- Some cars go fast. Some cars go smooth. But which cars go the farthest? Check out some of the longest-lasting vehicles on U.S. roads…
Some cars are built for show, some for performance, and some for practicality. But a select few are built for all of that and perhaps the most important factor – durability. While the average lifespan of a vehicle for an individual worldwide is eight years or about 75,000 kilometers, if you’re having a hard time parting with your old car, you’re better off with a Toyota or Honda. And that’s not us saying.
A recent study by US-based online car sales platform iSeeCars found that Toyota and Honda vehicles are most likely to be operational beyond 2.50 lakh miles or around four lakh kilometers. Although the study only covered car models sold in the US, it still gives an insight into the reliability quotient of vehicles from Japanese brands.
Also read: Check out the latest cars on India’s roads
While various factors — where a vehicle is manufactured, the regional quality of parts used and the technology used — play a large role in how long it lasts, iSeeCars’ study found that in the U.S., any car that is well maintained has about a 9 percent chance of making it 250,000 miles. For certain models from certain brands, that figure can be as high as 30 percent.
So which vehicles have the longest lifespan in the USA?
Toyota Tundra
Maybe you’re bored with the Toyota Tundra, maybe not, but it has a habit of going further and further. Toyota’s pickup truck is enormously popular with U.S. buyers, and not just because it’s a very capable machine, but also because it’s extremely reliable. The study notes that it’s not as if the Tundra hasn’t been plagued by problems with faulty parts in the past. But even then, the model has a better than 30 percent chance of reaching 250,000 miles on the clock if it’s driven and maintained well.
Toyota Sequoia
One of the largest three-row SUVs on the U.S. market, the Toyota Sequoia doesn’t look particularly fancy or flashy. But it’s its very practical interior and big road presence that make it a hit. Add to that the fact that it’s also a very reliable machine for someone who doesn’t want to change their machine every few years. Once again, iSeeCars has found that several examples of the 2023 and 2024 Sequoia model were recently recalled due to a problem with the transmission. But overall, it’s still a sturdy machine that will likely last longer than most.
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner has been available in global markets since 1984 and is a best seller in several countries. Currently, the 4Runner is sold primarily in the Americas, with the Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and the United States among its main sales markets. The fifth generation of the 4Runner was discontinued in the United States after a highly successful 15-year period and the sixth generation version will be launched in 2025.
Toyota Tacoma
It looks cool, drives cool, and can tackle terrain that few other Toyota models would normally dare to tackle. The Tacoma is a midsize pickup truck that also underscores its reputation as a no-brainer that stands the test of time and miles. The latest version of the Tacoma made its U.S. debut in 2023, and while the verdict on its reliability is still out, it has a very rich heritage.
Honda Ridgeline
Americans love their pickup trucks, and the Honda Ridgeline is another mid-size pickup truck that’s a common sight on U.S. roads. The Ridgeline isn’t as old as some of the Toyota models mentioned above, it’s been on the market since 2006 and peaked in 2023 with 52,000 units sold in the U.S. It’s safe to expect it to last much longer than modern relationships.
Date of first publication: 26 August 2024, 09:51 IST
