The Longest-Lasting EV Is Still Less Likely To Hit 250,000 Miles Than The Average Car

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Wednesday, 7 Oct 2026 20:00 0 10 autotech

Internal combustion engines can land you in two different camps. You could either get something from Toyota or early 2000s General Motors that could last you for hundreds of thousands of miles without so much as blinking an eye. All you really need to do with some of these long haulers is change their oil and transmission fluid. Then there are some that you get that are lemons right off the lot. These are the ones that you have to constantly keep in the shop because of one problem or another. This could be something like a Range Rover product or BMW. Either way, it is much more likely that these vehicles can reach up to 250,000 miles.

Tesla Batteries Hold Their Charge Past 200,000 Miles — But That’s Not the Problem

Tesla Model Y Battery X-Ray

Tesla

Contrary to popular belief, battery capacity in electric vehicles, especially Tesla, degrades at a pretty steady rate over time. They typically retain around 85 percent of their original capacity well past 200,000 miles. That doesn’t mean all’s well though. Chassis components don’t hold together for the entirety of their lifespan, and just like those in an ICE-powered luxury vehicle, there are bound to be components that will wear out and need replacing. That percentage also doesn’t apply to all batteries, and some end up costing as much as the value of the car itself to replace.

What’s More Important: Battery Degradation Or Chassis Durability?

Tesla Out Of Warranty Maintenance Ain’t Cheap

2026 Tesla Model Xs don’t start out cheap either. It was recently announced that they will no longer be manufacturing these models after 2026 so that they can focus on other products. Tesla fans can breathe a sigh of relief, however, as the company will still be making the Model Y and Model 3. The final iteration of this model has a starting MSRP of ~$116,000, and even though it comes with an eight-year, 150,000-mile warranty, this doesn’t mean that the warranty covers everything else. For example, Tesla service centers average between $175-$230 per hour, depending on the region. Replacing a media control unit costs between $1,500 and $2,200. If your motor goes kaput, you’re looking at a $5,000-$7,500 replacement.

The Falcon Wing Doors And Air Suspension Are The Real Reliability Killers

The Tesla Model X comes standard with an air suspension. This offers comfort, convenience, and electric fuel economy based off of your driving conditions. However, electric vehicles are not light and have a heavy curb weight. This inevitably puts immense stress on the aforementioned air suspension as well as the drive axles. These vehicles also come with complex Falcon Wing doors that may look like a party trick but internally feature ultrasonic sensors and a host of motors and other technology. This complexity is a recipe for failure.

At 5,700 Pounds, The Model X Can Destroy Its Own CV Joints By 50,000 Miles

The average curb weight of a Tesla Model X is between 5,000 and 5,700 pounds, depending on the trim and battery configuration. While the instantaneous acceleration is fun and the reason people want these, this ends up causing an insane amount of wear. The air suspension components, like the air springs, can crack and leak over time. There’s also moisture buildup that can happen and inevitably block valves. Often, the front drive axle inner CV joint gives out between 30,000 and 50,000 miles if you frequently drive it in the taller suspension settings.

Technology That Seems Nice At The Start, Could Cost Later

Next to the instant acceleration, probably one of the biggest selling points of the Model X is its advanced technology, including the falcon wing doors. They look like they magically detect any and all surrounding objects and open accordingly. However, the ultrasonic sensors are not perfect and can fail due to moisture intrusion. The wiring harness must flex repeatedly, and after innumerable cycles, can break from accumulated stress.

Comparing The Model X To High Mileage ICE Powered Cars

A 2019 Tesla Model X with its Falcon Wing Doors open

There is unfortunately more bad news, but, at the end of the day, the Tesla Model X is a high-powered, forward-thinking electric vehicle that still offers less complexity than, say, a traditional internal combustion engine. Its biggest downfall is out-of-warranty main battery replacements, as well as other component failures. Even though there are fewer fluids to change, there are still just as many complicated electronics that need changing as a luxury SUV with an engine.

Simple Electric Motors Or Mechanical Longevity?

Most electric vehicles do not have transmissions. The only one that is currently on the market is the Porsche Taycan with a two-speed transmission. The Model X, on the other hand, has no transmission gears that have the ability to slip, doesn’t need any new spark plugs, nor does it need any emissions testing. While you should still get the brakes checked every two years, regenerative braking does end up extending the brake pads’ life well into 100,000 miles. What ICE powered vehicles have over electric vehicles is a vast swath of aftermarket components and a large network of mechanics that are able to work on them. Tesla simply does not have the same.

What Do You Do When The Battery Goes Out?

With a starting MSRP of around $116,000, and a fair purchase price, according to Kelley Blue Book, of $23,300 for the base 2016 model, over 10 years you’re looking at about a loss of between 75 and 80 percent. Currently, ten-year-old models are going for between $23,000 and $28,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. If you want to replace the battery directly from Tesla, it will cost you between $13,000-$18,000. That’s almost 70 percent of the vehicle’s total value. Imagine that happening simultaneously — the air suspension failing would cost another $3,500.

What This Could Mean For Future EVs

Tesla Model X Plaid tri-motor powertrain

Maybe it’s a good time to mention that iSeeCars’ percentage that it estimates a Model X could drive 250,000 miles is 3.6 percent. Given the data presented above, it doesn’t seem likely that this percentage is higher than the likelihood of the battery or other components failing. These vehicles are more likely to last a long time compared to some of the other vehicles on the market, but the odds may still be stacked against you. There is hope for electric vehicles, though, as new and emerging technology not only for batteries, but also for how they are kept in the vehicle might help mitigate this issue.

How Do You Design Electronics To Last 250,000 Miles?

2017 Tesla Model X Front Three Quarter Driving

We don’t fancy ourselves scientists by any means, but there has been talk of transitioning to silicon carbide inverters. This semiconductor converts direct current into alternating current much more efficiently than traditional silicon. This helps reduce thermal wear and can easily push cars past 250,000 miles. Much of this has to do with cooling and thermal control, as many circuit boards and flash memory units were failing prematurely due to this issue.

Some Are Patenting Modular Batteries

Side profile shot of a 2019 Tesla Model X

China is ahead of the pack (pun intended) when it comes to battery architecture, especially modular ones. The early Model X did use modular packs with 16 modules, which were easily removable and replaced. Future designs, on the other hand, will have even more easily swappable components and could have owners replacing a single module for between $1,500 and $3,000 instead of paying 70 to 80 percent of the overall cost of the vehicle.