Study: the vehicles that stay with their original buyers the longest
In the used vehicle market, models between 3 and 4 years old are very popular, but older models are available at lower prices, so you can save a lot of money compared with a new vehicle.
Given the current economic climate, with interest rates still high in many cases, many drivers choose to keep their vehicles longer, whether they've bought them new or used. This is easier with a make or model that proves reliable, inexpensive to maintain and satisfying to drive.
Recently, American research firm iSeeCars took a closer look at the vehicles that remain longest in the hands of their original purchaser, specifically for 15 years or more (whereas the average is around eight years, according to its research). To do so, it analyzed more than 929,000 models from 1981 to 2009 that were sold between January and September 2024 and had only one owner.
Most consumers aren't prepared to keep the same vehicle for more than a decade, but those who do save a lot in terms of ownership costs,” maintains iSeeCars chief analyst Karl Brauer. Keeping a car for 15 years means stopping monthly payments over a long period, not to mention lower registration and car insurance costs. These lower expenses can more than offset the higher maintenance costs that come with the car's age.”
Unsurprisingly, Toyota dominates the ranking and even monopolizes the top 5. Particularly noteworthy are its hybrid models and its luxury Lexus brand. Here's how it looks, with the percentage of cars 15 years old or more kept by their original buyer in brackets:
- Toyota Highlander hybrid (7%)
- Toyota Camry hybrid (6,9%)
- Toyota Highlander (6,6%)
- Toyota Tacoma (6,4%)
- Toyota Prius (6,3%)
- Honda CR-V (6,3%)
- Ford Escape hybrid (6,3%)
- Toyota RAV4 (6,3%)
- Lexus IS 350 (5,8%)
- Nissan Versa (5,7%)
- Toyota Tundra (5,5%)
- Honda Ridgeline (5,5%)
- Subaru Forester (5,5%)
“The practicality and value for money of these models help to keep them around for a long time,” adds Brauer. If you're staying with the same vehicle for 15 years or more, you'll want it to be reliable, practical and fuel-efficient, qualities common to all these names.”
More generally, iSeeCars notes that the vehicle brands that original buyers keep the longest are, in order, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Hyundai and Subaru.
