These 10 cars have the greatest potential lifespan — and 6 are Toyotas (2024)

New cars are getting increasingly expensive. But they're also more durable than before, which means drivers have a better chance of getting their money's worth.

As the average transaction price for new cars reached an estimated $45,872in November — the highest on record, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive — the average age of cars on the road also hit an all-time high of 12.2 years in 2022, a separate report by IHS Markit found.

The average age had been just over 11 years a decade ago. In 2002, it was 9.6 years.

Advancements in everything from materials to technology have helped, according to Will Kaufman, news editor at Edmunds, "and it doesn't hurt that today's vehicles have better ways to alert owners when there are maintenance issues."

10 cars with the greatest potential lifespan

Among the models with the greatest potential lifespan, Toyota Sequoia topped the list, with the ability to travel nearly 300,000 miles, followed by the Land Cruiser, according to a recent iSeeCars study, which analyzed more than 2 million cars over the past 20 years to see which vehicles could last the longest.

Overall, SUVs and trucks are the most common vehicle types to rank in the top 10, while more fuel-efficient passenger cars, including the Prius and Avalon, earned two spots on the list.

"Shoppers really, really value reliability, and automakers are definitely sensitive to how big an impact a reputation for reliability — or unreliability — can have on their brand," Kaufman said.

Six of the top 10 were Toyota SUVs, trucks or cars. Other contenders in the top five include the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon, both three-row SUVs.

Every car and truck on the list can reach nearly a quarter-million milesor more, the report found.

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As a general rule of thumb, most drivers consider the 200,000-mile mark the upper limit of a car's lifespan, although some models clearly have the potential to travel much farther.

A limited supply of new cars and trucks due to the ongoing chip shortage has pushed consumers to use their existing vehicles for longer, according to IHS Markit, which tracks vehicle registrations in every state.

At the same time, millions of people who previously commuted to their jobs put fewer miles on their cars while they worked from home, further extending the life of their vehicles.

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These 10 cars have the greatest potential lifespan — and 6 are Toyotas (2024)

FAQs

These 10 cars have the greatest potential lifespan — and 6 are Toyotas? ›

In a study of durable vehicles, Toyotas rank the highest in longevity. In fact, six of the top 10 cars on the list are Toyotas. Toyotas have long been known for lasting well over 200,000 miles. Some models are the Sequoia, the Land Cruiser, and the Toyota Tundra, all of which you can find at Toyota of Des Moines.

Are Toyotas the longest-lasting cars? ›

Toyota cars are known for their durability and reliability, which means they last longer than other makes of cars.

What is the life expectancy of a Toyota car? ›

In fact, Toyota reliability ranks among the highest among automotive brands. How long do Toyotas last? The average lifespan for a Toyota vehicle is 200,000-250,000 miles. With proper care and maintenance, some Toyota models can last as long as 500,000 miles.

What car brand has the longest lifespan? ›

Longest-lasting cars
  • Toyota Avalon, 33.1%
  • Honda Accord, 27.1%
  • Toyota Camry, 20.4%
  • Toyota Matrix, 16.7%
  • Subaru Legacy, 16.2%
  • Lexus GS 300, 15.9%
  • Acura RL, 14.9%
  • Honda Civic, 14.7%
Jun 15, 2023

What car has the most life expectancy? ›

  1. Toyota Sequoia. Potential lifespan: 296,509 miles. ...
  2. Toyota Land Cruiser. Potential lifespan: 280,236 miles. ...
  3. Chevrolet Suburban. Potential lifespan: 265,732 miles. ...
  4. Toyota Tundra. Potential lifespan: 256,022 miles. ...
  5. GMC Yukon XL. Potential lifespan: 252,360 miles. ...
  6. Toyota Prius. ...
  7. Chevrolet Tahoe. ...
  8. Honda Ridgeline.
May 8, 2023

