Approximately 50% of all Toyota vehicles ever built are still on the road today, and about 80% of Toyotas sold 20 years ago remain active. About 80% of Toyota vehicles sold two decades ago are still driven today. Roughly 9.1% to 10.7% of all passenger vehicles currently driving on roads worldwide are Toyotas, making it one of the most common automotive brands in existence. Research shows that a Toyota has a 19.7% chance of reaching at least 250,000 miles. The general automotive industry average for reaching 250,000 miles is only 5.4%, meaning a Toyota is roughly 3.7 times more likely to hit that milestone than a typical vehicle. Lexus (owned by Toyota) ranks second with a 14.4% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
While EVs can have lower ownership costs due to fewer moving parts, a study by iSeeCars ranks Toyota vehicles as having by far the best chance of reaching 250,000 miles or more, when compared with all other brands. Here's a look at the top 5 brands and where Tesla placed.
|
Rank |
Make |
% Chance of Lasting 250,000+ Miles |
Compared to Average |
|
1 |
Toyota |
19.7% |
3.7x |
|
2 |
Lexus |
14.4% |
2.7x |
|
3 |
Honda |
13.3% |
2.5x |
|
4 |
Acura |
9.5% |
1.8x |
|
5 |
GMC |
5.8% |
1.1x |
|
13 |
Tesla |
3.3% |
0.6x |
|
Study Average |
5.4% |
Toyota cars are 3.7x more likely to reach a quarter-million miles than all other brands, and Japanese automakers dominated, securing the top 4 spots in the study. Tesla placed 13th out of 33 brands, a respectable showing for the only EV-exclusive manufacturer. However, it was below the overall study average.
"Reaching 250,000 miles is an exceptionally high bar for any vehicle, which makes the distinction among the four highest-ranked brands meaningful," said iSeeCars Executive Analyst, Karl Brauer. "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."
I have always been a 4Runner guy, but when it comes to vehicles that instantly evoke an off-road envy, or a muddy wanderlust, the Land Cruiser 70 series is a sure contender. Although available in countries like Jamaica, Costa Rica, Australia, and South Africa, they're not for sale in the US, unless you want to wait until they are 25 years old, when they are then eligible for US import. Inios is making a stab at competing with this market, which is worth a look as well, but probably won't last you 250,000 miles like my Toyotas do.
