These days everyone has less and less time for anything. Which makes it all the more important to be able to at least have a good city car. That means having a car that will spare you the most time, money and effort. Luckily for us Tesla made their cars suitable for these exact things. So, how suitable are Teslas for city driving?
Tesla are extremely suitable for any city driving situation. Autopilot can be turned on at any time to assist when fatigued. Safety and driver assistance technologies are bar none. Teslas will not use gas like conventional cars or power when idling. The HEPA filter takes out 99% of harmful exhaust particles.
The list goes on and on. So check out the rest of this article to get the full picture.
Best Features for City Driving
Cars have different features that allow them to perform better in certain conditions. For example, while some vehicles focus on “highway gas millage”, other vehicles focus on creating the best conditions in tight traffic.
The latter is commonly referred to as “city driving”: driving with frequent stops, narrow roads, and slower speeds.
Cars that are well adapted to work in these conditions have several features in common. Smaller cars are typically better than larger vehicles for city driving because of their improved gas mileage and maneuverability.
Cars that include AI features to help you with parking or navigation are often preferable in the busy, confusing climate of cities.
But perhaps the most important feature a car can have for city driving is being light. Lighter cars get better gas mileage, are smaller, and are quicker at stopping. In cities where pedestrians, cyclists, and quickly decelerating cars are common, the ability to stop quickly is a huge benefit.
Comparing Typical City Cars With Teslas
While there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing a car for city driving, there are four car series that lead the way: Volkswagen Jettas, Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, and Tesla Modle 3s. Let’s compare each of these cars and see how Tesla fares against them.
| Type Of Car | Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price | Features |
| Volkswagen Jetta | $21,190 | While Volkswagen Jetta can be equipped with a variety of features, one of the best aspects is the gas mileage of 31 miles per gallon (13.18 kilometers per liter) for city driving. |
| Honda Civic | $23,365 | Honda Civics both maintain a low gas mileage of 33 miles per gallon (14.03 kilometers per liter) in cities and are known for lasting for a long time. Many Honda Civic owners attest to having engines last for upward of 300,000 miles (482,803 km). |
| Toyota Corolla | $21,200 | Toyota Corollas have a great gas mileage of 31 miles per gallon (13.18 kilometers per liter) in city driving conditions. They are also equipped with new AI technology such as blindspot detection and pedestrian braking, as well as other important safety measures. |
| Tesla Model 3 | $46,440 | While Tesla Model 3 vehicles are certainly more expensive, they tend to have an amazing gas mileage, with the electric vehicle equivalent of 138 miles per gallon (58.67 kilometers per liter) in city driving. Tesla also leads the way with a number of important AI safety features and is the leader in AI development. |
Did You Know:
While it is difficult to compare the fuel efficiency of an electric vehicle with that of a gas-powered car, most electric cars are able to travel about 44 miles (70.81 km) per $1.00 of energy. Currently, a gas-powered car with average gas mileage of 30 miles per gallon (12.75 kilometers per liter) could travel about 7 miles (11.27 km). That means electric cars have 5 times better fuel efficiency than gasoline cars!
Comparing Different Tesla Models for City Driving
While it seems clear that Teslas and other electric cars are preferable to gas-powered vehicles when it comes to city driving, it might not be completely clear which Tesla Model currently on the market is best for the task. Let’s compare the four Teslas in production to see which one is best for city driving.
| Type Of Car | Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price | Features |
| Tesla Model 3 | $46,990 | Tesla Model 3s include a number of awesome safety and driver assistance technologies with its basic autopilot. |
| Tesla Model S | $99,990 | Not only is Tesla Model S more expensive than other models but has a gas mileage of 124 miles per gallon (52.72 kilometers per liter) for city driving. |
| Tesla Model X | $114,990 | The Model X has Tesla’s complete array of safety features with a gas mileage of about 107 miles per gallon (45.49 kilometers per liter) for city driving. |
| Tesla Model Y | $62,990 | The Model Y has a gas mileage of 127 miles per gallon (53.99 kilometers per liter) of city driving, together with the full set of safety features. |
Choosing the Right Tesla for City Driving
If you’re not sure about which Tesla you should buy for city driving, going for the Model 3 is a strong move. Model 3s are incredibly fuel-efficient and are not nearly as expensive as some of the other Teslas. It also offers a number of advanced features that make the car a great deal.
If price isn’t that big of a concern to you, you could go for the incredibly efficient Model S. You’ll also get the best of Tesla’s autopilot and safety features along the way.
Random Fun Fact:
While Teslas can technically be driven anywhere, Tesla designs their vehicles with the intent of driving in cities. While most vehicles are made to have better gas mileage for highway driving, all Teslas maintain better gas mileage for city driving. For those wanting a special car for city driving, Tesla is already making several of them!
How You Save Money By Using Teslas for City Driving
If the sheer number of AI features and incredible gas millage is not enough to convince you that investing in a Tesla for city driving is a great choice, perhaps the money you’ll save from driving a Tesla might do the trick. Let’s look at three important numbers:
- The average American drives 14,263 miles per year (22,954.07 km).
- The average fuel efficiency in cars is between 25 and 30 miles per gallon (10.6-12.7 kilometers per hour).
- The current national average gas price is $4.61 per gallon.
Using this information, we can calculate that, on average, a gas-powered car would spend about $2,450 on gas every year. We’re assuming current gas prices hold, a car’s fuel efficiency is 27 miles per gallon (12.48 kilometers per liter), and 14,263 miles (22,954 km) driven per year.
A Tesla driver in a Model 3, however, would spend about $500 per year on electricity to power their car. This is assuming prices stay consistent and they drove 14,263 miles (22,954.07 km). You would be saving $2,000 per year!
When extrapolating these numbers out, this means that, in five years, a Tesla owner would save $10,000 on fuel. In ten years, they would save $20,000.
Random Stat:
It must be noted that Americans drive more than the average of most other countries. Americans drive over 14,000 miles per year (22,530 kilometers a year). This is nearly 3.5 times as many kilometers as what people from other countries drive on average every year.
Pros of Driving a Tesla for City Driving
It is clear that there are a number of benefits to choosing a Tesla over other vehicles for city driving.
The first major advantage is fuel efficiency. While it is often more expensive to purchase a Tesla initially, Tesla drivers save nearly $2,000 a year on the cost of fuel to power their engines as opposed to other gas-powered vehicles.
Another benefit that comes with driving a Tesla is having access to a number of safety features that most other cars don’t have. When driving a Tesla, you’ll have access to adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.
While some traditional cars are equipped with some of these features, no other vehicles are equipped with all of them and with the same level of quality.
Cons of Driving a Tesla for City Driving
While Teslas are great for city driving, they also come with some limitations.
One major downside is the initial cost to purchase the vehicle. While it is true you’ll save money on fuel, in most cases, it would take nearly 10 years for a Tesla to “break even” on the cost of investment.
Assuming your Tesla lasts 200,000 miles (321,869 km), you will eventually incur about $8,500 in savings. Still, the upfront cost of a Tesla is an obstacle for many enthusiasts.
Another weakness that comes with driving a Tesla is the fact that maintenance is often more expensive. Since Teslas make up such a small share of the market, purchasing extra parts for vehicle maintenance and finding mechanics certified to fix your car can be difficult and costly. It turns out that paying for luxury will cost you in more ways than one!
