Curious about which cars are kept the longest by their original owners? You are in the right place because we have assembled a list of the top ten vehicles, from hybrid liftbacks to brawny V8 trucks, that owners keep for 15 years or longer. It should come as no surprise that the entirety of our list is composed of Japanese vehicles.
Even among elite competition, one brand makes its dominance above all others clear: Toyota. Seven out of ten of our featured models are Toyotas, with Honda coming in second, claiming two spots, and Subaru in third with one spot. Want to know which models made the cut? Join us as we dissect the ten low-stress cars owners keep longer than expected.
The models in this list have been extensively researched to ensure the most accurate information possible as of the time of publishing. Models are listed in ascending order by how long they were owned, on average, by the original owners. Data has been gathered from an iSeeCars.com study that analyzed over 660,000 cars from 1981 to 2005 model years that were sold in 2020.
Toyota Sequoia
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 9.1-Percent
One of the most durable SUVs ever made is the Toyota Sequoia. During the first (2001-2007) and second (2008-2022) generations, the Toyota Sequoia was powered by some of Toyota’s most reliable V-8 engines.
Toyota Sequoia Reliability
Whether you opt for the 4.7-liter 2UZ, the 4.6-liter 1UR, or the 5.7-liter 3UR, these Toyota V-8 engines powering the Toyota Sequoia have proven to be near-bulletproof. Decades of data have verified these V-8 engines’ overall durability, with the Toyota Sequoia being one of the vehicles most likely to make it to 250,000 miles or more.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $642 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,821 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 11 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2005
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Toyota 4Runner
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 9.4-Percent
The Toyota 4Runner is something of a cult classic SUV, and it’s evident that its appeal doesn’t fade quickly. Even after many years of service, original owners keep these versatile SUVs around because the engines found in pre-2005 models were some of the most reliable platforms of the era.
Toyota 4Runner Reliability
The fourth-generation 4Runner (2003-2009) introduced the 4.0-liter 1GR-FE V-6 engine that would go on to power the Toyota 4Runner for the next 21 years. This generation also featured the first and only application of a V-8 engine in the 4Runner chassis, the 4.7-liter 2UZ that was shared with the Toyota Sequoia.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $514 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,322 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 5 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2010
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Subaru Forester
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 9.8-Percent
In the days before crossover SUVs existed, there was the Subaru Forester. The Forester was a pioneer among SUV-like cars, and that appeal still hasn’t faded. The first and second generation Subaru Forester offered spaciousness, safety, and affordability with standard AWD and decent fuel economy.
Subaru Forester Reliability
As far as being a flexible and practical do-it-all vehicle built for any condition, the Subaru Forester makes its argument clear. The infamous EJ flat-four engine powering the Forester was riddled with major issues, but this was not enough to make it irrelevant. Cheap parts and a plentiful supply of replacement engines have kept these crossover SUVs alive longer than most of their counterparts.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $632 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $8,610 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 1 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2009–2010
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Why Subaru’s Boxer Engine Is Still The Best-Kept Secret In Performance
Subaru engineered things to be flat, low, smooth, and balanced– a good formula for performance.
Honda Pilot
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 10.4-Percent
Since its debut in 2002, the Honda Pilot has been one of the go-to three-row SUVs on the market. This spacious SUV offers comfort and convenience for the whole family, seating up to eight passengers.
Honda Pilot Reliability
From 2002 until the present model, the Honda Pilot has been exclusively powered by the brand’s iconic J35 V-6 engine. Though this V-6 engine has its quirks and only offers mediocre fuel economy, its relative affordability has kept it relevant for decades. As far as low-cost family vehicles, the Honda Pilot offers some of the best safety and reliability of any three-row SUV.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $542 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,880 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 15 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2003–2005
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Honda CR-V
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 10.7-Percent
The Honda CR-V has become the very backbone of the Japanese brand as its bestseller in recent years. However, since the second-generation (2002-2006), the Honda CR-V has defined itself as the go-to affordable compact SUV.
