Depending on our individual needs and requirements, we all pick up different features, gadgets, and features while buying a new car. If you have a large family and live in a cold state, cargo space, passenger occupancy, and features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel may be a priority. However, if you live alone and like to hit canyon roads every weekend, a sleek two-seater with nimble handling and a powerful engine might be more suitable.
Whether we’re after a Miata or a Suburban, one feature we want to ensure when buying a new car is reliability and durability. Unfortunately, this is not always guaranteed. Some cars are notoriously unreliable and may even struggle to break the 100,000-mile barrier, which is pretty disappointing — especially when you consider that the average price of a new car has now climbed above $50,000.
But thankfully, we can use iSeeCars data to give ourselves a better chance of buying a car that can go a long way. The outlet examined data from 174 million vehicles to determine which brands were most likely to produce cars with more than 250,000 miles (excluding heavy-duty models). The vast majority of the best performers are Japanese automakers, which is why we decided to focus on the best Japanese brands in terms of durability. Interestingly, the top four brands in the iSeeCars study are all Japanese brands, and these four are the only brands (out of 32 brands) to have exceeded 250,000 miles. Without further ado, here are your top performers.
Read more: 10 Toyota models with extremely low resale value
toyota
2022 Toyota 200 Series Land Cruiser rear photo – Toyota
If you’re even remotely interested in cars (and you probably are if you’re here), it’s probably no surprise that iSeeCars considers Toyota to be not only the No. 1 Japanese brand, but the automaker in general most likely to produce a car with a range of over 250,000 miles. The brand is known for its reliability, and it doesn’t just appear out of thin air. Perhaps the best example of Toyota’s amazing durability is Vic Sheppard’s million-mile Tundra. Or, more accurately: Tundras, two of Toyota’s full-size pickup trucks that Vic drove past the elusive million-mile mark.
Last year, we looked at how easy it is to cross the half-million-mile threshold in a Toyota, and we concluded that as long as you stick to maintenance and don’t drive around like American rally driver Ken Block, many Toyota models should be up to the task. So we’re certainly not shocked to see iSeeCars putting brand first. Statistically, iSeeCars gives Toyota a 17.8% chance of reaching 250,000 miles. At this percentage, Toyota’s odds of crossing the 250,000-mile mark are 3.7 times greater than the industry average.
Lexus
Dynamic front photo of Lexus LS400 – Lexus
If you’re looking for some eye-opening revelations from this article, I’m sorry, but second place was just as predictable as first, and Lexus took that award. For those who don’t know, Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, and the brands share powertrains, transmissions, and no doubt engineering practices. iSeeCars also ranked Lexus as the most durable luxury brand, with the brand scoring higher than big American brands like Cadillac, Tesla and Lincoln.
As we saw with Vic Sheppard’s Tundra duo, there are famous examples of Lexus models breaking the mileage barrier, the most famous of which is probably Matt Farah’s Lexus LS 400. The 400 was the first generation of the legendary LS luxury sedan, arriving in the late 1980s as an attractive alternative to German industry stalwarts the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW. 7 series.
Matt Farah bought his $1,200 ’91 LS 400 for just $1,200, and while it looked a little beat up (don’t you think after 897,000 miles?), its 1UZ engine had never even been turned on. While Matt’s LS is a great example of what Lexus can achieve, it’s an anomaly. Still, the data provided by iSeeCars at least supports the fact that Lexus vehicles are a solid choice for those looking to hit 250,000 miles. The report states that Lexus vehicles have a 12.8% chance of reaching the above mileage, which is exactly four times that of the average luxury car.
Honda
Top view of 2026 Honda Accord SE – Honda
Next up is Honda, with iSeeCars taking third place in the overall rankings for the brand. According to the outlet, the Japanese automaker has a 10.8% chance of reaching 250,000 miles. The likelihood of a Honda vehicle reaching 250,000 miles is 10.8%, which is 2.3 times higher than the industry average (4.8%) for brands.
Not all Honda models are built the same, though, so to get the best chance of getting a lot of mileage without too many problems, you’ll want to choose one of the most reliable Hondas ever built. That includes models like the evergreen CR-V, which has multiple generations so you can spend little or a lot. Other options include the Fit, Accord and Odyssey, but for more performance-oriented drivers, it’s worth knowing that the sporty S2000 is also a proven entity.
Honda was one of the first Japanese automakers to establish a foothold in the United States when imported cars became popular, and the brand managed to build a reputation in the United States by continuing to produce high-quality, reliable, and durable models at affordable prices. Interestingly, the Accord was also the first Japanese car to be assembled in the United States, proving that Honda catered well to American consumers by providing a solid and dependable option for the masses.
Acura
2025 Acura ADX Rear Dynamic Photos – Acura
Just like Lexus is a swankier version of Toyota, Acura is a swankier Honda, so it makes sense that we’d see the brand follow suit in terms of durability. If you’re wondering why these two brands’ luxury cars rank lower than mainstream brands, it’s likely because luxury cars are more complex, with extra features and capabilities. That’s all well and good, but as the car ages and reaches high mileage, these once-desirable amenities and extras can lead to higher running and repair costs. As a result, cars often reach a point where repairing them becomes uneconomical, while cheaper and simpler versions may keep running for a while.
Regardless, iSeeCars finished fourth and second for luxury brands. Acure’s odometer shows a 7.2% chance of reaching 250,000 miles, 1.5 times higher than the industry average. There are a number of very reliable Acura models to choose from, with particular noteworthy ones being the NSX supercar, MDX hybrid SUV and the more compact ILX sedan. Not only do they all promise durability, but they also offer plenty of creature comforts. Typically, Acura models come standard with good equipment, including a great sound system, comfortable leather seats, and clever exterior touches like chrome detailing and large alloy wheels.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.
