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With new cars costing more than $50,000 on average, Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever.
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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.
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“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
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
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
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
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
Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 5.3%
Comparison to the industry average: 1 time more likely
Most popular model: Mazda CX-5
7. Lincoln
Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 4.7%
Comparison to the industry average: 0.9 times more likely
Most popular model: Lincoln Navigator
8. Ram
Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 4.2%
Comparison to the industry average: 0.8 times more likely
Most popular model: RAM 1500
9. Ford
Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 4.1%
Comparison to the industry average: 0.8 times more likely
Most popular model: Ford F-150
10. Cadillac
Percentage chance of lasting until 250,000 miles: 3.9%
Comparison to the industry average: 0.7 times more likely
Most popular model: Cadillac Escalade
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These 10 car brands are most likely to last at least 250,000 miles
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Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 3:30 AM.