Why Do Toyota Cars Last so Long?
If you are considering a new Toyota car, truck, or SUV, there is plenty to like about these vehicles. Why do Toyota cars last longer than other brands? Toyota has found the right recipe for quality design and durability while keeping costs low. Sport utility vehicles have the best track record, but trucks and sedans are in a close second.
How long do Toyota cars last?
The good news is that Toyota cars are built to last for a long time. A recent iSeeCars study looked at vehicles sold for at least 10 of the last 20 years and found a lot of Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs. Toyota’s three-row SUVs led the way with four options in the top 20, followed by trucks, sedans, and hybrids.
| Rank | Make and Model | Potential Lifespan |
| 1 | Toyota Sequoia | 296,509 |
| 2 | Toyota Land Cruiser | 280,236 |
| 4 | Toyota Tundra | 256,022 |
| 6 | Toyota Prius | 250,601 |
| 9 | Toyota Avalon | 245,710 |
| 10 | Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 244,994 |
| 12 | Toyota 4Runner | 244,665 |
| 13 | Toyota Sienna | 239,607 |
| 17 | Toyota Tacoma | 235,070 |
| 20 | Toyota Camry Hybrid | 230,547 |
That means that the Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs above have the potential to last 230,000 miles or more. “What we see is a list of highly-durable vehicles, capable of more than a quarter-million miles of use if properly maintained,” iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer says. Toyota cars last so long because the automaker creates durable vehicles made of high-quality materials. Regular maintenance is critical to ensuring that any car lasts a long time.
Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs last a time long by design.
The experts at RepairPal also looked at why Toyota cars last so long. RepairPal gave the brand four stars for reliability, which the group says is still above average. However, it found that the average cost for a Toyota repair is only $441, lower than most automakers. Toyota also has a lower frequency of visits to a repair show, coming in at .34 compared to .4 across all brands. However, Toyota clearly has a high-quality engineering and production process that makes a better vehicle.
While Toyota has plenty of options in its lineup, SUVs are the clear winner. SUVs like the Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and 4Runner are made to last longer and run in unfavorable conditions. In some areas, Toyota Land Cruisers are used for humanitarian efforts in places other vehicles cannot go.
The original Toyota BJ was the first vehicle to climb past the sixth checkpoint of Mount Fuji. Toyota announced in 2021 that the World Health Organization (WHO) used a refrigerated 70-Series Land Cruiser to help deliver and distribute vaccines. More than 10.4 million Land Cruiser SUVs have driven through over 170 countries.
Don’t overlook the routine maintenance.
Every vehicle comes with an owner’s manual that outlines the best maintenance schedule for each vehicle. Modern cars require fewer oil changes and maintenance than older vehicles, but it varies from car to car. Injector service, coolant flushes, and brake pad inspections can also help keep your Toyota in good shape.
This maintenance should be covered for the initial year or two if you buy a new Toyota. A warranty can also help cover any issues that pop up for the first few years; the standard is three years or 36,000 miles for the basic and five years, 60,000 miles for the powertrain.
Either way, Toyota cars last so long because the manufacturing process is thorough and high quality, which produces a better result. Keeping up with maintenance is the other part of the agreement. Consumer Reports has tips on finding a high-quality repair shop, which can also be helpful in having a high-mileage vehicle.
