In a transparent Motorz.ca scenario for one 2026 compact SUV driven 20,000 kilometres a year, annual fuel cost ranges from about $1,751 in Winnipeg to $2,217 in Vancouver using June 2026 city gasoline prices. This is a six-city comparison—not a universal Canadian ownership-cost figure.
The model specifies a 2026 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD at a $37,500 manufacturer suggested retail price and Natural Resources Canada’s combined rating of 5.5 L/100 km. We use the same vehicle and distance in every city so the fuel-price difference remains visible. Insurance and financing are excluded because a comparable, defensible national quote method was not available.
Six-city annual fuel-cost comparison
| City | June 2026 regular gasoline | Annual litres | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 201.5¢/L | 1,100 | $2,216.50 |
| Montreal | 179.0¢/L | 1,100 | $1,969.00 |
| Halifax | 170.9¢/L | 1,100 | $1,879.90 |
| Toronto | 165.4¢/L | 1,100 | $1,819.40 |
| Calgary | 161.8¢/L | 1,100 | $1,779.80 |
| Winnipeg | 159.2¢/L | 1,100 | $1,751.20 |
The fuel formula is 20,000 km × 5.5 L/100 km ÷ 100 = 1,100 litres. Multiplying those litres by each city’s monthly average produces the table. Actual consumption can differ with temperature, trip length, speed, traffic, tires, load, driving style and fuel-price changes.
A disclosed maintenance and depreciation scenario
To show why fuel is only one part of ownership, the workbook adds a $1,200 annual maintenance reserve and a first-year depreciation scenario equal to 15% of MSRP, or $5,625. Both numbers are modelling assumptions—not a Toyota service quote, warranty estimate or resale-value forecast. A reader can change either input in the retained workbook.
| City | Fuel | Maintenance reserve | Depreciation scenario | Comparable subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $2,216.50 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $9,041.50 |
| Calgary | $1,779.80 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $8,604.80 |
| Winnipeg | $1,751.20 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $8,576.20 |
| Toronto | $1,819.40 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $8,644.40 |
| Montreal | $1,969.00 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $8,794.00 |
| Halifax | $1,879.90 | $1,200 | $5,625 | $8,704.90 |
Why registration is shown separately
Registration systems are not perfectly comparable. Ontario’s passenger licence-plate renewal has no fee. Manitoba’s current regulation lists a $119 passenger-vehicle registration charge. The SAAQ gives a 2026 Montreal passenger-vehicle renewal example of $400.86, including the applicable registration, insurance contribution, tax, charge, transit contribution and local vehicle-registration tax. Montreal’s amount can change with location and other factors.
Those three current official values are recorded in the calculation file. British Columbia’s licensing is tied closely to the province’s insurance system, Alberta registry-agent service charges vary, and a current comparable Nova Scotia amount was not closed for this model. Their registration cells remain excluded—not counted as zero.
What the model excludes
- Insurance: driver, postal code, use, coverage and claims history make generic comparisons misleading.
- Financing: the calculation is a cash-purchase scenario and does not assume a term, rate or down payment.
- Sales tax and purchase fees: acquisition costs are outside this annual operating subtotal.
- Parking, tolls, accessories and collision repairs: these are household- and location-specific.
- Resale outcome: the 15% depreciation input is a scenario, not a forecast.
Readers comparing powertrains can also review Motorz.ca’s guide to hybrid versus fully electric vehicles and the practical ownership factors in EV use in Northern Ontario.
Sources, method and review date
Vehicle assumptions come from Toyota Canada’s 2026 RAV4 release and the 2026 NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide. Gasoline prices come from Statistics Canada table 18-10-0001-01. Registration examples were checked against official Ontario, Manitoba and SAAQ sources on August 4, 2026.
Methodology note: Calculation date August 4, 2026. Review by October 3, 2026, or sooner if the fuel-price period, vehicle specification or registration rules materially change.