Honda CR-V Reliability
Much of the earlier-generation Honda CR-V’s continued appeal is because of the K-Series inline-four engine at its helm, one of the most durable and versatile economy engines ever produced. This stellar workhorse engine, combined with the CR-V’s spaciousness, makes it clear why original owners refuse to let go even after a decade or more of service.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $428 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,636 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 14 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2002–2010 (more than 10 annual recalls each)
Toyota Tundra
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 11.3-Percent
The Toyota Tundra is one of the most well-known trucks that people keep in their possession for the longest. When the first generation (2000-2006) was introduced in the 2000 model year, it defined itself as being the first Toyota truck offering a V-8 engine.
Toyota Tundra Reliability
No matter whether you opt for the base V-6 engine or the optional 4.7-liter V-8, the Toyota Tundra is known as the ultimate hauler truck with more than enough juice to get the job done. Even all these years later, original owners refuse to let go of these workhorses because they have proven their indestructibility through years of service.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $606 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,226 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 14 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2003–2010 (more than 10 annual recalls each)
Best Bang For Your Buck Toyota SUVs Roaring With V-6 Power
Somewhere between the generic blandness of weak economy crossovers and the over‑built complexity of modern off‑road rigs, there exists a sweet‑spot.
Toyota Sienna
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 11.5-Percent
The Toyota Sienna is a true outlier in terms of low-stress vehicles that owners keep forever. Being the only minivan on our list, the Toyota Sienna defines itself as one of the most practical family vehicles ever made.
Toyota Sienna Reliability
Even after the kids are all grown up and fitting an entire soccer team in the back is no longer a requirement, original owners refuse to let go of their Toyota Siennas. This goes to show that this minivan’s convenience and dependability extend far beyond the needs of a growing family and can be useful even 15 or more years after purchase.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $554 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,407 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 12 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2004–2007, 2009 (more than 10 annual recalls each)
Toyota Tacoma
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 11.6-Percent
Few trucks are known to be quite as convenient and bulletproof as the Toyota Tacoma. Americans love trucks as status symbols rather than functional commercial vehicles, and no truck has filled that void better than the Toyota Tacoma.
Toyota Tacoma Reliability
Even after their general usefulness has diminished, original owners keep the Toyota Tacoma around because the powertrains offered in these trucks were always among the most reliable available. One day, you’ll have to move a bed frame or a couch on short notice, and then you’ll appreciate the usefulness of a truck like the Tacoma. The Toyota Tacoma has and will continue to keep original owners happy by simply chugging along and refusing to die.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $478 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,931 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 10 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2005–2010 (more than 10 annual recalls each)
Toyota Highlander
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 12.4-Percent
Do you love what the Lexus RX has to offer, but luxury car prices turn you off? Understandable. The Toyota Highlander offers more value than its luxury counterpart at a fraction of the price. The Toyota Highlander is one of the most spacious three-row SUVs you can buy, and its usefulness has not faded despite the effects of time.
Toyota Highlander Reliability
The fact is that the Toyota Highlander ticks a lot of the right boxes as far as being a practical family vehicle. Sure, a 2005 Toyota Highlander may not be cutting-edge in today’s market, but original owners refuse to let go because this Toyota SUV is too versatile and low-maintenance to let go.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $489 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,225 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 6 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2006, 2008–2010 (more than 10 annual recalls each)
The Toyota SUV That Sold More Than The 4Runner, Tundra, And Tacoma Combined In 2025
Toyota moved over half a million of this SUV in all its iterations combined.
Toyota Prius
Original Owners Keeping 15+ Year-Old Cars: 13.7-Percent
The car that original owners refuse to give up, despite all circumstances, is the Toyota Prius. On average, only 6.1 percent of original owners keep a car 15 years or more. The Toyota Prius achieves more than double that, at 13.7 percent.
Toyota Prius Reliability
The Toyota Prius’s secret to long-term success isn’t much of a secret at all. This compact hybrid liftback offers a near indestructible powertrain, exceptional fuel economy, and bare minimum maintenance costs. There is simply not much else you can ask out of a modern vehicle, and the Prius doesn’t just meet those standards, it excels in them. It’s simple: the longer you keep a Prius, the more money you will save in the long run. For that, we say thank you, Toyota!
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $408 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $4,360 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 6 (2005)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2010