How Long Do Toyotas Last? What To Know About Lifespan
Toyota is one of the names in vehicle manufacturing that everyone knows, but a lot of people don’t think about it very often. They’re consistent, affordable, and well-designed on average, but have they earned their reputation and place in the vehicle world?
A good vehicle should be reliable, durable, and able to handle whatever it is you want to do with them. At least, they should be able to handle it if you’ve matched your vehicle to what you want to do.
Does Toyota meet those benchmarks?
If you’re considering a new or used Toyota, you’re in the right place. We’ll take a look at the durability of Toyotas on average, what you can expect, and how the brand compares with other vehicles.
How Long Do Toyotas Last On Average?
If you’re looking for a durable and long-lasting vehicle, Toyotas are a fantastic option. They tend to be incredibly durable and have some of the longest lifespans of any vehicles on the markets today.
In fact, Toyota earns the top-ranked spot for durability and long life. Take a look at these comparisons from ISeeCars and Motor Biscuit to see for yourself.
In terms of how long Toyotas last, an average lifespan for a Toyota is probably between 15-20 years, with some lasting as long as 25 years without running into serious problems. 30-year lifespans aren’t unheard of, but most Toyotas won’t make it there without a lot of work and dedication from their owners.
In terms of mileage, you can expect an average Toyota to last between 250k-300k miles. That might not translate to the same number of years, depending on how much you drive and where you drive, but that’s still an impressive total.
Some vehicles might even make it past the 300k mile mark without needing significant or non-economical repairs.
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How Do Toyotas Compare With Other Vehicle Manufacturers
We’ve already talked about this a little bit in the previous section, but it’s worth addressing as its own topic. Toyota is widely considered to be the best vehicle manufacturer currently available when it comes to the durability and lifespan of their vehicles.
One mostly accurate answer to the question how long Toyotas last is longer than anyone else.
That being said, there are a few caveats that are worth discussing when it comes to the durability of Toyota and any other highly ranked vehicle manufacturers like Honda and Ford. Durability is often rated in proportion to the cost of the vehicle, which means that more affordable vehicles like Toyota and Honda get rated better than more expensive competitors even when they are similar in terms of actual durability and quality.
For instance, Lexus, which is owned by Toyota and is their primary luxury vehicle brand, actually has almost the same durability and long lifespans as Toyota, but they rarely get ranked as highly as they should be because they cost more than Toyota or Honda, so the longevity gets downplayed.
That being said, we’re not going to say that there’s a problem with that ranking system. Paying more for a more durable vehicle isn’t necessary, as Toyota proves neatly. But it does mean that there are quite a few brands and manufacturers that have similar durability but that won’t make those top-rated lists.
What Does Top-Rated Durability Mean?
A lot of people don’t really know what different kinds of vehicle ratings mean. We see that all the time when it comes to safety ratings, where people think that a top safety rating means that the vehicle is better than it is, or that it matters more than people think it does.
When it comes to top durability, that mostly means that the vehicle performs better than 60% or more of the other vehicles on the market.
When it comes to Toyota, there’s a lot of tight competition at the top that are aiming to unseat Toyota, which also means that they’re all aiming for a similar benchmark.
So, when it comes to top durability, Toyota is marginally better than the next best manufacturer, which is marginally better than the manufacturer below that.
If you like another top-rated vehicle better than Toyota, chances are that there won’t be a significant difference in longevity, durability, or performance between that vehicle and a similar vehicle from Toyota.
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Longest Lasting Toyotas
When it comes to Toyota there are so many highly-ranked durable vehicles in the list that it’s honestly easier to look at which vehicles don’t perform as well than it is to look at the vehicles that do.
At the same time, it’s worth highlighting a few models that are better than average even for Toyota, especially since the company is helping lead the way to a more durable future for electric vehicles as well as traditionally gas-powered ones.
Here are some of the longest-lasting Toyotas:
We chose a limited selection, but these vehicles are all either better than average for Toyota, better than average for their vehicle class, or both.
Least Durable Toyotas
Even the best vehicle manufacturers will probably have a few lemons in the mix. While none of these vehicles can be called bad by any standard, including durability, they don’t last as long as other Toyotas on average.
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Final Thoughts On Toyota Durability
Toyota might lead the pack when it comes to durability and lifespan, but that doesn’t mean that they’re the best (or the worst) vehicles out there. They’re just good reliable cars. A lot of Toyota’s lineup is purpose-built for a specific kind of customer, and they have a lot of different models so you have a lot of selection if you’re interested in getting one.
However, while Toyota excels at durability and lifespan, they tend not to have as much flash as other vehicles. That’s part of why they’ve included Lexus in the brand. It’s important to have a flashier and more fashionable option.
But if you’re looking for purpose-built vehicles and durability, it doesn’t really get better than Toyota.
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