Before we dive into the full breakdown, here’s why Teslas stand out in the EV landscape right now:

1. Top-Tier Safety
   The refreshed 2025 Model 3 earned a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, offering elite protection for adults, children, and pedestrians—plus new AI-powered safety features.
2. Exceptional Battery Longevity
   Real-world tests show Tesla batteries maintain 88–90% capacity even after 200,000 miles, far outlasting most internal combustion engines.
3. Lowest Routine Maintenance Costs
   Tesla has the lowest 10-year repair and maintenance costs of any major automaker, thanks to EV drivetrain simplicity.
4. Fuel Savings from Cheap Electricity
   Charging at home costs 3–4x less per mile than gasoline, with an average savings of hundreds per year.
5. Advanced Driver Assistance (FSD)
   Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system leads the pack in driver assistance—even if it’s not yet fully autonomous.

🛡️ Safety First: Model 3 Earns Euro NCAP’s Top Score

In May 2025, the refreshed Tesla Model 3 received a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP—a rigorous crash testing organization in Europe.

Highlights of the safety assessment include:

• 90% Adult Occupant Protection
• 93% Child Occupant Protection
• 89% for Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists)
• 87% in Safety Assist technologies

This top-tier safety performance comes thanks to new features like an active hood for pedestrian protection, enhanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) that now detects motorcycles and intersection risks, and even child-left-alone detection systems.

Safety isn’t just a checkbox—Tesla is pushing the frontier here.

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🔋 Battery Degradation: Still Going Strong at 200,000 Miles

One of the biggest questions potential EV buyers ask is: “How long will the battery last?” The answer is surprisingly reassuring.

According to InsideEVs, long-term testing of a Tesla Model 3 revealed that after over 200,000 miles, battery degradation was only about 10–12%. Most of that degradation happens early—within the first 20,000–40,000 miles—after which the decline levels off dramatically.

MotorTrend echoes this finding, citing Tesla’s claim that their batteries are built for the life of the vehicle: roughly 200,000 miles in the U.S. and 150,000 in Europe. Elon Musk has stated that Tesla batteries can last up to 1,500 full charge cycles, translating to 300,000–500,000 miles depending on the model.

In short: your Tesla’s battery is likely to outlast most gas engines—and then some.

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💸 Maintenance & Repair: EV Simplicity Pays Off

Tesla has the lowest 10-year maintenance and repair costs among all automotive brands. A Consumer Reports analysis featured by InsideEVs found that Tesla owners spent just $4,035 over a decade—or about $403 per year—well below the industry average.

This cost edge is largely due to the simplicity of EV drivetrains (fewer moving parts = fewer things that can break). For routine upkeep, Teslas beat most gas cars by a wide margin.

However, it’s not all roses: Tesla vehicles are more expensive to repair after a collision. In Q1 2024, average repair bills for Teslas were ~30% higher than comparable gas-powered vehicles, averaging $6,066 per incident. Still, if you avoid accidents, the total cost of ownership remains highly competitive.

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🛢️ Charging vs. Gas: Why Electricity Still Wins

One of the clearest advantages of electric vehicles is the lower cost of “fuel.” Multiple analyses confirm that charging a Tesla generally costs far less per mile than filling up with gasoline:

• EnergySage reports the average cost to charge a Tesla is 4.56¢/mile, compared to 13.73¢/mile for gas-powered vehicles—making electricity more than three times cheaper per mile.
• NRDC finds the average annual “fuel” cost for EVs is about $485, versus $1,117 for gasoline cars.
• A Guardian and Investopedia review confirms: home charging is cheaper in every U.S. state than driving a comparable gas vehicle.

💡 Bottom line: At typical U.S. electricity rates, a Tesla costs roughly 4–6¢ per mile to fuel—like paying ~$2.90 per gallon of gas. Over time, that adds up.

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🤖 Full Self Driving (FSD): Dream or Reality?

Tesla’s ambitious Full Self Driving (FSD) system represents the next frontier in autonomy and AI-assisted mobility. Current FSD features include:

• Autosteer on city streets
• Automated lane changes
• Intersection handling
• Traffic light and stop sign control
• Smart Summon (vehicle navigates to your location)

Status in 2025:

• FSD is available via $12,000 purchase or $99–$199/month subscription.
• It’s not legally or functionally a “self-driving” system yet—but it is one of the most advanced driver assistance systems on the market.
• Robotaxi is being released in Austin in June as a fully autonomous ride service and will likely be rolled out to individual owners tesla later in 2025 or 2026.

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🏁 Bottom Line: Is a Tesla Built to Last?

Absolutely. If you’re concerned about durability, here’s the big picture:

• ✅ Battery longevity: 88–90% capacity even after 200k miles
• ✅ Crash safety: Euro NCAP’s top 5-star rating, with cutting-edge safety tech
• ✅ Fuel savings: Charging is 3–4x cheaper per mile than gas
• ✅ FSD innovation: Advanced driver assistance—continually improving
• ✅ Low maintenance costs: Unless you crash, Tesla’s are cheap to own

Whether you’re shopping for a new EV or curious about how your Model 3 or Y will hold up over time, the evidence is clear: Teslas aren’t just fast—they’re built to last.