for consistency, where Tesla owners receive preferred pricing compared to other EV brands. That pricing advantage contributed to the Model 3 and Model Y’s results.

Charging speed told a different story. The Lucid Gravity added the most displayed range during a 15-minute charging session at 178 km, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5 at 136 km. The Model Y was among the bottom five, adding just 97 km.

Rank	Lowest Cost per 100 km	Cost (CAD)	Highest Cost per 100 km	Cost (CAD)
1	Tesla Model 3	$7.28	GMC HUMMER EV SUV	$24.39
2	Tesla Model Y	$8.23	Chevrolet Silverado EV	$19.05
3	Nissan LEAF	$10.13	Rivian R1T	$17.85
4	Kia EV4	$10.25	Tesla Cybertruck	$15.61
5	Hyundai IONIQ 5	$10.68	Volkswagen ID. Buzz	$15.48

Across all vehicles, a 15-minute stop added an average of 110 km of displayed range, while the average fast-charging cost was $13.45.

Rank	Most Range Added	km	Least Range Added	km
1	Lucid Gravity	178	Lucid Air	58
2	Hyundai IONIQ 5	136	Chevrolet Equinox EV	71
3	Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ	135	Chevrolet Silverado EV	80
4	Cadillac LYRIQ	131	GMC HUMMER EV SUV	90
5	Nissan LEAF	126	Tesla Model Y	97

CAA also found the September test group consumed approximately 40% less energy than vehicles in its February 2025 winter test, although different vehicles and conditions prevent a direct comparison.