With the price of new and used vehicles at all-time highs, it pays to choose a car or truck that will last for years beyond the end of monthly payments. A study by iSeeCars.com found that certain brands and certain types of vehicles last longer than the competition.
Toyota earns the top spot among automotive brands, with 2.3% of its vehicles reaching 200,000 miles. That's almost double the average for all vehicles. In second place is Honda, with 1.9% of its fleet reaching the 200,000 milestone.
If the average motorist drives 15,000 miles a year, then it would take around 13 years to put 200,000 miles on a car or truck.
“Toyotas have a reputation for lasting a long time, so if you’ve already got a Toyota you’re in good shape,” Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com told ConsumerAffairs. “If you’re looking to buy a car and want it to last as long as possible, Toyota is a good option.”
SUVs also go the distance
Among types of vehicles, full-size SUVs have the best chance of delivering at least 200,000 miles. If it happens to be a Toyota SUV, the odds are even better.
The Toyota Land Cruiser has the best chance of getting past 200,000 miles, according to the study, which found that 18% of Land Cruisers have reached that mark. The Toyota Sequoia is in second place.
These truck-based, body-on-frame SUVs occupy the top spots by a wide margin, with the Sequoia being twice as likely to reach 200,000 miles as the next ranked car on the list.
“The body on frame construction of something like a Land Cruiser or Chevy Suburban generally makes it a very durable design,” Brauer said. “Also, you get the functionality of a truck with the practicality of a three-row SUV.”
In fact, Toyota places five additional models – seven in all – within the top 15. The study shows that at least 3.2% of all 4Runner, Tundra, Avalon, Prius, and Sienna vehicles make it to 200,000 miles or further. Among the auto industry as a whole, the average is only 1.2%.
Strong showing from U.S. manufacturers
Five American, full-size SUVs make the list, including the third-ranked Chevrolet Suburban, the fourth-ranked GMC Yukon XL, the sixth-ranked Ford Expedition, the seventh-ranked Chevrolet Tahoe, and the twelfth-ranked GMC Yukon.
What these vehicles have in common is that they are all manufactured by General Motors. Brauer says the Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, and Chevrolet Tahoe share a platform and many common parts, which helps explain their durability.
Toyota also leads in pickup trucks making it past 200,000 miles. The Tundra is in first place and the Tacoma is in third, with the Honda Ridgeline sandwiched in between in second place. The Ford F-150, America’s best-selling vehicle, ranks 5th.