While not possessing the flashy appearance of Korean cars, nor the extensive features of Chinese cars, Japanese cars, in terms of durability over time, are difficult to match. This is further proven by the results of a survey analyzing the most durable cars, which are likely to still run well after more than 400,000 km, according to brand, recently published by iSeeCar , a market research and car buying consultancy company.
Accordingly, iSeeCars surveyed over 395 million cars in the US market to determine the percentage of cars by brand that are likely to still run well after 250,000 miles, or over 400,000 km. iSeeCars developed a methodology using the average expected odometer reading (ODO) for each year of a product's lifespan. The company then used this to calculate the likelihood that a car will still run well after more than 400,000 km.
Toyota boasts that 19.7% of its vehicles are still running well after more than 400,000 km, 3.7 times the market average.
Photo: Toyota
According to iSeeCars ' survey and analysis, the average for the automotive industry is that about 5.4% of cars can still run well after exceeding 400,000 km, lower than last year (an average of 8.6%). Among brands, Japanese cars are rated highest in terms of durability.
Specifically, out of the 33 car brands included in iSeeCars' study, only five brands had mileage exceeding 400,000 km, higher than the industry average. The top four positions were held by Japanese brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura.
Toyota is the leading brand. 19.7% of Toyota vehicles are still running well after more than 400,000 km, 3.7 times the market average. Among these, the models with the highest durability ratings include the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Japanese car brands are highly regarded for their durability.
Photo: BH
Luxury car brand Lexus (part of Toyota Group) ranked second with 14.4% of its cars still running well after more than 400,000 km, 2.7 times the market average. Meanwhile, Honda cars had a 13.3% chance of remaining in good, stable condition after more than 400,000 km, 2.5 times the market average.
Karl Brauer, an analyst at iSeeCars, said: "Reaching 250,000 miles is an extremely high milestone for any vehicle, which makes the difference between the top four brands particularly significant. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura not only lead the list but also significantly outperform the average in terms of mileage."
The remaining positions in the top 5 belong to Acura (9.5%) and GMC (5.8%). At the bottom of the list, Jaguar, MINI, and Maserati all have a rounded-down 0% chance of exceeding 400,000 km. Luxury car brands such as BMW, Audi, Land Rover, and Porsche only achieve between 0.3% and 0.5%.
iSeeCars notes that the actual lifespan of a vehicle depends on the specific model, generation, year of manufacture, and how the owner maintains and uses it.
Photo: Toyota
However, iSeeCars notes that reaching 250,000 miles (over 400,000 km) does not necessarily equate to a car's longevity. Actual lifespan depends on the specific model, generation, year of manufacture, and how the owner maintains and uses the vehicle. A model from a brand with a low mileage rate can still far exceed this mark.
"Consumers often make car purchase decisions based on a variety of factors. For buyers looking for the most durable cars, it's clear they should focus on brands with the highest percentage of cars reaching the 250,000-mile mark in the market," Karl Brauer added.
Below is a ranking of the top 10 automotive brands with the highest percentage of vehicles that have at least 250,000 miles (equivalent to over 400,000 km) on the odometer:
Top 10 car brands with the highest percentage of vehicles that can travel at least 250,000 miles (equivalent to over 400,000 km).
Source: iSeeCars