They don’t build cars like they used to. It’s true. They’re safer, more fuel efficient and more reliable than ever before. These days, most cars are just getting started when they cross the 100,000-mile mark. They may require quite a few repairs to keep going after that point, but the days of cars with six-figure mileage being on their last legs are long gone.
That said, if you’re hoping to keep a new car for 200,000 miles or more, some cars are much more likely to get you there than others. Recently, our friends at Consumer Reports published a list of the cars that its own survey data revealed are the most likely ones to make it past that 200,000-mile mark.
Now, we can’t guarantee that every single vehicle on this list is going to be completely problem-free for the next 20 years, but if you have longevity in mind, these are the ones you’re going to want to start your search with. Now let’s take a look at what made the list this year.
The Honda Civic would benefit from a quieter, more comfortable ride, but pretty much everything else about the compact sedan is great. And with a base price that starts below $25,000, it’s pretty affordable, too.
There’s a long list of reasons the Toyota Highlander makes for such a popular minivan alternative. It’s comfortable, spacious, practical and downright durable. Base models start just under $40,000.
No one will ever confuse the Toyota 4Runner for a luxurious road tripper, but if you want an incredibly capable off-roader that will last you for years and years, look no further than the 4Runner. Base models start a little over $40,000.
No matter how good the three-row crossovers get, they’re never going to be as practical for families as a good, old-fashioned minivan. And if you want a minivan that will last for hundreds of thousands of miles, you’re going to want the Honda Odyssey. Pricing starts at about $38,000.
If it were our money, we’d probably go with the Honda Civic, but there’s no denying that the Toyota Corolla offers reliability and fuel economy (especially if you can find one of the hybrids) at a very affordable price. Pricing starts only ever so slightly over $22,000.
You can buy a better full-size truck than the Toyota Tundra. Chevrolet, Ford, GMC and Ram are all better choices. If your only requirement is a truck that will last a long time, though, go ahead and get the Tundra. At least the engine is no longer straight out of the Stone Age. Pricing starts at just under $40,000.
Toyota may have “redesigned” the Tacoma for the 2015 model year, but it was really just a heavily updated version of the truck that was first introduced for the 2005 model year. So the fact that the 2024 redesign is an actual redesign on a different platform is a pretty big deal. Expect it to still be dead durable, though. Pricing starts a little over $31,000.
If you’re in the market for an excellent all-around compact crossover, it really is hard to beat the new Honda CR-V. It pretty much does everything well and should last for several hundred thousand miles, too. Base models start at just under $30,000.
You can nit-pick the new Honda Accord and find a few flaws here and there, but much like the CR-V, the Accord really is a fantastic all-around choice. Higher-end trim levels also benefit from more fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains. Pricing starts just under $28,000.
Despite naysayers insisting that the Prius’s hybrid powertrain would eventually become a reliability nightmare, that hasn’t proven to be the case. Instead, Toyota has established the Prius as one of the most reliable cars you can buy. Even better, the latest redesign means the Prius is actually cool. Base models start at just under $28,000.
When it comes to finding a car that will most likely make it past the 200,000-mile mark, you really can’t beat the Toyota Camry. The powertrain isn’t the most refined, but it will keep running for a long, long time. A base Camry costs a little over $26,000, although, if you want the hybrid, be prepared to spend more like $30,000.
