How Long do Cars Last?
How Long do Cars Last?
When you buy a car, likely one of the first thoughts, other than will this impress my date, how fast can it go, can it fit everything for the trip, and many other scenarios, is…
…how long will it last? 🤔
Well, what is the average lifespan of a car? That’s what our analysis seeks to answer. We want to know the best and worst car lifespans by make and model, because that impacts your decision at a dealer, or an auction like Express Auto Auction.
The Average Lifespan of a Car
Carecareportal praises Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Scion, and Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports calls out Toyota and Lexus by name.
The Bureau of Transportation says that the average car lasts roughly 12 years or 200,000 miles. That’s actually 16,666 miles per year, a little above the average. It’s generally applied that, in America, we drive our cars between 10-15,000 miles annually.
It depends on how much commuting or adventuring you do. 🛣️
More about good mileage for a used car here.
But, sadly, many cars simply DO NOT reach 200,000 miles. And we don’t mean because of accidents, bad weather, or aliens. 😞
Simply stated, some cars are built to last longer than others. Any bidder needs to know this because while it’s a fact you’ll save money at Express Auto Auction, you don’t want to “save” on something unreliable. You want to know which cars are truly worth buying with the intent to drive. If you’re bidding for parts or other restoration projects, then it’s a different story.
How to Read Car Longevity Data 💽
This is important!
If a car shows up on the auction lot with a lot of miles and sells, you can be sure that owners got a lot of value out of the car, and that buyers thought the car’s lifespan wasn’t over!
Carmakers with the Longest Lifespans 🚗
Mechanics, testers, and everyday drivers will agree that along with how you drive and how you maintain, one of the most impactful factors on a car’s lifespan is WHO MADE IT.
Express Auto Auction sold over 5,000 cars in 2023. We took that data and averaged out the mileage of sold cars for some of the biggest car brands to calculate the average mileage and therefore deduce the average lifespan.
Acura
Average mileage of car when sold: 196,206
Max mileage sold: 1990 Legend with 360,558 miles.
This data is based on 96 cars with an average year of 2002. Acura comes from Honda, so we’re not surprised that the average mileage is near 200,000. Acura is a solid brand, and we’ve sold lots of them at Express Auto. A third of those sold were over 200,000 miles when sold. At 196,000 miles average and driving around 12,000 miles per year, that’s about 16 years of life, and with dozens pushing 250,000, an Acura’s lifespan can commonly be 20 years.
Audi
Average mileage when sold: 146,840
Max mileage sold: A 2003 A4 Avant with 231,151 miles.
This data is based on 49 cars with an average year of 2006. Audi is an expensive car to repair and usually won’t last as long as the reliability heavy hitters on this list.
BMW
Average mileage when sold: 176,718
Max mileage sold: A 1999 5 Series with 573,595 miles.
This data is based on 198 cars with an average year of 2002. BMW is also expensive to maintain, but you can expect a good lifespan out of the 3 and 5-Series especially.
Learn more about the telling a reliable car from an unreliable one here.
Buick
Average mileage when sold: 133,689
Max mileage sold: A 2002 Rendezvous with 284,600 miles.
This data is based on 66 cars with an average year of 1999.
Cadillac
Average mileage when sold: 120,692
Max mileage sold: A 2001 Deville with 261,919 miles.
This data is based on 58 cars with an average year of 1997. Most of our stock is donated, and finding a high quality used car is tough these days. While you will get a great deal on a Cadillac at Express Auto Auction, Cadillacs do not rank high in terms of lifespan. So just know that if you really want a Cadillac, it may only have a few years left on it by the time it reaches the lot.
Chevrolet
Average mileage when sold: 175,664
Max mileage sold: A 1989 Cavalier with 630,297 miles.
This data is based on 301 cars with an average year of 2001. Chevrolet is a popular choice and the lifespan is not bad. More than 10 Chevy’s hit 300,000 miles and over 70 hit 200,000. So, a Chevy is built with a lifespan well over 200,000 miles and likely over 20 years of sustained use.
Chrysler
Average mileage when sold: 146,208
Max mileage sold: A 2008 Pacifica with 422,248 miles.
This data is based on 143 cars with an average year of 2004. We’ve seen a few Chryslers hit 200,000 miles and more, but the average mileage you see is fairly representative of a Chrysler’s lifespan. Expect to hit the lifespan between 150,000 and 200,000 miles.
Dodge
Average mileage when sold: 166,974
Max mileage sold: A Dodge Dakota with 487,406 miles.
This data is based on 154 cars with an average year of 2002. We sold over 30 with over 200,000 miles and more than half had over 150,000 miles, indicating an average lifespan just shy of that 200k mark. Specific models that pushed high mileage consistently were the Grand Caravan, Ram 1500, Durango, and Dakota.
Ford
Average mileage when sold: 169,543
Max mileage sold: A 2012 Escape with 1,750,205 miles.
This data is based on 508 cars with an average year of 2001. Ford is one of the most popular brands out there. There are a variety of cars and over 120 that were past 200,000 when we sold them. Ford trucks, specifically, are known for longevity, as you see here. Bet on hitting 200,000 miles with a well-cared for Ford.
GMC
Average mileage when sold: 202,613
Max mileage sold: A Sierra 3500 with 363,847 miles.
This data is based on 53 cars with an average year of 2001. Sierra 1500 and 3500’s as well as Yukon’s pushed this average up. Those GMC trucks are built to last so if you’re looking for a truck, consider one of them.
Honda
Average mileage when sold: 200,910
Max mileage sold: A 1983 Civic with 602,355 miles.
This data is based on 612 cars with an average year of 2002. Honda’s are everywhere, aren’t they? And for good reason. Over 250 of the Honda’s we sold had over 200,000 miles logged. Over 130 had more than 240,000 on the odometer! Basically… yeah. At 200k, your Honda, if maintained right, has a long way to go.
