Tesla Twice as Likely as Subaru to Hit 250K Miles, iSeeCars Study Finds

A Tesla is twice as likely to reach 250,000 miles as a Subaru, according to a new iSeeCars study covering more than 174 million vehicles. The findings, reported by Carscoops, place Tesla ahead of Ford, Kia, Chevrolet, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and even Porsche in long-term durability.

In the luxury category, Tesla ranked third overall, behind only Lexus and Acura – and ahead of Cadillac, Lincoln, Volvo, Infiniti, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW and Audi. The results challenge persistent doubts about electric vehicle longevity and battery life.

Sawyer Merritt, a well-known Tesla commentator, highlighted the findings on X.

The Study: 174 Million Vehicles Analyzed

iSeeCars analyzed vehicles sold between 2010 and 2025, using real-world odometer readings from used car listings and registration data. Researchers calculated the percentage of each brand's vehicles that had survived to 250,000 miles (approximately 402,000 km).

Toyota topped the overall rankings with a 17.8% chance of reaching a quarter-million miles, followed by Lexus (12.8%), Honda (10.8%) and Acura (7.2%). Those four Japanese brands were the only ones to beat the overall industry average of 4.8%.

Tesla tied with GMC at 4.6% – exactly matching the overall average. That result is particularly striking given that Tesla's fleet is much younger than Toyota's or Subaru's; fewer Teslas have even had the opportunity to accumulate high mileage.

Tesla vs. Subaru, BMW, Mercedes and More

Here is how Tesla stacked up against key competitors in the all-brands ranking, based on data published by Carscoops:

• Toyota – 17.8%
• Lexus – 12.8%
• Honda – 10.8%
• Acura – 7.2%
• GMC – 4.6%
• Tesla – 4.6%
• Chevrolet – 4.5%
• Cadillac – 4.5%
• Mazda – 3.6%
• Subaru – 2.3%
• Volvo – 2.2%
• Mercedes-Benz – 1.7%
• Porsche – 0.5%
• BMW – 0.4%
• Audi – 0.3%

Tesla's 4.6% is exactly double Subaru's 2.3% – the headline figure that caught widespread attention. The EV brand also outperformed Volvo (2.2%), Mercedes (1.7%) and every German luxury brand by a substantial margin.

At the bottom of the rankings, Land Rover managed only a 0.1% chance of reaching 250,000 miles, while Jaguar and Maserati registered effectively zero.

Luxury Brand Rankings: Tesla Takes Third Place

In the luxury segment, Tesla ranked third overall, behind only Lexus and Acura. The full luxury brand table from iSeeCars tells the story:

Tesla was one of only five luxury brands (Lexus, Acura, Tesla, Cadillac, Lincoln) to beat the segment average of 3.2%. Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Porsche all fell well below that mark.

Given the endless online debates about battery degradation and replacement costs, Tesla's third-place finish in luxury durability is a result that surprises many – but it shouldn't.

Why EVs Have a Durability Advantage

The study's authors point to the fundamental mechanical simplicity of electric vehicles. An internal combustion engine contains hundreds of moving parts – pistons, valves, timing chains, fuel injectors, exhaust systems – all prone to wear and failure over 250,000 miles. An EV drivetrain has roughly 20 moving parts.

"No engine, no oil changes, no timing chains, no fuel injectors, and far fewer moving parts overall," Tesla noted in response to similar findings. That reduction in mechanical complexity translates directly to fewer catastrophic failures at high mileage.

Additionally, regenerative braking means brake pads last two to three times longer than on a gasoline car. Many Tesla owners report original brakes still functional at 150,000 miles or more.

In hindsight, the study suggests, it shouldn't be shocking that an EV – with no engine to blow, no transmission to fail, no exhaust system to rust out – has an easier path to extreme mileage than many people assume.

What About Battery Degradation?

Surviving to 250,000 miles is not the same as having full battery capacity at that mileage. The iSeeCars study measured whether the vehicle was still on the road and operational – not how much range it retained.

Third-party data suggests that most Tesla batteries retain 80-85% of original capacity at 200,000 miles. The degradation curve is steepest in the first 20,000 miles (up to 10% loss) and then flattens significantly. After 150,000 miles, capacity loss slows to roughly 1% per 30,000 miles.

Tesla's battery warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles (depending on model), with replacement triggered only if capacity drops below 70%. Most high-mileage Teslas never reach that threshold.

Real-world examples back this up. A German Model S has exceeded 1.6 million miles on its original battery, retaining over 80% capacity after 1 million miles. A taxi Model 3 in Italy passed 373,000 miles on original battery and motors with no major repairs.

What This Means for Owners and Buyers

For current owners, the study provides independent validation that Tesla vehicles are built to last. The fear that EV batteries or motors will fail prematurely at high mileage does not align with real-world data from 174 million vehicles.

For prospective buyers, the study removes a major objection. If you are considering a Tesla but worried about long-term durability, the iSeeCars numbers suggest that a Model 3 or Model Y is statistically more likely to reach 250,000 miles than a Subaru, Mercedes, BMW, Audi or Porsche.

The study also has implications for resale value. Vehicles that are known to survive high mileage typically command higher used prices. As more data accumulates, Tesla's position as a durable, long-lasting brand should strengthen.

None of this guarantees every Tesla will hit 250,000 miles. Maintenance, driving habits and local climate all play roles.