Do Fords or Toyotas last longer? ›

Ford vs Toyota: Reliability

It's a well-established fact that Toyota is a more reliable brand than Ford, as the 2023 WhatCar? Reliability Survey proves: Toyota - 2nd place, 97.4% Ford - 17th place, 91.4%

Which cars last longer Toyota or Honda? ›

Toyota Is The Most Reliable Car Brand

According to the 2023 Consumer Reports highest reliable brands, Toyota is the number one most reliable brand, while Honda is a few step below at number five. According to the same report, the most reliable vehicle was the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Which car will last a lifetime? ›

The top 2 models with the longest lifespans are Toyota SUVs, with the Sequoia and Land Cruiser both enduring nearly 300,000 miles over the past 20 years. Three hybrids, all of them Toyotas (Prius, Highlander, Camry), and two minivans (Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey) also make the top 20.

What car is most reliable long-term? ›

The Best Cars for Long-Term Ownership: Reliability and Maintenance Costs
  • Toyota: Toyota is legendary for its dependable vehicles. ...
  • Honda: Honda rivals Toyota for reliability and affordability. ...
  • Lexus: The luxury arm of Toyota, Lexus delivers exceptional reliability with the added benefit of extended warranties.
Apr 25, 2024

Which car is best for long life? ›

The 20 Longest-Lasting Cars You Can Buy
  • What are the longest-lasting vehicles on the road? A study by iSeeCars.com provides the answer. ...
  • Toyota Land Cruiser. Toyota. ...
  • Toyota Tundra. Toyota. ...
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty. Ford F-Series Super Duty. ...
  • Honda Pilot. Honda. ...
  • GMC Sierra 2500HD. GMC. ...
  • Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. ...
  • Toyota Avalon.
Mar 17, 2024

Which Toyota engine lasts the longest? ›

Toyota's 22R engine is often hailed as one of the most robust and long-lasting engines ever produced. Introduced in the late 1970s, it powered various Toyota models for decades. Owners have reported these engines regularly exceeding 300,000 miles, and some even reaching half a million miles with proper maintenance.

What car brand is the least reliable? ›

Consumer Reports' 2024 Reliability Rankings: The Least Dependable Car Brands
  • Chrysler. Predicted Reliability Score: 18/100. ...
  • Mercedes-Benz. Predicted Reliability Score: 23/100. ...
  • Rivian. Predicted Reliability Score: 24/100. ...
  • (Tie) Volkswagen. Predicted Reliability Score: 26/100. ...
  • (Tie) Jeep. ...
  • Volvo. ...
  • GMC. ...
  • Lincoln.

Why are Toyotas so reliable? ›

Toyota is reliant on high-quality materials and parts to make vehicles that last. Therefore, the company pays great attention to the source and quality of its supply chain, establishing strong relationships with suppliers and integrating them into its assembly processes.

What car usually lasts the longest? ›

The 20 Longest-Lasting Cars You Can Buy
  • What are the longest-lasting vehicles on the road? A study by iSeeCars.com provides the answer. ...
  • Toyota Land Cruiser. Toyota. ...
  • Toyota Tundra. Toyota. ...
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty. Ford F-Series Super Duty. ...
  • Honda Pilot. Honda. ...
  • GMC Sierra 2500HD. GMC. ...
  • Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. ...
  • Toyota Avalon.
Mar 17, 2024

Why do Toyotas run so long? ›

Toyotas have always been designed and manufactured with reliability as the number one priority. Our cars have a low frequency of breakdowns and severe problems. Additionally, Toyota uses a much-tested method in the construction of their cars, carefully testing each component before installing it.

Does Chevy or Toyota last longer? ›

The Toyota Camry earns its spot among the top ten longest-lasting passenger cars. Due to their reliability, Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs retain a higher resale value than Chevy models.

What lasts longer Toyota or Nissan? ›

Toyota cars last up to 200,000 miles with about 15 years of extensive use. Nissans have an average lifespan of the same 15 years and can last up to 250,000 miles.

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