Man drives 434 miles in one day in his Tesla Model 3 then compares costs and time to if he drove gas and diesel cars to see which is best
Published on Feb 12, 2026 at 9:19 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Feb 12, 2026 at 9:19 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Molly Davidson
A Tesla owner decided to put his Model 3 through something a lot more serious than a grocery run.
He mapped out a 434-mile round trip and committed to doing it all in one winter day.
Temperatures were sitting below freezing, the heater would be working overtime, and charging stops would have to be planned.
Most importantly, he wanted to know whether it would actually beat doing the same journey in a gas or diesel car.
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He drove 434 miles in freezing temperatures to test his Model 3
The car was a 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range.
Serge Fino, the creator behind the FinoGarage YouTube channel left home at 9am with 89 percent battery and temperatures sitting between 19-23°F.
Basically, heater-on-full-blast weather.
He normally does this same 434-mile trip in a gas car or a diesel camper van.
That usually takes about 10 hours and costs him around $83 (€70) in fuel.
This time, he tracked every charge.
At home, electricity costs him $0.20 (€0.17) per kWh.
His first top-up cost $7 (€6).
Another stop cost $12 (€10).
A faster Supercharger session added $24 (€20).
By the end of the day, he’d spent $53 (€45) total on electricity and driven around 434 miles (672km).
The whole trip took about 11 hours – so roughly an hour longer than his gas car.
However, the charging stops lined up with breakfast, coffee, and dinner breaks.
In other words, he wasn’t just sitting in a parking lot staring at a battery percentage.
Even in the cold, with the heater running, the Tesla averaged 18kWh per 62 miles (100km).
And he got home with 36 percent battery left.
Not exactly cutting it close.
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So which was better – Tesla, gas, or diesel?
On cost alone, the Tesla won.
$53 versus $83 means he saved $30 on this trip.
Time-wise, gas was slightly faster.
About an hour faster.
If you hate stopping, that might matter.
If you like snacks and bathroom breaks, it probably doesn’t.
He also pointed out that electric cars don’t need oil changes, fuel filters, or timing belts.
So over time, maintenance could make the Tesla even cheaper.
Fino didn’t pretend it was perfect, but for this road trip, it worked.
So the verdict is gas is quicker, Tesla is cheaper, and Diesel sits somewhere in the middle.
Basically, if you’re in a rush, fill up and go.
If you’re okay planning a couple of stops and saving some money, the electric car holds its own.
Even in the cold.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
