With vehicle prices still at record highs, drivers are holding on to their old cars for longer than ever. A recent study by iSeeCars took a deep dive into the high-mileage car market, examining more than two million mainstream vehicles dating back 20 years to see which makes and models last the longest. In this case, main stream denotes a model sold for at least 10 of those years. And one automaker stands out from the rest.
That company is Toyota, although that’s probably no surprise. The Japanese automaker has earned a reputation for longevity over several decades, and this study helps explain why. In a ranking of the 20 best vehicles with the longest potential life, Toyota holds no less than half the places. It is far ahead of second-placed Honda with three vehicles on the list. Ford, GMC and Chevrolet tied for third with two vehicles each. Nissan just made the cut with just one vehicle, the slow-selling Titan which may end production soon.
Toyota holds six spots in the top 10, starting with the No. 1 Sequoia. The study shows a potential lifespan for this SUV of 296,509 miles – significantly more than the second place vehicle which is also a Toyota, this time the Land Cruiser with a lifespan of 280,236 miles. Chevrolet scored third at 265,732 miles with the Suburban, and its GMC Yukon XL sibling takes fifth at 252,360 miles. The Toyota Tundra separates them in fourth place with 256,022 miles.
The rest of the top 10 includes the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Avalon, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Ford’s best performance is the Expedition in 11th place. The Nissan Titan manages 18th place. At the bottom is the Toyota Camry Hybrid with a potential lifespan of 230,547 miles.
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Word potential is widely used in the study. Vehicle longevity certainly depends on a variety of factors beyond the control of automakers, with driving style and maintenance being the most important.
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