When comparing how many miles people drive gasoline, hybrid and electric vehicles, 3-year-old gas cars are driven 12,813 miles a year while EVs are driven 20 percent less, or 10,256 miles. Plug-in hybrids are driven 12,199 miles, or 4.8 percent less than gasoline cars, while standard hybrids are driven 12,471 miles, or 2.7 percent less than gasoline models.

“Range anxiety and charging infrastructure are top-of-mind for EV drivers, and those factors likely limit how far owners will drive them,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. “Hybrids and plug-in hybrids, where all-electric battery range is limited but range anxiety isn’t a factor, are driven only slightly less than gasoline cars, as reflected in their similar yearly mileage.”

Average Miles Driven per Year for 3-Year-Old Gas Cars, EVs, and Hybrids – iSeeCars Study
Drivetrain	Avg Miles Driven per Year	Compared to Gas Cars
Gas Cars	12,813	—
EVs	10,256	-20.0%
Plug-In Hybrids	12,199	-4.8%
Hybrids	12,471	-2.7%

Most Driven Electric Vehicles

Teslas are driven more than any other electric vehicle. The Model 3, X, and Y all cover more than 11,000 miles a year, which is above the EV average of 10,256 annual miles. The Model S averages only 8,293 miles a year, or 19 percent less than the average EV, making it one of the most expensive electric cars to operate on a per-miles basis (see below for more info).

The Most Driven 3-Year-Old EVs – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Avg Miles Driven per Year	% Compared to EV Average
1	Tesla Model 3	11,959	16.6%
2	Tesla Model X	11,467	11.8%
3	Tesla Model Y	11,335	10.5%
EV Average		10,256	—
4	Hyundai Kona Electric	9,275	-9.6%
5	Ford Mustang Mach-E	9,044	-11.8%
6	Audi e-tron	8,716	-15.0%
7	Volkswagen ID.4	8,336	-18.7%
8	Audi e-tron Sportback	8,335	-18.7%
9	Tesla Model S	8,293	-19.1%
10	Volvo XC40 Recharge	7,943	-22.5%
11	Chevrolet Bolt EV	7,284	-29.0%
12	Nissan LEAF	7,180	-30.0%
13	Polestar 2	7,008	-31.7%
14	BMW i3	6,527	-36.4%
15	Porsche Taycan	6,308	-38.5%

“Teslas offer more range and access to the Supercharger Network, both of which support higher use rates than the average electric vehicle,” said Brauer “This makes the Model 3, X, and Y more cost-effective on a per-mile basis, while the Model S is among the most expensive EV to operate.”

Most Driven Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) cost more than hybrids but less than electric vehicles, and their average driven miles per year is relatively close to gasoline models. At more than 19,000 miles a year, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is driven over 50 percent further than the average PHEV, and 50 percent further than the average gasoline model.

The Most Driven 3-Year-Old Plug-In Hybrids – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Avg Miles Driven per Year	% Compared to Plug-In Hybrid Average
1	Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid	19,034	56.0%
Plug-In Hybrid Average		12,199	—
2	Toyota Prius Prime	11,480	-5.9%
3	Toyota RAV4 Prime	11,091	-9.1%
4	Volvo XC90 Recharge	10,782	-11.6%
5	Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid	10,684	-12.4%
6	Lincoln Aviator	10,504	-13.9%
7	BMW X5	10,272	-15.8%
8	BMW 5 Series	10,069	-17.5%
9	Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid	9,869	-19.1%
10	Volvo XC60 Recharge	9,740	-20.2%
11	Volvo S60 Recharge	9,393	-23.0%
12	BMW X3	9,359	-23.3%
13	Jeep Wrangler Unlimited	9,298	-23.8%
14	Audi Q5	9,063	-25.7%
15	BMW 3 Series	8,942	-26.7%
16	Porsche Cayenne	7,628	-37.5%

“Plug-in hybrids are not as cost-efficient as traditional cars, but they do offer zero-emission use for a limited distance, along with zero range anxiety,” said Brauer.

The Most Driven Hybrids

The average hybrid is driven at almost the same level as gasoline models, with the top three hybrids (Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid) driven at least 20 percent further than the average gas car.

