Lexus or Tesla — what we actually found
Side by side from 289 Lexus vehicles and 68 Teslas buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 61/100.
Head to head
| Lexus | Tesla | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 289 | 68 |
| Average condition | 60/100 | 73/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 55% | 81% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~126k mi | ~190k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 83% | 63% |
| Structural repair found | 3% | 3% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Lexus▬ Tesla▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Lexus▬ Tesla▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
54%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
37%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
36%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
34%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
27%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
35%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
19%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
10%
Vibration · Drivetrain
10%
Electronic components issues · Engine
7%
Trajectory by generation
Lexus
▲ Newer Lexus vehicles are holding up better
Tesla
Not enough Teslas at the 5–10 year checkpoint yet to draw a generation trend.
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 357 inspections · updated Sep 11, 2026