These 11 Japanese Car Brands Are Built to Go 250,000+ Miles

According to iSeeCars’ longevity analysis, several Japanese automakers especially Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Acura — dominate when it comes to vehicles most likely to hit 250,000 miles on the odometer. These brands consistently rank well above the industry average for long-term durability.

Toyota

I swear Toyotas are like cockroaches in the best possible way. they just don’t die. you change the oil, pat it on the hood, and boom you’ve got another decade out of it. I had a buddy with a Camry that hit 260k miles and the thing still had colder AC than my new car. not flashy, not loud, just doing its thing. kinda like an old uncle who quietly pays all his bills on time. if you’ve got, I dunno, thirty grand lying around, you know what you’re getting. boring, but in a weirdly comforting way. smells like coffee stains and old air fresheners.

Honda

honestly, Hondas have this gym teacher energy. durable, doesn’t quit, always a little too excited about “reliability.” my old Civic started every morning even when I didn’t wanna exist. the thing had 220k miles and still thought it was invincible. it squeaked, it rattled, but it felt alive. about $25k gets you one now and you’ll probably hand it down to whoever borrows your hoodie and never gives it back. I miss mine sometimes.

Subaru

Subaru people are weirdly loyal, like cult-level. maybe it’s the boxer engine or the smell of wet dog and campfire smoke always stuck in the seats. my friend’s Outback hit 250k before the muffler finally gave up during a snowstorm. it just sputtered like, “yeah, I’m done, man.” if you’ve got about $35k, you can get one that’ll survive winter, summer, heartbreak, whatever. sometimes they leak oil… but honestly, same.

Mazda

Mazdas are like that quiet overachiever in class who doesn’t brag but secretly gets straight A’s. everyone sleeps on them. a Mazda3 with proper love will hit 250, easy. I drove one once and it had that weird sweet mechanical smell like hot metal and happiness. still stylish too, like it aged well without trying. you could pick one up around $27k, maybe less if you haggle and the salesman’s tired. good cars, just a bit emotional somehow. yeah, cars can be emotional, don’t fight me on that.

Nissan

okay, so Nissan’s kinda a mixed bag. half the time it’s great, half the time it’s like “what happened to quality control?” but somehow, the old Altimas and Maximas—man, they just keep ticking. heard of one pushing 300k and still commuting daily. mine always made this weird humming sound at idle but ran fine. cost around $30k and smells like old french fries. still, respect where it’s due. they last.

Lexus

if Toyota wore a fancy watch, it’d be Lexus. smooth, quiet, reliable as clockwork but with nice seat stitching. I kinda love how they just whisper reliability without flexing. my neighbor’s old RX had 270k miles, she didn’t even realize that was weird. “just oil changes,” she said, like it was totally normal. yeah sure, lady, you basically own a time capsule. around $45k new, still feels like you’re rich even if your Spotify’s on the free plan.

Acura

Acura’s like Honda’s cousin who took a few business courses but still eats ramen. reliable but wants you to know it. those old TLs, man, silky engines. I rode in one through half the country once and never felt tired. transmission kinda whined but in a comforting way. if you’ve got around $40k, it’ll outlive at least two career changes. also, the steering wheel leather ages perfectly—it’s weird but true.

Mitsubishi

oh boy. Mitsubishi is like that kid in class who peaked early. but credit where it’s due, some of those old Outlanders and Lancers run forever. you just gotta ignore the plasticky bits falling off here and there. saw one at 250k once, the owner swore it had original brakes, which… uh, concerning, but impressive. probably around $25k if you find a new one surviving the brand’s midlife crisis. not great, not awful. just there. dependable-ish.

Infiniti

kinda forgot Infiniti existed until someone mentioned it the other day. but man, those early G-series sedans with the VQ engines… beasts. I heard one screaming down the street last week, sounded healthy, like it’s still got something to prove. people underestimate how long these run. for $45-50k, you can get something quick, comfy, predictable. ugly infotainment though, like, did they give up halfway?

Suzuki

rare now, but back in the day, dude, those little Suzukis were tanks. the Grand Vitara, the SX4… you could throw them off a cliff and they’d probably ask for gas money. maybe that’s an exaggeration, but they were simple. like wrenches-and-bolts simple. I saw one at 240k and it looked more alive than my neighbor’s BMW. probably cost $20k new back then, tops. miss that era of cheap, honest machines.

Toyota Land Cruiser

saving this one for last because, man, these things are mythic. if the apocalypse happens, you’re either in a Land Cruiser or you’re walking. they hit 250k miles and treat it like a warm-up lap. I sat in one once that smelled like dust and confidence. around $85k now and worth every penny if you plan to live forever. not fast, not flashy, but eternal. feels like it could haul the planet if it had to.