Objective To evaluate the dose reduction and image quality potential in abdominal low-dose CT reconstructed with model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) with two different pre-settings (MBIRSTND and MBIRNR40), in comparison with the state-of-the-art adaptive statistical interactive reconstruction (ASIR) in routine-dose CT. Methods Twenty patients underwent two contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans within two weeks on a 64-slice CT (Discovery CT750HD) with standard-dose (noise index=10HU) and low-dose (noise index=20HU) in the follow-up scan. The routinedose CT was reconstructed with ASIR40 (40% ASIR and 60% FBP mix) and the lowdose CT was reconstructed with both the ASIR40 and the two types of MBIR algorithms. Two radiologists assessed the images blindly according to the sharpness, image noise, diagnostic acceptability and artifacts with 5-point scoring. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of abdominal organs relative to erector spinae were assessed. The volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP) and dose reduction rate were also determined. Results CTDIvol and DLP for the lowdose CT were (95.56±47.17m)Gy*cm and (3.04±1.48)mGy, respectively, compared with (376.39±160.40)mGy*cm and (12.16±5.18)mGy in the routine-dose CT with 75% reduction (P<0.001). Low-dose (NI=20HU) MBIR images with MBIRSTND setting had similar image noise, SNR and CNR as the routine-dose (NI=10HU) ASIR40 images (all P>0.05). On the other hand, the low-dose MBIR images with MBIRNR40 setting further improved image quality with higher image quality score, reduced image noise and improved SNR and CNR compared with the routine-dose ASIR40 images (all P<0.001). Conclusion MBIR significantly reduced image noise and improved SNR and CNR even at 75% dose reduction, compared with the routine-dose, state-of-the-art ASIR images.