A new iSeeCars longevity study has examined how likely vehicles from different brands are to reach 250,000 miles or more, offering a look at which automakers have vehicles that are more likely to stay on the road for exceptionally high mileage.
The study analyzed data from more than 395 million vehicles to estimate the probability of vehicles reaching different mileage thresholds.
250,000-Mile Longevity Study
iSeeCars built a proprietary model using average odometer readings at different vehicle ages. The model was used to estimate the probability of vehicles reaching specific mileage thresholds.
The probability of reaching 250,000 miles was calculated for specific models and generations and then averaged across each brand’s overall lineup.
Heavy-duty vans and models without sufficient data were excluded from the study.
Across the industry, the average vehicle has a 5.4% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
That makes 250,000 miles an unusually high mileage threshold for any vehicle and provides a way to compare how frequently vehicles from different brands reach that point.
Honda and Hyundai Show a Large Brand-Level Difference
Honda ranked third among 33 brands in the study.
Honda vehicles had a 13.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles or more.
Only Toyota, at 19.7%, and Lexus, at 14.4%, ranked above Honda.
Acura ranked fourth with a 9.5% probability.
Hyundai, meanwhile, ranked 23rd among the 33 brands, with Hyundai vehicles having a 0.8% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The difference between Honda and Hyundai was therefore substantial. Honda’s 13.3% probability was considerably higher than Hyundai’s 0.8%.
Most of the brands ranked below Hyundai in the study were luxury automakers.
Brand Ranking — Top 10
The top 10 brands in the study were:
| Rank | Brand | Chance of Reaching 250,000+ Miles | Compared With Industry Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota | 19.7% | 3.7x |
| 2 | Lexus | 14.4% | 2.7x |
| 3 | Honda | 13.3% | 2.5x |
| 4 | Acura | 9.5% | 1.8x |
| 5 | GMC | 5.8% | 1.1x |
| 6 | Mazda | 5.3% | 1.0x |
| 7 | Lincoln | 4.7% | 0.9x |
| 8 | Ram | 4.2% | 0.8x |
| 9 | Ford | 4.1% | 0.8x |
| 10 | Cadillac | 3.9% | 0.7x |
iSeeCars Analyst’s Statement
iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said that reaching 250,000 miles represents a very high mileage threshold for any vehicle.
He said the top four brands — Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura — are well ahead of the industry average when it comes to the likelihood of reaching that threshold.
Specific Models With a Chance of Reaching 250,000 Miles
At the individual model level, the Toyota Sequoia ranked first, with a 42.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The Lexus LS followed at 38.8%, while the Toyota 4Runner had a 33.1% probability.
Toyota accounted for six of the top 10 models, while Lexus had three.
The Honda Accord Hybrid was the only non-Toyota model in the top 10, with an 18.5% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The Honda HR-V ranked 11th at 17.6%.
The Honda Civic ranked 15th at 15.0%, followed by the Honda Pilot at 14.3% in 16th place.
The Honda Ridgeline ranked 17th at 13.7%, while the Honda Civic Hatchback ranked 18th at 13.2%.
The Acura MDX ranked 19th at 13.1%.
Top 20 Models
| Rank | Model | Chance of Reaching 250,000 Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Sequoia | 42.3% |
| 2 | Lexus LS | 38.8% |
| 3 | Toyota 4Runner | 33.1% |
| 4 | Lexus RX Hybrid | 28.9% |
| 5 | Toyota Tundra | 28.2% |
| 6 | Toyota Tacoma | 25.0% |
| 7 | Lexus GX | 23.3% |
| 8 | Toyota Avalon | 20.7% |
| 9 | Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 20.7% |
| 10 | Honda Accord Hybrid | 18.5% |
| 11 | Honda HR-V | 17.6% |
| 12 | Lexus IS | 17.5% |
| 13 | Toyota Avalon Hybrid | 17.4% |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | 17.3% |
| 15 | Honda Civic | 15.0% |
| 16 | Honda Pilot | 14.3% |
| 17 | Honda Ridgeline | 13.7% |
| 18 | Honda Civic Hatchback | 13.2% |
| 19 | Acura MDX | 13.1% |
| 20 | Lexus RX | 12.8% |
Non-Asian and American Models
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class was the first non-Asian model in the overall model ranking, with a 17.3% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The first American model was the Chevrolet Suburban, which ranked 24th with an 11.6% probability.
iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer pointed to the durability-focused approach of Toyota and Honda and also connected the design characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Chevrolet Suburban with their high-mileage performance.
The model data also showed that both the Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry Hybrid had an 11.5% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The Honda Odyssey had a 10.7% probability.
All three figures were roughly twice the 5.4% industry average.
Heavy-Duty Trucks
When heavy-duty trucks were considered separately, American models showed strong performance.
The Ram 3500 ranked first among the trucks, with a 31.9% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
The GMC Sierra 3500 HD followed at 26.2%, while the GMC Sierra 2500 HD had a 17.2% probability.
The Ford F-350 had a 15.1% chance, followed by the Ford F-450 at 14.9%.
The Ram 2500 had a 14.3% probability, while the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD had a 14.1% chance.
The Ford F-250 followed at 13.4%.
The Silverado 3500HD also exceeded the 11.1% overall truck average.
The Difference Between Longevity and Reliability
The 250,000-mile longevity study does not necessarily mean that a brand has lower maintenance requirements or that it is the most reliable overall.
Autoblog, for example, pointed to Ram, which ranked eighth in the longevity study but was near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability study.
In the same Consumer Reports study, Honda ranked fourth and Hyundai ranked 12th.
That distinction is important because the likelihood of lasting a long time and reliability are not the same measurement.
A vehicle may have a strong chance of reaching very high mileage while still requiring more repairs or maintenance along the way.
Potential Differences Between Honda and Hyundai
Autoblog cited Honda’s greater use of more mature naturally aspirated engines as one possible reason for its stronger showing.
Hyundai’s lineup has a larger share of turbocharged and direct-injection hybrid powertrains.
According to the article, those systems can be more complex, and carbon buildup can become a concern after 100,000 miles.
Hyundai’s older Theta II engines have also been associated with serious engine problems, including oil starvation and seized bearings.
Modern Hondas also use advanced technology, but Hyundai has moved more quickly to adopt newer infotainment, driver-assistance and powertrain technologies.
RepairPal data cited in the article puts Honda’s average maintenance cost at $428, compared with $468 for Hyundai.
Hyundai’s recent initial vehicle quality was rated above Honda’s in a 2026 J.D. Power study.
According to Autoblog’s analysis, however, the difference becomes more noticeable as vehicles get older and move beyond their warranty periods.
Warranty and Older Vehicle Context
Hyundai and related Kia vehicles are known for their 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is highlighted as a major warranty feature.
Autoblog had previously reported in an investigation that some components could fail after the warranty period.
The article also points to examples of older Honda vehicles continuing to run beyond 200,000 miles.
For someone considering an older Honda or Hyundai without a warranty, Autoblog says it would prefer Honda; this is an editorial recommendation from the article, not a conclusion of the longevity study.
For an older Hyundai, the article recommends looking at the vehicle’s comprehensive service history and checking for known engine issues associated with the specific model.
