20 Cars That Can Take You to 300,000 Miles
Some of the most durable cars in America are also the most popular | Ford
There are a few different reasons why a car might stay on the road forever. When a model turns up on the list of most reliable vehicles every year, the automaker deserves a great deal of credit. The company created something that could stand the wear and tear of daily driving, regardless of climate or driver skill.
In some cases, owners have an attachment to the vehicle and will pay whatever it takes to keep it going. But it is not necessarily a good value to keep something just because it lasts. When you see work vehicles like pickup trucks or taxis ranking among the longest-lasting cars, you know the investment was probably worth it.
While 100,000 miles used to be a worthy goal for a vehicle, the bar rose higher in recent years. Consumer Reports began publishing lists of cars most likely to hit 200,000 miles and that keep on going even after reaching said goal. Search engines like iSeeCars have done the same, using results from actual cars that changed hands on the used market. Now it’s time to look even higher.
Here are 20 cars that could take you to 300,000 miles and beyond. To compile the list, we included vehicles that had the highest percentage of cars lasting the longest, cars that have been the most reliable over the past decade, and cars that went on sale with the most miles. In some cases, vehicles met all three criteria.
1. Honda Civic
2011 Honda Civic | Honda
Sales figures are an obvious endorsement for the staying power of Honda Civic. Every year, the compact model places in the top 10 of all vehicles sold in America, and it made the list of longest-lasting among Consumer Reports subscribers in 2015, too. Finally, iSeeCars counted it among the cars that owners keep for 10 years or longer. It can hardly be a coincidence. If you want a safe bet for a compact car to hit 300,000 miles, go with a Civic.
2. Subaru Legacy/Outback
2013 Subaru Legacy | Subaru
If you look at owner satisfaction, dependability, and fuel economy, you’ll always find Subaru ranking among the best auto brands. Therefore, it was no surprise when we saw Legacy show up among cars lasting over 200,000 miles. The high-rated sedan, along with the Outback on which it is based, gives car owners a good chance at going to 300,000 miles and beyond. You’ll get your money’s worth with this one.
3. Toyota Tacoma
2015 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota
You may not find the 2016 Tacoma with great reliability scores, but this pickup had a great run earlier in this decade and was a warrior in the early 2000s. When we conducted a search of used cars with more than 300,000 miles on them, the 2002 Tacoma was the most common result. As one of the most enduring models from the most reliable brand, used Tacomas are great bets to steam past your highest mileage goal.
4. Lexus CT 200h
2016 Lexus CT 200h | Lexus
There is no question about the durability of Toyota Prius, and Lexus buyers have access to the same platform in the CT 200h. Whatever you might compromise in engine power or handling, this car makes up for in fuel economy and overall dependability. Consumer Reports named it one of the most reliable cars of 2016 based on agency tests and consumer feedback. In short, it’s a good bet to go the distance — maybe as far as 300,000 miles.
5. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2011 Chevrolet Silverado | General Motors
Like Accord versus Camry, the annual battle between Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500 is worth your attention. Both pickups are top sellers every year, and the automakers have a running battle to outperform the other on work sites. (Ford still has the edge.) If you look at trucks with a zillion miles on them, you’re going to find Silverado right there. These trucks are built to endure abuse and last forever, so there’s a good chance you can blow past 300,000 miles in one, as so many have in the past.
6. Honda Odyssey
2015 Honda Odyssey | Honda
Betting on a Honda to go the distance is fairly safe. This trend continues with Sienna, the popular minivan that has refused to die for so many owners. iSeeCars data showed Sienna among the top 10 vehicles people keep longer than a decade, and Consumer Reports subscribers revealed it was among the most common with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. With minivans not made by Chrysler or Dodge, the long-haul approach families take helps.
7. Toyota Corolla
2014 Toyota Corolla | Toyota
It seems like everyone has a friend or family member with a Corolla that’s been around forever. In fact, the data backs up any hunch you might have about this car’s dependability. Consumer Reports found it among the best in reliability for every model year between 2007 and 2017. If you were to pick up a used Corolla in good shape, you’d have a shot at keeping it for another decade.
8. Ford F-150
2016 Ford F-150 | Ford
The most popular cars sometimes are also the most reliable. You will find many Ford F-150s from earlier this century for sale with 300,000 miles or more used, and Consumer Reports named the best-selling vehicle in America a strong candidate to go several hundred-thousand miles. We wonder if (or how) that will change once F-150 goes hybrid. It could very well become the Prius of pickups: economical and impossible to kill.
9. Honda Accord
2014 Honda Accord | Honda
Honda Accord challenges Toyota Camry for the title of best-selling car every year for a reason: They last. You’ll always find Accord among the most reliable sedans, and it’s also one of the cars people keep longer than a decade. If you drive carefully and change the oil on a regular basis, we wouldn’t be surprised if you steam past 300,000 miles in an Accord. Go with the four-cylinder engine for the best value.
