If you are looking for a vehicle that will run for over a decade, you may want to check out Toyota. A new study is shedding light on which auto brands have the highest chance of making it past the 250,000-mile barrier. What brands came in on top? Read on.

Toyota Leads the Pack in Vehicle Longevity Rating

A vehicle that makes it past 250,000 miles and is still running is obviously built to last. This is especially true if the vehicle makes it to the milestone without undergoing major repairs or replacements. By this age, most cars will be dealing with serious engine issues, worn axles, and other wear and tear that compounds over time.

Although you can never truly predict what car will stand the test of time, there are certain brands that have earned a reputation for lasting longer than the rest. Notably, Japanese brands tend to fare exceptionally well in the longevity category.

This was recently demonstrated in a study by iSeeCars that looked at 395 million vehicles to determine what brands have the best chance of hitting 250,000 miles. Toyota led the rankings with a 19.7% chance of its vehicles hitting the gold standard of 250,000 miles or beyond. For context, this is a whopping three times the industry average of 5.4%.

Coming in behind Toyota were Lexus at 14.4%, Honda at 13.3%, and Acura at 9.5%. This means that the top four were all made in Japan, affirming the country's reputation for producing long-lasting vehicles.

What is most surprising to many car experts is that Subaru was missing from the top 10, a rarity for Japanese brands. Although the company has a good reputation for reliability, the automaker came in ranked in 14th place. Subaru vehicles have just a 2.8% chance of lasting until 250,000 miles, putting it below the industry average.

In Subaru's defense, competitors like Toyota boast a wider array of vehicles known for durability, including the Tacoma, the 4Runner, and the Tundra. Rugged vehicles engineered for adventure and off-roading are inherently more likely to remain on the road for decades.

What about last place? Bringing up the rear are luxury brands, including Fiat, Jaguar, Mini, and Maserati.

About the Parameters of the Study

iSeeCars looked at data across millions of vehicles, specifically analyzing the odometer readings at each yearly benchmark. The survey model based on average mileage was put against the data to determine an estimate of the chance that each vehicle would make it to certain ages.

The study did not look at heavy-duty vans or models with insufficient data. According to the iSeeCars team, “The odds of reaching the 250,000-mile milestone for each specific model and generation were calculated and then averaged across each brand’s entire lineup, weighing the results by how common each model is on the road."

The biggest takeaway from the study is that the top four Japanese brands were well ahead of the rest of the industry. iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said that “Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura don’t just lead the list; they substantially outperform the average vehicle’s chances of reaching that high-mileage threshold.”

The data is important, as Americans are holding on to their cars for longer than ever. The rising cost of new cars and overall state of the economy have led many consumers to want to put more miles on their existing vehicles before upgrading.

It is important to note that the longevity of a vehicle does not always translate to reliability ratings. For example, Ram is in the top 10 for longevity but ranks near the bottom in its predicted reliability, according to Consumer Reports. This means that a Ram will likely require more maintenance than a Toyota, a brand that comes in at number one in the Consumer Reports reliability rating.

If you are looking to purchase a vehicle that scores well in both reliability and longevity, you will want to look at all of the different metrics before deciding.

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