Car Brands Known for 250K-Mile Longevity

Some cars are built to last and these brands prove it. With engines that stay strong well past 250,000 miles, these automakers have earned a reputation for durability, dependability, and long-term value. If you want a car that runs for years without breaking down, these are the names to trust.

Toyota

I mean, obviously. It’s almost boring to say it, but it’s true. A Toyota Camry or Corolla, especially with one of their non-turbo engines, is basically a cockroach—it will survive anything. They’re just so overbuilt and simple. You change the oil, you do the basic stuff, and it just… goes. Forever. You can get a new Corolla for, what, like twenty-two thousand dollars? And it’ll probably outlive your interest in it. It’s the default for a reason.

Honda

Right there with Toyota. Honda’s four-cylinder engines, in particular, are just legendary. The Civic, the Accord… they’re like precision instruments. They might need a little more love than a Toyota sometimes, you know, like maybe a sensor goes out, but the core engine and transmission? Solid. A new Civic starts around twenty-four thousand dollars, and it’s worth every penny for that long-term peace of mind.

Lexus

This is just Toyota wearing a nice suit. So all that reliability, but with way nicer seats and a quieter ride. The RX 350 is probably the king here. That V6 is so smooth and so, so durable. Yeah, if something breaks it’s more expensive to fix, but the stuff just doesn’t break as often. You’re looking at fifty thousand dollars to start, but you’re buying a decade-plus of quiet comfort.

Subaru

Okay, this one people might debate, but hear me out. The older ones had head gasket issues, but the newer ones? Especially the ones with the FA-series engines, they’re really solid. And the symmetrical AWD is just so good. A Subaru Outback or Forester, if you maintain it, will absolutely go the distance. They start around twenty-nine thousand dollars and they’re just such good all-arounders for any kind of weather or light adventure.

Ford (but only the trucks)

This is a big caveat. A Ford F-150 with the base V6 or the 5.0-liter Coyote V8? Yeah, that thing is a workhorse. It’s designed to be abused. The sedans and stuff… ehh, not so much. But the trucks are a different animal. They’re everywhere for a reason. A new one starts around thirty-five thousand dollars, but good luck finding one that cheap. They’re built to last.

Chevrolet (again, the trucks)

Same story as Ford. A Chevy Silverado with a V8 is a beast. The LS-based engines are fantastic. The cars… I’m less confident in. But the trucks? They’re simple, they’re tough, and parts are everywhere. Also starts around thirty-five thousand dollars. You see these things with a bazillion miles on them still hauling trailers.

Mazda

I feel like Mazda is the underdog here. They’re not as flashy as some, but their SkyActiv engines are really well-engineered and built to last. They’re like a slightly more fun-to-drive Toyota. A Mazda CX-5 is one of the best small SUVs you can buy, and it should easily see 250k with proper care. Starts around twenty-seven thousand dollars. Seriously underrated.

Toyota 4Runner

I have to give this one its own spot, separate from Toyota. This thing is a relic, and that’s why it’s amazing. It’s got an ancient V6, a five-speed automatic… it’s not efficient, but it’s so simple and overbuilt that there’s almost nothing to go wrong. It’s a dinosaur that will outlive us all. Starts around forty thousand dollars and the resale value is insane because everyone knows it’s immortal.

Honda Ridgeline

The weird, practical one. It’s a unibody truck, so it drives like a Pilot, but it’s got a truck bed. And it has Honda’s fantastic V6. It’s not for heavy towing, but for being a daily driver that can do truck stuff and last forever? It’s perfect. Starts around thirty-eight thousand dollars. It’s for the person who thinks, “I want a truck, but I also want to be comfortable and not have it break.”

GMC/Chevy Tahoe/Suburban

The big boys. These SUVs are built on truck frames with truck engines. They’re designed for fleet use, for police, for people who just pound on them. The 5.3-liter V8 is a workhorse. They’re expensive, starting around fifty-five thousand dollars, but if you need a massive, comfortable people-hauler that will last for ages, this is it.

Land Rover

Oh, Land Rover. They’re so beautiful, so capable, so luxurious. And so, so… finicky. The electronics, the air suspension, the complex engines… they’re just a lot. After 100,000 miles, it can feel like a part-time job keeping it happy. A new Defender starts around fifty-five thousand dollars, but the long-term cost of ownership is… high. Very high.

Jaguar

Same company, same story, really. Gorgeous cars, fantastic to drive… for a while. But the reliability just isn’t there for the long haul. They’re complex and things tend to wear out expensively. It’s a shame, because they’re so much fun. But for a quarter-million miles? I wouldn’t bet on it.

BMW

Okay, don’t hate me. A modern BMW is an engineering marvel. But it’s a marvel of complexity. Turbochargers, complex electronics, intricate cooling systems… when they’re new and under warranty, they’re amazing. But as they age, they require a lot of specialized knowledge and expensive parts to keep running perfectly. It’s not that they can’t hit 250k, it’s that it’s often a labor of love and money to get them there.

Fiat/Alfa Romeo

I mean… yeah. They’re filled with character and style, but they’re just not known for long-term durability. Electrical gremlins, weird mechanical issues… they’re the passionate, fling you have, not the long-term marriage. A new Alfa Romeo Stelvio starts around forty-six thousand dollars and is a blast to drive, but I wouldn’t plan on passing it down to my kids.