An automotive research firm, Zutobi, in its latest survey, revealed that the Tesla Model 3 will be the least expensive EV to own in 2025. This comes at a time when EVs are becoming popular, are cheap to acquire, are friendly to the environment, and are efficient to drive. Zutobi’s observations also highlight the supremacy of the Model 3 in the EV market, not just in terms of performance and technology but also practicality for the average car owner.
Tesla Model 3 Named Most Economical EV to Own in 2025
Zutobi’s empirical work was to cover one of the most immediately tangible factors of owning an EV—the cost of driving 100 miles. To keep the model compliant with the states’ rates, the study incorporated national average electricity charges while establishing the cost per mile by comparing it to the real-world range up to the usable battery capacity of each car. This technique assists potential buyers in determining the actual cost of owning an EV and the related running costs.
The outcome revealed the most superior car was the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3. The car has a usable battery capacity of 57.5 kWh and an estimated real-world range of around 260 miles, and to go 100 miles, it costs only $3.60. This comes to 2,781 miles per $100 of electricity, which again ranks the Model 3 as the most efficient and cost-effective electric vehicle among the four models assessed in the study.
Tesla Model 3: Efficiency Meets Affordability
Some of the reasons that make the said car in demand include technology, affordability, and the efficiency of the Model 3. For people considering electric vehicles from an economic point of view, there is no doubt that they are very cheap to use since the cost per hundred miles is quite low. Besides, it incurs significantly lower fuel costs and has comparatively lower maintenance costs due to the simplicity of the EV powertrain and fewer wearing parts.
This also gave credence to the fact that the Tesla Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive was the second most economical EV. With a 75 kWh battery and a recorded range of 325 miles in real-world conditions, the Model 3 Long Range costs $3.75 per 100 miles. That would mean about 2,665 miles per $100 of electricity, which is again a great number and fitting for those who need quite the range and weather resistance.
Other models of Tesla also remain in the top rankings to once again confirm the leading position of this manufacturer in terms of efficiency in the EV segment. Coming sixth in terms of cost per 100 miles with $4.34 was the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which shared the position with Volkswagen ID.3 Pure. Tesla’s Model S Long Range at $4.35 and Model Y Long Range at $4.36 were placed just behind to round out the top 10 list.
Extend Your Electric Car Battery
Based on Tesla’s 2023 Impact Report, it is worth stating that both the Model 3 and Model Y can maintain 85% of their battery capacity when they have been driven 200,000 miles on the road. This brings out the reliability and capability of battery technology used in Tesla cars and will motivate existing and prospective Tesla car owners based on long-term usage of the automobiles.
This paltry rate of battery degradation is an indication of the efficiency put in place by Tesla’s engineering as well as the design of the battery. If you want to gain more extensive knowledge on this topic, read an in-depth article with guidelines on how to increase the life of an electric car battery.