The Most Driven 3-Year-Old Hybrids – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Avg Miles Driven per Year	% Compared to Hybrid Average
1	Honda Insight	18,341	47.1%
2	Toyota Prius	15,229	22.1%
3	Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid	15,014	20.4%
4	Toyota Sienna	14,375	15.3%
5	Ford Escape Hybrid	13,993	12.2%
6	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	13,312	6.7%
7	Toyota Camry Hybrid	13,178	5.7%
8	Toyota Corolla Hybrid	12,936	3.7%
9	Kia Sorento Hybrid	12,917	3.6%
10	Ford F-150	12,855	3.1%
11	Honda Accord Hybrid	12,622	1.2%
12	Toyota RAV4 Hybrid	12,531	0.5%
Hybrid Average		12,471	—
13	Hyundai Elantra Hybrid	12,324	-1.2%
14	Hyundai Sonata Hybrid	12,193	-2.2%
15	Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid	11,701	-6.2%
16	Toyota Avalon Hybrid	11,647	-6.6%
17	Lexus RX 450hL	11,334	-9.1%
18	Toyota Venza	11,154	-10.6%
19	Kia Niro	11,121	-10.8%
20	Ford Explorer Hybrid	11,005	-11.8%
21	Honda CR-V Hybrid	10,963	-12.1%
22	Lexus RX 450h	10,113	-18.9%
23	Lexus ES 300h	9,771	-21.7%
24	Lexus NX 300h	9,309	-25.4%
25	Lexus UX 250h	9,044	-27.5%

“The top 10 driven hybrids are above the average annual mileage of gasoline models, reflecting their lower operating costs and lack of range anxiety,” said Brauer.

EVs: The Most Expensive Cars Due To High Cost and Low Use 

The limited use of EVs, combined with their higher list price, results in a 63.6 percent higher cost per 1,000 miles driven annually compared to gasoline cars. Plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 39.4 percent more than gasoline models, while standard hybrids actually cost 2.1 percent less than gasoline cars for every 1,000 driven miles per year. 

Average Cost per 1k Miles Driven for 3-Year-Old Gas Cars, EVs and Hybrids – iSeeCars Study
Drivetrain	Avg Miles Driven per Year	Avg New Price	Price per 1k Miles per Year	Compared to Gas Cars
Gas Cars	12,813	$40,009	$3,123	—
EVs	10,256	$52,387	$5,108	63.6%
Plug-In Hybrids	12,199	$53,081	$4,351	39.4%
Hybrids	12,471	$38,113	$3,056	-2.1%

“Everyone knows electric vehicles cost more than gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models,” said Brauer. “But when we combined their list price with the low use rate for EVs and compared those figures to other vehicle types, we were able to quantify exactly how much more electric vehicle buyers are paying, only to drive them less.”

Hybrids Are the Most Cost-Effective Vehicles, Even Better than Gasoline Cars

While electric vehicles have the most expensive drivetrain for their annual mileage, hybrids have the least expensive drivetrain – even cheaper than traditional gasoline models. This is because hybrid owners use their cars at almost the same rate as gasoline cars, while their average price is slightly lower than gasoline models. 

“Hybrids have become increasingly popular with consumers in recent years,” said Brauer. “And now many mainstream models, including the newest Toyota Camry, are only sold as a hybrid. This technology is set to become the dominant drivetrain throughout the industry.”

The Most Expensive EVs and Hybrid Cars per 1,000 Miles Driven: Luxury Cars

When ranked by cost per miles driven per year the Porsche Taycan is the most expensive car among EVs and hybrids, with a cost of $22,021 per 1,000 miles driven. Luxury cars are typically not driven as much as mainstream cars, but when combined with the higher cost of EVs and hybrids, these premium models become the most expensive cars per 1,000 miles.

Most Expensive 3-Year-Old EVs and Hybrids per 1k Miles Driven – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Drivetrain	Avg Miles Driven per Year	Avg New Price	Price per 1k Miles per Year
1	Porsche Taycan	EV	6,308	$138,914	$22,021
2	Porsche Cayenne	Plug-In Hybrid	7,628	$111,985	$14,681
3	Tesla Model S*	EV	8,293	$96,394	$11,623
4	Audi e-tron Sportback*	EV	8,335	$77,286	$9,273
5	Audi e-tron	EV	8,716	$76,515	$8,779
6	Polestar 2*	EV	7,008	$59,900	$8,548
7	Lincoln Aviator	Plug-In Hybrid	10,504	$80,952	$7,707
8	Volvo XC40 Recharge	EV	7,943	$59,098	$7,440
9	BMW i3	EV	6,527	$48,456	$7,424
10	BMW X5	Plug-In Hybrid	10,272	$75,483	$7,348
11	Tesla Model X*	EV	11,467	$82,979	$7,236
12	Audi Q5	Plug-In Hybrid	9,063	$60,582	$6,685
13	Volvo XC90 Recharge	Plug-In Hybrid	10,782	$71,870	$6,666
14	Volvo XC60 Recharge	Plug-In Hybrid	9,740	$64,831	$6,656
15	BMW 5 Series	Plug-In Hybrid	10,069	$63,512	$6,307

“At between 6,000 and 8,500 miles a year, luxury cars like the Porsche Taycan, Porsche Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid, and Tesla Model S are being driven far less than the average car,” said Brauer. “This makes their $95,000-plus price an expensive premium when measured against cost per 1,000 miles per year.”

