The Toyota That Refuses to Die — Meet the Industry’s Longevity King

The longest-lasting vehicles are dominated by Japanese brands

• 2025 study reveals longest-lasting cars, based on extensive analysis
• Toyota Sequoia tops the list, and Toyota dominates the top 10
• Lexus and Honda also put in a strong showing

The average age of cars on American roads has steadily increased over the last few years; by late last year, it had increased to 13.6 years. Not only is this a reflection of more durable cars, but consumers are also looking to keep their costs down by holding on to older models for longer.

With this in mind, a new study from iSeeCars is of particular interest, as it highlights the vehicles that are most likely to reach 250,000 miles and beyond. If you prefer keeping your car for a long time, there’s one particular Toyota you should be looking at.

Toyota Sequoia Is The Longest-Lasting Vehicle

In the 2025 study, data from over 174 million cars was analyzed to determine the longest-lasting models. 

“The average odometer reading for each vehicle was calculated at each yearly age, and a proprietary model based on these average mileages was developed to estimate the probability that each vehicle would survive to various mileage thresholds,” said iSeeCars.

Topping the list with a 39.1% chance of lasting for at least 250,000 miles is the Toyota Sequoia, the Japanese marque’s full-size three-row SUV. The new Sequoia is more complex than the old one, though, as it swaps out the trusty V8 for a turbocharged hybrid V6. Once the miles pile up, it remains to be seen if the modern Sequoia can match the old one’s hardiness.

“The top-ranked Toyota Sequoia is truly impressive,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. “With a 39.1% predicted chance to reach 250,000 miles, the Sequoia is more than eight times as likely to hit that milestone as the average vehicle.”

Impressively, Toyota secured the top 4 spots in the study, and 14 of the top 15 models are Japanese. Here’s a look at the top 10 longest-lasting models:

Larger SUVs and pickup trucks tend to perform well in the study, which is no surprise as these vehicles typically focus on sturdiness over performance and comfort. The Lexus IS, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Prius (15th), Honda Civic (17th), and Acura ILX (21st) are the only sedans and/or hatchbacks in the top 25.

Japanese Automakers Rule

If you want a car that’s likely to make it to 250,000 miles and beyond, buy Japanese. Toyota ranked highest in the study, followed by Lexus, Honda, and Acura. The gap between Toyota and the rest is significant, though, proving that the brand’s reliability reputation is very much still intact.

For the first time in the study’s history, hybrids were separated into their own category, although data was only sufficient to rank seven models. Five are Toyotas and two are from Lexus, with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX Hybrid topping the list.

Final Thoughts

According to Car Edge, you can save between $8,000 and $15,000 if you keep the same car over a 10-year period, instead of buying a new one after five years. That’s based on buying a $35,000 car initially. While this is a crude example that will vary significantly depending on several variables (such as the make and type of vehicle), the lower insurance and financing costs over a decade can add up.

If you’re someone who stays on top of preventative maintenance and isn’t too hard on your car, keeping it for longer could be to your financial benefit. Going with a Toyota or another Japanese brand can also save on long-term running costs.