A high price for every mile

When people talk about the most expensive cars, they often focus on sticker price. But what if we considered how much it costs to use a car instead? A new report from iSeeCars analyzed over a million three-year-old vehicles to measure not just what cars cost new, but how much they actually get driven. The findings show a striking pattern: many of the most expensive cars are also the least used, making their cost per mile driven staggeringly high.

While the average new car in the U.S. sells for $44,223 and is driven around 12,307 miles per year, some luxury and performance models are driven far less, often under 5,000 miles per year. Yet, they cost more than four times as much to buy. The result? These cars can cost over $60,000 for every 1,000 miles they’re driven. Here are the top 10 most expensive cars to drive, based on average new price and actual annual mileage.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 claims the top spot as the most expensive car to drive in America. With an average new price of $179,739 and just 2,961 miles driven per year, the 911 ends up costing an astronomical $60,708 per 1,000 miles of use. That’s nearly 17 times more than the average new car. As one of the most iconic sports cars ever built, the 911 is clearly more of a garage trophy than a daily driver for most owners.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Second on the list is the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, another luxury performance car that sees little road time. Priced around $160,195 when new, the SL-Class is driven only 2,679 miles per year on average. That means it costs about $59,788 per 1,000 miles — barely less than the 911. Like the Porsche, the SL-Class is more of a weekend cruiser or warm-weather car than something used for regular transportation.

Porsche 911 Convertible

Coming in third is another version of the 911, the convertible. This model has an average new price of $180,815 and is driven slightly more, around 3,207 miles annually. That still only brings the cost-per-1,000-miles down to $56,388. Porsche clearly dominates this list, and with good reason: its cars are expensive and often treated as collectible or enthusiast machines rather than practical vehicles.

Lucid Air

Breaking up the sports car party is the Lucid Air, a high-end electric sedan that carries a whopping average new price of $247,847. While that price tag puts it among the most expensive new cars on the market, it’s driven just 5,784 miles per year on average. That means each 1,000 miles behind the wheel costs about $42,853. It’s the only car on this list where the price-per-mile reflects not just luxury performance, but also the EV market’s broader trend: low utilization and high up-front cost.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The Mercedes G-Class — or G-Wagon — is known as a status symbol for celebrities and executives, but it’s not known for clocking high mileage. Priced at $179,405 and averaging only 5,150 miles a year, it costs $34,836 per 1,000 miles. The G-Class offers off-road capability, but most owners probably won’t ever take it on a trail. Like many vehicles in this ranking, it’s used more for its image than its utility.

Audi RS e-tron GT

Another luxury EV, the Audi RS e-tron GT combines high performance with futuristic styling, and a high price tag of $160,951. Despite being a grand tourer by design, it only sees about 5,386 miles of use per year. That results in a cost of $29,884 for every 1,000 miles driven. Electric vehicles like this one are often marketed as forward-looking alternatives to gas-powered sports cars, but the limited usage undercuts any cost-of-ownership advantage from skipping gas stations.

Lexus LC 500 Convertible

The Lexus LC 500 Convertible stands out with its elegant design and naturally aspirated V8, but it too sees limited road use. With a $112,772 average price and just 3,927 miles driven annually, this car costs about $28,717 per 1,000 miles. Lexus has a reputation for reliability, but in the LC’s case, its owners rarely drive it enough to even put that reliability to the test.

Porsche 718 Boxster

Yet another Porsche joins the list. The 718 Boxster, the entry-level roadster in the lineup, comes with a relatively more accessible $100,328 price, but it’s still driven just 3,545 miles a year. That makes it cost $28,304 per 1,000 miles. Despite its smaller footprint and lower price, the Boxster carries on Porsche’s theme of high purchase cost and low annual mileage.

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

One of the few American entries on the list, the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible averages 3,596 miles per year and a new price of $92,508. That equates to $25,726 for every 1,000 miles. The Corvette is arguably one of the best performance bargains in terms of specs per dollar, but if it’s only driven a few thousand miles a year, that affordability vanishes quickly.

Porsche 718 Cayman

Rounding out the top ten is the Porsche 718 Cayman, the hardtop sibling to the Boxster. With a $96,017 average price and 3,773 annual miles, it costs about $25,445 per 1,000 miles. That’s still over seven times the industry average, and further proof that Porsche buyers, more than most, prefer to look at their cars rather than drive them.

Final thoughts

The iSeeCars study highlights a critical disconnect in the car buying process: many of the most expensive vehicles on the market are driven the least, turning what might seem like a luxury indulgence into a serious cost-per-mile extravagance. While the average vehicle costs $3,593 per 1,000 miles, the top ten most expensive cars on this list all exceed $25,000 per 1,000 miles — and in some cases, like the Porsche 911, go far beyond that.

Ultimately, anyone shopping for a car — especially a high-end or electric one — should consider how often they actually plan to drive it. A beautiful sports car may look great in the driveway, but if it only comes out on weekends, the cost per mile might be higher than a first-class plane ticket.

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