The Longest Lasting Cars Most Likely To Reach 250,000 Miles

Highlights:

• The Toyota Sequoia is the longest-lasting vehicle, with a 42.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
• The average vehicle has a 5.4% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
• Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura account for 25 of the 27 vehicles on the overall longest-lasting list.
• Toyota is the longest-lasting brand, with a 19.7% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
• The Ram 3500 is the longest-lasting truck at 31.9%, while the Lexus RX hybrid leads hybrids at 28.9%, and the Tesla Model X is the longest-lasting EV at 3.6%.

The Toyota Sequoia is the longest-lasting vehicle, with a 42.3% chance of reaching the extremely high mileage of 250,000 or more miles. Japanese vehicles dominate the rankings, with Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura models in 25 of the top 27 spots on the longest-lasting vehicle list. 

iSeeCars Research published its first Longest Lasting Cars Study in 2013. This year’s study analyzed data from more than 395 million vehicles to identify the vehicles and brands most likely to reach 250,000 miles or more. The analysis found the average vehicle has a 5.4% chance of reaching 250,000 miles, while only five of the 33 brands in the study are above that average. 

“Reaching 250,000 miles is still far from typical, with the average vehicle having just a 5.4% chance of getting there,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “But the highest-ranked models have substantially better odds of reaching a quarter million miles, which is a significant difference for consumers interested in long-term ownership.”

The Longest Lasting Cars: Toyota and Lexus dominate

The concentration of high-ranking Toyota and Lexus vehicles confirms these brands’ longest-lasting dominance, with the 10th-place Honda Accord Hybrid the first non-Toyota/Lexus vehicle on the list. Honda and Acura models are also prominent, holding 10 slots in the set of cars that are all at least twice as likely as the average vehicle to reach the 250,000 mile mark. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura account for 25 of the 27 top-ranked vehicles, with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Chevrolet Suburban as the only outliers. 

“It’s clear Toyota and Honda have a corporate philosophy focused on durability and a long vehicle lifespan,” said Brauer. “But the military background of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and the robust design and wide range of capabilities of Chevrolet’s Suburban, allow them to break into the top 27 rankings.”

The Longest Lasting Brands: Japanese brands lead the rankings

Honda ranks third at 13.3%, while Acura is fourth at 9.5%. GMC, at 5.8%, is the only other brand above the 5.4% overall average. 

See the full rankings for the Longest Lasting Car Brands.

“The lower half of the top 10 brands all fall below average, illustrating the impressive benchmark set by Toyota, as well as the gap between the top brands and the rest of the industry,” said Brauer.

The Longest Lasting Pickup Trucks: Heavy-duty models and Toyotas lead

Heavy-duty trucks occupy nine of the 12 positions, but the Tundra and Tacoma demonstrate that the strongest results are not limited to heavy-duty pickups.

The Longest Lasting SUVs: Top-ranked SUVs rank well above the segment average

The Longest Lasting Passenger Cars: You don’t need a truck or SUV to reach 250,000 miles

The Longest Lasting Hybrids: Higher fuel efficiency combined with a long life

Among the three EVs included, the Tesla Model X has a 3.6% chance of seeing 250,000 miles, the Tesla Model S a 3.1% chance, and the Nissan LEAF a 0.0% chance. All three models are below the industry average, reflecting the reduced miles an EV is driven compared to a traditional gasoline or hybrid model.

The Longest Lasting Cars by vehicle category

“The wide spectrum of durability across vehicle segments is worth noting,” said Brauer. “While the Toyota Sequoia leads full-size SUVs with a 42.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque only has a 1.2% chance of seeing that mileage, despite being the longest-lasting luxury subcompact SUV. Consider your vehicle lifespan needs and choose your next new or used car purchase accordingly.” 

Methodology

iSeeCars Research analyzed data for over 395 million cars. The average odometer reading for each vehicle was calculated at each yearly age, and a proprietary model based on these average mileages was developed to estimate the probability that each vehicle would survive to various mileage thresholds. Heavy-duty vehicles, models with insufficient data, and models discontinued as of the 2022 model year were excluded, but heavy-duty trucks were included for the truck-specific analysis.

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