These 10 car brands are most likely to last at least 250,000 miles

With new cars costing more than $50,000 on average, Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the average age of a car on U.S. roads is almost 13 years old, and of course the older cars get, the more of a challenge it is to keep them well-maintained.

But more and more people are taking up the challenge, according to a recent analysis from Consumer Reports

"There was a time when approaching 100,000 miles on a car meant you should start thinking about a trade-in," the group said in a January 2026 report. "But with proper maintenance and the advancements in automotive technology, Consumer Reports’ survey data shows that cars today can last well beyond that point."

And with new

car prices rising, more Americans are turning to used cars as they look for affordable transportation. When that happens, Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst, said, consumers want to know they are buying reliable car brands.

“Consumers base their car-buying decisions on a range of vehicle attributes,” 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.”

With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at iSeeCars' list of the top 10 brands that make cars that are likely to reach 250,000 miles and we compiled some info on those manufacturers for consumers.

1. Toyota

The Toyota RAV4 GR Sport is the top trim of the plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 19.7%

Comparison to the industry average: 3.7 times more likely

Most popular model: Toyota RAV4

2. Lexus

The Lexus RX 350h is the second fastest selling used car, according to iSeeCars.com. It spends an average of 27.6 days on the market.

Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 14.4%

Comparison to the industry average: 2.7 times more likely

Most popular model: Lexus RX

3. Honda

Honda CR-V owners typically owe $4,722 more than their cars are worth at trade-ins, according to Edmunds.

Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 13.3%

Comparison to the industry average: 2.5 times more likely

Most popular model: Honda CR-V

4. Acura

The Acura MDX, along with other domestically-produced cars on display at the 2026 Washington Auto Show

Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 9.5%

Comparison to the industry average: 1.8 times more likely

Most popular model: Acura MDX

5. GMC

Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 5.8%

Comparison to the industry average: 1.1 times more likely

Most popular model: GMC Sierra

6. Mazda

A Mazda CX-5 that is equipped with parking sensors that use ultrasonic technology to detect obstacles and provide audible and visual alerts was on display at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's 2026 Auto Tech Policy Show in Washington, DC