Hyundai
Average mileage when sold: 151,580
Max mileage sold: A 2007 Santa Fe with 350,752 miles.
This data is based on 120 cars with an average year of 2007. While some Hyundai’s reach 200k and beyond, most don’t. Only 24 of the ones sold had over 200k. Hyundai’s will get you to 150,000, 175,000, and there’s a good chance you’ll hit 200,000, but the lifespan, usually, is closer to 150k than 200k.
Now is a good point to remember that just because the odometer is high DOES NOT mean the car is worthless to you. High mileage cars are closer to their life’s end, it’s true, but they ARE NOT DEAD YET.
Always inspect the car with a checklist and a mechanic and consider that the huge amount you save at auction, plus tuning the car can very much be worth a couple of years of reliability.
Infiniti
Average mileage when sold: 171,730
Max mileage sold: A 2001 G20 with 321,699 miles.
This data is based on 63 cars with an average year of 2002. With a few exceptions, Infiniti’s are not known for hitting high miles. When you’re browsing our inventory, and see an Infiniti pushing 200k, its lifespan is likely almost done. If you’re looking to put plenty more miles on an Infiniti, look for ones between 100-140,000 miles. They have a lot of life still in them!
Jaguar
Average mileage when sold: 131,310
Max mileage sold: A 2002 X-type with 307,261 miles.
This data is based on 38 cars with an average year of 2000. Jaguar is another luxury car that doesn’t often see past 150,000 miles, let alone 200,000.
Jeep
Average mileage when sold: 177,176
Max mileage sold: A 1996 Grand Cherokee with 303,389 miles.
This data is based on 87 cars with an average year of 2001. Grand Cherokee’s are typically the Jeeps to make it past 200k. While Jeeps can be difficult to maintain, they are fun. Look for one closer to 100,000 miles when you browse the Express auction inventory, and you’ll get another 70-100k miles out of it.
Kia
Average mileage when sold: 155,866
Max mileage sold: A 2010 Optima with 298,022 miles.
This data is based on 60 cars with an average year of 2007. One in six of Kia’s we sold had over 200,000 miles. Kia’s don’t have the longevity of Honda’s, Toyota’s, Chevrolet’s, and Ford or GMC trucks, but you can trust your maintained Kia to get you to 175,000. It’s a bit up in the air after that.
Lexus
Average mileage when sold: 181,140
Max mileage sold: A 1999 ES 300 with 549,290 miles.
This data is based on 118 cars with an average year of 2002. Over 40 cars Express sold had over 200,000 miles. Lexus is from Toyota, so reliability runs in the blood. You can trust a maintained Lexus to definitely hit 200k and there’s a decent chance it’ll still have few years left in it.
Lincoln
Average mileage when sold: 151,943
Max mileage sold: Town car 341,767
This data is based on 39 cars with an average year of 1998. Lincoln’s don’t rank on the lists of longest lasting car brands, but a maintained one can take you to 150,000 miles, and we’ve sold a handful with over 200,000 miles.
Mazda
Average mileage when sold: 163,031
Max mileage sold: A 2001 MPV with 305,134 miles.
This data is based on 136 cars with an average year of 2003. Only a quarter were sold with over 200,000, and many Mazda’s are easily reaching 125,000 miles but it takes maintenance and particular models like the Mazda3, Mazda6, and MPV to reach 150,000 miles and beyond. Look for lower mileage Mazda’s.
Mercedes-Benz
Average mileage when sold: 174,982
Max mileage sold: A 1984 300-Class with 344,040 miles.
This data is based on 225 cars with an average year of 1999. Perhaps surprising to some since Mercedes doesn’t lack complaints, but over 60 cars sold boasted 200,000 miles or more. Another 80 had between 140-200,000 miles. We think a well-loved Mercedes, especially C and E-Class, will last you 15 years and over 170,000 miles.
Mercury
Average mileage when sold: 141,592
Max mileage sold: A 2001 Sable with 271,794 miles.
This data is based on 48 cars with an average year of 2000. Trust your Mercury to take you over 120,000 miles but realize that maintenance will accelerate quickly when you go beyond, especially after 150,000.
Mini
Average mileage when sold: 149,156
Max mileage sold: A 2014 Cooper with 313,397 miles.
This data is based on 41 cars with an average year of 2006. Almost of all the cars sold were Cooper’s. Expect a fair lifespan.
Mitsubishi
Average mileage when sold: 180,809
Max mileage sold: A 2001 Montero Sport with 334,172 miles.
This data is based on 50 cars with an average year of 2002. Mitsubishi makes some good cars, and you can trust certain models, like the Montero Sport, to get you close to 200,000 miles and even beyond without major problems.
Here’s what you need to know about the Mitsubishi Outlander.
Nissan
Average mileage when sold: 179,435
Max mileage sold: A 1992 Sentra with 455,445 miles.
This data is based on 314 cars with an average year of 2004. Nissan has a reputation of just going and going, especially models like the Altima, Sentra, and Maxima. A third of these vehicles were sold with over 200k miles. If you find a Nissan at Express Auto not in need of major repairs, then you’re looking at a workhorse of a car that will take you to 250,000 miles.
Here we profile the Nissan 300zx.
Pontiac
Average mileage when sold: 164,012
Max mileage sold: A 1997 Grand Prix with 287,070 miles.
This data is based on 47 cars with an average year of 2001. Another fair entry into the lifespan contest. Pontiac won’t usually help you hit 200,000 miles but it comes close.
Saturn
Average mileage when sold: 155,443
Max mileage sold: A 2006 Vue with 337,086 miles.
This data is based on 71 cars with an average year of 2003. Only 14 had over 200k