Study reveals the cars most likely to reach 250,000 miles

A study has been produced which reveals the car brands most likely to make it to 250,000 miles.

When you invest a lot of money into a car, you want to know it’ll last a long while.

After all, nobody would willing to sink money into a car that’s going to give out on them before they’ve gotten their money’s worth.

But which car brands are the sturdiest? Let’s take a closer look.

What this study tells us about cars reaching 250,000 miles

The study was done by iSeeCars, with 33 brands being examined all in all.

Some themes emerge – Asian carmakers take many of the top spots, while German luxury brands didn’t fare all that well.

“Consumers base their car-buying decisions on a range of vehicle attributes,” iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said.

“For buyers seeking the longest lasting vehicles, it’s clear which brands they should focus on for their next new or used car purchase.

“Reaching 250,000 miles is an exceptionally high bar for any vehicle, which makes the distinction among the four highest-ranked brands meaningful.”

Let’s take a look at the top five.

5. GMC – 5.8 percent chance of reaching 250,000 miles

In the number five spot, GMC sits just above the 5.4 percent average, just about edging out the sixth place brand, Mazda.

As a division of General Motors that specializes in pickups, SUVs, and trucks, you’d expect these vehicles to be made of stronger stuff.

We already know these trucks are as hard as nails, as demonstrated through tug-of-war and racing videos across the internet.

Now add long-lasting life to the brand’s accolades.

4. Acura – 9.5 percent chance

Acura pulls comfortably ahead of the industry average.

Relying heavily on Honda engines, transmissions, and platforms, the Acura brand slots into the top four with ease.

Parts are easy to source, making them easy to fix for mechanics.

Functionality is prioritized over flashiness and that’s all to the benefit of Acura owners.

3. Honda – 13.3 percent chance

At 2.5 times above the industry average, Honda sits nicely at number three.

With its modular engine bays, Honda doesn’t require tons in the way of maintenance, reducing labor times and costs.

Inexpensive parts and mechanic familiarity also looks favorably upon this Japanese manufacturer.

2. Lexus – 14.4 percent chance

In second place, Lexus is leagues ahead of its European rivals.

Why is this?

According to Lexus, it comes down to a ‘combination of engineering, quality control, smart technology, and long-term thinking.’

Longevity isn’t always a guarantee of reliability, but Lexus also scores well in that department – topping Consumer Reports’ 2025 reliability ranking.

1. Toyota – 19.7 percent chance

At the top of the pyramid is Toyota itself, clearing second place by 5.3 percent with ease.

As the parent company of Lexus, it only makes sense that Toyota would usurp the second place company.

Toyota’s longevity can be credited to its Kaizen philosophy, which represents continuous improvement.

The concept of Andon also comes in handy, allowing factory workers to stop assembly lines if they spot a defect – meaning issues aren’t left to be caught on final inspections.

Longest Lasting Car Brands Likely To Reach 250,000 Miles

1. Toyota – 19.7 %
2. Lexus – 14.4%
3. Honda – 13.3%
4. Acura – 9.5%
5. GMC – 5.8%
6. Mazda – 5.3%
7. Lincoln – 4.7%
8. Ram – 4.2%
9. Ford – 4.1%
10. Cadillac – 3.9%
11. Chevrolet – 3.6%
12. Nissan – 3.4%
13. Tesla – 3.3%
14. Subaru – 2.8%
15. Mercedes-Benz – 2.6%
16. Volvo – 2.6%
17. INFINITI – 2.5%
18. Dodge – 1.7%
19. Volkswagen – 1.5%
20. Jeep – 1.2%
21. Kia – 0.8%
22. Mitsubishi – 0.8%
23. Hyundai – 0.8%
24. Chrysler – 0.7%
25. BMW – 0.5%
26. Audi – 0.5%
27. Land Rover – 0.4%
28. Buick – 0.4%
29. Porsche – 0.3%
30. FIAT – 0.2%
31. Jaguar – 0.0%
32. MINI – 0.0%
33. Maserati – 0.0%