In iSeeCars’ “Most Durable Car Brands” list released on September 9, Toyota topped the ranking, with a significantly higher likelihood of their vehicles reaching at least 250,000 miles on the odometer compared to the industry average. Lexus came in second, followed closely by Honda and Acura; this meant that Japanese brands dominated the top four spots on the list.
The study conducted by iSeeCars analyzed over 395 million vehicles, revealing that Toyota had a 19.7% probability of reaching the 250,000-mile milestone. This figure is 3.6 times higher than the overall industry average of 5.4%.
For non-luxury brand vehicles, the average likelihood of reaching 250,000 miles is 5.8%, while for luxury brands, it is 3.4%.
Among the 33 car brands studied, only five brands performed above the industry average of 5.4%.
“When consumers are purchasing a vehicle, they consider various factors,” said Karl Brauer, an executive analyst at iSeeCars. “For buyers looking for the most durable vehicles, it is clear which brands to focus on when purchasing a new or used car next.”
In the top rankings, a significant trend that cannot be overlooked is the high concentration of Japanese brands. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura occupied the top four positions, with all four brands significantly exceeding the 5.4% overall industry average.
Of particular note is Toyota’s 19.7% success rate, which not only surpasses the industry average by more than three times but also leads second-place Lexus, with a success rate of 14.4%. Honda closely follows Lexus with a success rate of 13.3%, while Acura has a success rate of 9.5%, still 1.8 times the overall average.
GMC is the highest-ranked non-Japanese brand, achieving a success rate of 5.8%, placing it fifth overall. Mazda follows closely with a success rate of 5.3%. After Mazda, the predicted probabilities of reaching 250,000 miles for all other brands fall below 5.0%.
The following are the top 20 car brands ranked by their success rate in reaching 250,000 miles and their ratio compared to the average rate of 5.4%.
1. Toyota: 19.7%, 3.6 times
2. Lexus: 14.4%, 2.7 times
3. Honda: 13.3%, 2.5 times
4. Acura: 9.5%, 1.8 times
5. GMC: 5.8%, 1.1 times
Average Rate: 5.4%
6. Mazda: 5.3%, 1.0 times
7. Lincoln: 4.7%, 0.9 times
8. Ram: 4.2%, 0.8 times
9. Ford: 4.1%, 0.8 times
10. Cadillac: 3.9%, 0.7 times
The study offers an important factor to consider for consumers planning to own a vehicle for the long term, in addition to factors such as purchase price, operating costs, safety, features, and other car-related concerns.
“For used car buyers, this ‘Most Durable Brand’ ranking is highly valuable, especially when comparing higher mileage used cars,” Brauer added.