The Least Expensive HybridsCars per 1,000 Miles Driven

The Honda Insight Hybrid is the least expensive vehicle among EVs and hybrids, costing just $1,463 per 1,000 miles driven per year. It’s followed by the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid at $1,813 per 1,000 miles and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid at $1,857 per 1,000 miles. Unfortunately, the Insight Hybrid and Ioniq Hybrid were canceled after the 2022 model year, but they remain available on the used car market.

Least Expensive 3-Year-Old Plug-In Hybrid and Hybrids per 1k Miles Driven – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Drivetrain	Avg Miles Driven per Year	Avg New Price	Price per 1k Miles per Year
1	Honda Insight	Hybrid	18,341	$26,836	$1,463
2	Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid	Hybrid	15,014	$27,225	$1,813
3	Toyota Corolla Hybrid	Hybrid	12,936	$24,023	$1,857
4	Toyota Prius	Hybrid	15,229	$28,644	$1,881
5	Hyundai Elantra Hybrid	Hybrid	12,324	$26,828	$2,177
6	Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid	Plug-In Hybrid	19,034	$44,130	$2,319
7	Ford Escape Hybrid	Hybrid	13,993	$33,508	$2,395
8	Toyota Camry Hybrid	Hybrid	13,178	$31,646	$2,401
9	Hyundai Sonata Hybrid	Hybrid	12,193	$31,658	$2,596
10	Honda Accord Hybrid	Hybrid	12,622	$32,862	$2,604
11	Kia Niro	Hybrid	11,121	$29,692	$2,670
12	Toyota Prius Prime	Plug-In Hybrid	11,480	$31,110	$2,710
13	Toyota RAV4 Hybrid	Hybrid	12,531	$35,002	$2,793
14	Kia Sorento Hybrid	Hybrid	12,917	$37,145	$2,876
15	Toyota Sienna	Hybrid	14,375	$42,508	$2,957

“The price increase between hybrids and traditional gasoline models keeps dropping, making hybrids an increasingly desirable option for consumers looking to keep both purchase price and operating costs low without altering their driving habits or facing range anxiety,” said Brauer.

The Most Expensive Gasoline Cars per 1,000 Miles Driven: Sports Cars

While electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are among the most expensive vehicles on a cost-per-mile basis, high-performance sports cars still outrank them – even with a traditional gasoline drivetrain. Cars like the Porsche 911, Porsche 718 Cayman, and Lexus LC 500 are driven less than 5,000 miles a year, which translates to between $25,000 and $43,000 per 1,000 miles driven.

Most Expensive 3-Year-Old Gas Cars per 1k Miles Driven – iSeeCars Study
Rank	Model	Avg Miles Driven per Year	Avg New Price	Price per 1k Miles per Year
1	Porsche 911	3,847	$166,229	$43,214
2	Porsche 718 Cayman	3,950	$102,387	$25,918
3	Lexus LC 500	4,402	$110,189	$25,030
4	Mercedes-Benz G-Class	6,616	$164,426	$24,854
5	Porsche 718 Boxster	4,134	$99,850	$24,154
6	Chevrolet Corvette	3,600	$86,406	$24,004
7	BMW 8 Series	6,821	$121,000	$17,739
8	Audi RS 7	7,586	$133,242	$17,563
9	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	7,334	$127,334	$17,363
10	BMW M8	8,577	$148,400	$17,303
11	Porsche Panamera	7,166	$114,469	$15,975
12	Jaguar F-TYPE	5,545	$87,388	$15,761
13	Audi RS Q8	9,149	$138,046	$15,089
14	Mercedes-Benz AMG GT	8,088	$120,043	$14,842
15	BMW M5	8,687	$121,556	$13,993
16	Maserati Ghibli	6,693	$90,584	$13,533
17	BMW X6 M	9,403	$124,581	$13,249
18	BMW M4	6,569	$84,332	$12,838
19	Mercedes-Benz E-Class (convertible)	6,723	$82,084	$12,209
20	BMW X5 M	9,984	$121,253	$12,145

“Sports cars and high-performance models serve a very specific, very narrow focus for most owners,” said Brauer. “They are the antithesis of practically, as their annual mileage confirms.”

More from iSeeCars.com:

• Best Electric Cars
• Best Electric SUVs
• Best Hybrid Cars

Methodology

iSeeCars analyzed the odometer readings from over 1.3 million 3-year-old used cars sold from November 2022 to April 2023, and also compared these mileage numbers by model to the list prices of the same models when they were sold new. MSRP was used for cars from Tesla and Polestar, as well as the Audi e-tron Sportback. The average miles driven per year were calculated for each model as well as drivetrain, and the average new car price was expressed as a cost per 1,000 miles driven per year. The latter was used to rank models from most expensive to least expensive with respect to their driving patterns.

About iSeeCars.com

iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $416 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.

This article, Electric Cars are Driven the Least While Costing the Most, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.