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Your car is typically the second-largest purchase in your life. Some people trade theirs every few years, but a more economical way to drive is to choose a vehicle that outlasts the car loan. Thankfully, most cars in the United States average 12.5 years old, which means they can typically outlast a loan term. Still, if you want a vehicle with excellent longevity, choose one of these models.

How long should most cars last?

Instead of vehicle age, let’s consider mileage. Most cars should last at least 200,000 miles or more. Depending on the miles driven each year, this could translate to ten to twenty years of driving life. For a vehicle to last 200,000 miles or more requires regular scheduled maintenance and conservative driving.

Black 2024 Ford Super Duty driving on a road.
2024 Ford Super Duty | Ford

What are the top 10 vehicles with the best longevity figures?

If the average car can survive 200,000 miles of city and highway driving, we must set the bar slightly higher. If we move that needle to 250,000 miles, we’ll find a strong list of vehicles with impressive longevity figures.

Using a study from iSeeCars.com, these ten modes have the greatest chance of reaching 250,000 miles or more:

  • Toyota 4Runner
  • Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  • GMC Sierra 2500HD
  • Toyota Tacoma
  • Honda Pilot
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty
  • Toyota Sequoia
  • Toyota Tundra
  • Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Ford F-350 Super Duty

The study presents the percentage chance these vehicles reach the 250,000-mile longevity goal. This top-ten list ranges from 41% to 49.1% chance of reaching this goal. While this means that more than half of all models won’t last this long, the average chance of reaching 250,000 miles is 3.5 times to 4.2 times the market average for all models.

What can we learn from this list?

Large trucks and SUVs dominate the list when searching for vehicles that offer excellent longevity. Additionally, it’s easy to see that Toyota is the most common brand with the greatest longevity figures. Half of the models on the list are Toyotas, which is a nod to the brand’s reputation for longevity and reliability.

Which brands offer vehicles with impressive longevity expectations?

The brands most likely to reach 250,000 miles or more are:

  • Toyota
  • Chevrolet
  • Honda
  • GMC
  • Ram
  • Acura
  • Ford
  • Subaru
  • Lexus

These names are listed from the most likely to the least likely to reach the 250,000-mile figure. Considering Toyota dominates the top 10 vehicles with the greatest longevity expectations, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this brand also tops this list.