10. Toyota Highlander
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | Toyota
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid led the pack among cars people keep 10 years or longer, and the standard Highlander was close behind it. These SUVs have staying power, rock-solid reliability scores, and the benefit of a strong brand behind it. Take good care of one and it might last well beyond 300,000 miles. With the best Toyotas, the sky — or infinity, since we’re talking about mileage — seems to be the limit.
11. Subaru Forester
2014 Subaru Forester | Subaru
Though it didn’t score quite as high as Legacy or Outback, Subaru Forester has posted a remarkable number of cars exceeding 200,000 miles since 2014. In the latest survey by iSeeCars, this model matched the tally of Prius and Corolla. Meanwhile, 24% of Forester owners ended up keeping their cars over 10 years in the study on long-term relationships with cars. If you were taking bets, this vehicle would have an excellent chance of staying on the road.
12. Ford Escape Hybrid
In strenuous taxi fleet duty, Ford Escape Hybrids covered over 175,000 miles in just 18 months | Mario Tama/Getty Images
In 2005, when Ford launched the Escape Hybrid, the automaker was not known for electric powertrains. Early success in New York City taxi fleets changed that. The first 18 Escape Hybrids all accumulated over 175,000 miles in a year and a half on NYC streets. As of 2017, Escape Hybrids remained a significant part of the taxi fleet despite the model’s 2012 phase-out. Each one we’ve encountered had close to 400,000 miles on the odometer. If you see a used model, consider picking it up for the long haul.
13. Toyota Camry
2015 Toyota Camry | Toyota
The knock on Camry has always been about its boring characteristics. Funny how no one knocks its reliability or staying power. To the contrary, those things were always taken for granted with Camry. Naturally, it turned up among the cars with the highest number of models hitting 200,000 miles, so we have no doubt it can keep going after that. Over 20% of Camry owners keep their cars longer than 10 years, so it seems like a common goal.
14. Honda CR-V
2015 Honda CR-V | Honda
In 10 straight years of Consumer Reports testing, Honda CR-V scored among the elite in reliability. This top seller, which ranked seventh in U.S. sales for 2016, tends to stick around households for over a decade. Over 25% of CR-V owners had their cars for longer than 10 years when they went to sell in 2016. Combine those two stats and you have a solid chance at hitting high mileage marks.
15. Lexus GX
Toyota delivered two highly dependable vehicles off the same 4Runner platform | Lexus
When Toyota delivers two reliable models off the same platform, consumers can decide whether a premium cabin and badge are worth the extra money. In the case of Lexus GX, the 4Runner system that proved so dependable enjoys the same bulletproof reputation. Both models made the top 10 in the 2016 Consumer Reports list, and 4Runner placed third on the list of vehic;es with most models to reach 200,000 miles. Next stop, 300,000.
16. Toyota Prius
2010 Toyota Prius | Toyota
Once upon a time, car buyers worried whether a hybrid battery would last long enough to make a Toyota Prius worth it. Well over a decade later, we know hybrid batteries are almost invincible. That’s how Prius ended up as No. 1 on the list of cars with more than 200,000 miles on them. (Some have broken the 600,000 mark.) The latest edition hasn’t lost its edge: Consumer Reports had the new Prius leading two different classes for reliability in 2016.
17. Chevrolet Suburban
New Suburbans fail the reliability test but the previous generation was incredibly durable | General Motors
Suburban has had its share of safety and reliability issues over the years, but this behemoth apparently sticks around for the long haul. Research by iSeeCars.com showed almost 5% of Suburbans showing better than 200,000 miles when they went up for sale in 2016. (Only four vehicles did better.) It might give you some headaches — avoid models from 2014 or later — but Suburban has proven to be “like a rock” overall.
18. Toyota Sequoia
Looking at 2016 used car sales, Sequoia had an extraordinary amount of models with over 200,000 miles | Toyota
We’ll stop including so many Toyotas when they stop lasting so long. For now, we have no choice but to follow what research shows: Toyota Sequoia is an excellent bet to exceed 300,000 miles on the odometer. The 2007 and 2008 models that ranked so high in reliability formed the backbone for the 4.8% that had over 200,000 miles on them when owners went to sell in 2016. Only a handful of cars did better.
19. Ford Expedition
2014 Ford Expedition | Ford
Between 2014 and 2017, Ford Expedition has been among the most reliable vehicles in America, joining the “much better than average” class in Consumer Reports testing. (2012 and 2013 models are not recommended.) Add that reputation to a stunning percentage of models exceeding 200,000 miles and you have the goods for a truck ready for the long haul. It’s based on the F-150 pickup platform.
20. Toyota RAV4
2013 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota
For a car that’s ranked among the top 10 in U.S. sales for years, Toyota RAV4 has an amazing percentage of owners who keep them for the long haul. Nearly 25% of RAV4 consumers had their vehicles for at least 10 years when they went to sell them in 2016. Model years 2012 through 2015 were among the very best in reliability, so you should find a keeper in that group.
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