Chevy Models Most Likely to Reach 250,000 Miles

Think vehicles used to be built better in the past? That they aren’t built like they used to be, and what they used to do was better? Then consider that vehicle odometers used to only go up to 99,999 miles, and that when one transitioned from 99,999 to 00,000, it was cause for celebration. Even before we all had smartphones in our pockets, drivers would see the moment coming and take pictures or even videos of the odometer “turning over.” 

Today, a vehicle reaching 100,000 miles is no longer the event it used to be, and data analyst iSeeCars.com has now identified 250,000 miles as the new milestone for longevity. They analyzed mileage data from over 402 million vehicles to determine which ones are most likely to continue running beyond 250,000 miles. McFarland Chevrolet publishes this blog not only for new vehicle shoppers who value durability, but also for used buyers curious about how much life a vehicle might still have.   

Out of the 25 models most likely to reach the 250K mark, 17 were trucks and SUVs, with truck-based body-on-frame models appearing disproportionately among them.   

There is little doubt that Toyota performs well in this analysis. The top-ranking vehicle, the one most likely to reach 250,000 miles, is the Toyota Sequoia, the full-size three-row SUV based on the Tundra’s body-on-frame platform, with 39.1% expected to reach the 250K mark, compared to an industry-wide average of 4.8%. Because the current generation of Sequoia was introduced in 2023, with few expected to have already reached 250K miles, the previous design likely contributed to the higher numbers. 

The next three highest-ranking models are also Toyotas, and two of them, like the Sequoia, are also body-on-frame models. They include: 

• Toyota 4Runner (32.9%) 

• Toyota Highlander Hybrid (31.0%) 

• Toyota Tundra (30.0%) 

Next is the Lexus IS Sport sedan at 27.5%, followed by two more Toyotas, the Tacoma (25.3%) and Avalon (18.9%). These are then followed by two more Lexus models, the GX SUV (18.3%) and RX hybrid crossover (17.0%). Thus, nine of the top ten models most likely to reach 250K miles are made by Toyota or its Lexus luxury division.   

Next are three Honda models all built on the same large unibody platform, starting with the Ridgeline midsize pickup (14.7%), followed by the closely related Pilot crossover (13.1%) and the Odyssey minivan (13.0%). 

In 13th place is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 12.9%, followed by a couple of more Toyotas (Highlander at 12.7% and Prius at 12.2%), then the Chevrolet Suburban (11.8%), which shares its mechanicals with the Silverado. The GMC Sierra 1500, the counterpart to the Silverado, is two models later at 10.8%, just behind the Honda Civic at 10.9%. Toyota, Honda, and their luxury divisions, Lexus and Acura, make up the rest of the top 25, with one exception: the now-discontinued Nissan Titan full-size pickup, at 9.9%. 

Obviously, durability is built into these models, but two other factors may also come into play. These models may be more suited to long highway trips, which quickly accumulate miles but are generally easier on a vehicle than stop-and-go driving and frequent gear and speed changes in city traffic. iSeeCars did not address this, and there’s probably no specific metric to verify it. Another factor might be that owners are most interested in maintaining these models because they perform so well that repairs on older vehicles still seem worthwhile.  

If you’re browsing McFarland Chevrolet’s large used inventory, it’s worth keeping these models in mind, especially if some have high mileage. It could be that they are just beginning their lifespan.