Reliability is one of the most important aspects to picking out a car. You’ll want a car that'll last and, according to research conducted by iSeeCars.com, Toyota dominates in long-term reliability with many owners keeping their vehicle for over 15 years.
iSeeCars Study
iSeeCars.com gathered information by analyzing 650,000 cars from the 1981 to 2002 model years sold in 2017. Toyota, which has a reputation for building reliable vehicles, claimed nine of the top 15 cars that owners keep for 15 years or more. Of the 15 models, 14 belong to Japanese brands.
"Japanese automakers are known for setting quality and reliability standards, so it is no surprise that they are most likely to reach the 15-year milestone," said Phong Ly, CEO of iSeeCars.com.
Traditionally, cars are expected to last for around a decade or so. However, in recent years, the quality of cars has improved and raised the average life expectancy of vehicles, as the cars from this study prove.
The Top Five Vehicles
Here are the top five vehicles owners kept for at least 15 years according to the iSeeCars study, with a look at average prices for recent model years.
- Toyota Highlander (2015 model pictured)
2015 Average Model Price: $29,078
2016 Average Model Price: $32,308
2017 Average Model Price: $32,463
Percent of Original Owners Keeping Car for 15+ Years: 18.3%
Compared to Average: 2.7 times higher
- Toyota Sienna (2015 model pictured)
2015 Average Model Price: $23,879
2016 Average Model Price: $24,293
2017 Average Model Price: $27,184
Percent of Original Owners Keeping Car for 15+ Years: 17.1%
Compared to Average: 2.5 times higher
- Toyota Tundra (2015 model pictured)
2015 Average Model Price: $31,066
2016 Average Model Price: $34,080
2017 Average Model Price: $36,586
Percent of Original Owners Keeping Car for 15+ Years: 15.7%
Compared to Average: 2.3 times higher
- Toyota Prius (2017 Prius Prime pictured)
2015 Average Model Price: $16,314
2016 Average Model Price: $21,155
2017 Average Model Price: $22,758
Percent of Original Owners Keeping Car for 15+ Years: 15.0%
Compared to Average: 2.2 times higher
- Toyota RAV4 (2016 model pictured)
2015 Average Model Price: $19,585
2016 Average Model Price: $20,129
2017 Average Model Price: $23,387
Percent of Original Owners Keeping Car for 15+ Years: 14.3%
Compared to Average: 2.1 times higher
Bottom Line
Toyota models continue to set the standard for long-term reliability. Purchasing a used Toyota could be a great option if you’re looking for a long-lasting, reliable car. But, if you have bad credit, you may find it difficult to get financed for a more recent used model.
At Auto Credit Express, we connect people to dealers who have the lenders available to help borrowers in many types of credit situations. Get started today by filling out our auto loan request form. It’s free, and there's no obligation to buy anything.