16 Used Cars Known to Last Over 500,000 Miles

Written by Ian Palmer

Do you tend to drive cars until their wheels fall off or a mechanic tells you the required repairs exceed the worth of the vehicles? Not everyone wants to go from car loan to car loan every four or five years — especially considering how expensive it is to buy new or used cars. According to S&P Global Mobility, U.S. vehicle owners are keeping their vehicles longer as the average age of cars and light trucks on the road this year climbed to a record 12.6 years.

If you want a vehicle for the long haul, consider these 16 used ones that can last 500,000+ miles. Remember that some model years are better than others, so always do your homework.

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser deserves a spot on such a list. Know for its reliability, the Toyota Land Cruiser comes with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. And unlike many SUVs and crossovers sold today, it has some offroading cred. They’re still desirable and cost a premium on the used vehicle market. Find one if you can! It’s a keeper that can last 500,000 miles or more.

Mazda Miata

Mazda introduced the Miata at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 — though the original MX-5 hit dealership shelves in the U.S. in May as a 1990 model. While the sports car is small, it’s built solid. Mazda Miatas are affordable, fun to drive, and hold their value well. Who said sports cars have to be unreliable money pits?

Toyota 4Runner

The first Toyota 4Runner debuted in showrooms across North America in 1984. Since then, the brand has developed a cult following, and for good reason. While the gas mileage leaves much to be desired, people looking for a truck aren’t typically focused on fuel efficiency. If you want a reliable SUV that can last for hundreds of thousands of miles, consider a Toyota 4Runner.

Honda Accord

While the average life span of a Honda Accord is 200,000 to 300,000 miles, that doesn’t mean they can’t last longer. Depending on the model year and how rigorous you are with maintenance and repairs, these commuter cars can achieve 500,000+ miles.

Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette brand is a dependable, quality sports car. It doesn’t commit the indiscretion of many sports cars — jeopardizing reliability for aesthetics or performance. And unlike many sports cars, Corvettes make suitable daily drivers. Whether you want to drive it to work or just use it for fun on the weekends, the Chevrolet Corvette is a good choice.

Lexus LS 430

Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, has demonstrated that you don’t have to choose luxury over reliability. The Lexus LS 430 is one example. So, if you find a used one in good shape, consider scooping it up. They’re big, reliable, and safe vehicles. Some online sources suggest that the Lexus LS 430 might be the most reliable vehicle that Toyota has ever built.

J.D. Power gave the Lexus LS 430 an impressive 95/100 quality and reliability score in 2006. If looking for an SUV capable of 500,000+ miles, this one’s worth considering.

Volvo 240

The Volvo 240’s 2.3-liter inline-4 engine factors into the vehicle’s durability. While the primary production site was in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo also manufactured the 240 in Canada and Belgium. You can find these long-lasting, secure-handling, and fun-to-drive Volvos on the used car market.

Toyota Prius

While the Toyota Prius was launched in Japan in 1997, the car arrived in the U.S. as a non-plug-in hybrid in 2001. So, it’s had a long history and has gone on to sell like hotcakes even though year one saw a paltry 15,000 units sold.

Repairpal.com gives the Toyota Prius a 4/5 reliability rating, which means it has above-average reliability. Meanwhile, annual repair costs are low compared to other vehicles. You can easily get 250,000 to 300,000 miles out of one, but 500,000+ miles isn’t out of the question.

Honda Civic

If you buy a Honda Civic, you can count on at least 300,000 miles of reliable service if you take good care of it. But that’s not to say hitting half a million miles is out of the question. Oil changes, preventative maintenance, and transmission fluid changes are some of the things that’ll help extend the longevity of any car.

Toyota Corolla

Are you tired of seeing so many Toyotas on this list? If so, buckle your seatbelts because yet another Toyota — the Corolla — can reach the 500,000-mile benchmark. Corollas are known for being dependable, fairly good on fuel, and easy to work on.

Ford F-150

Are you looking for a long-lasting truck? A used Ford F-150 can stay on the road for the long haul depending on the model, how you use it, and proper upkeep.

Toyota Avalon

A lesser-known Toyota vehicle is the Avalon. Yet RepairPal.com gives the Toyota Avalon a 4/5 reliability ranking, which puts the vehicle in third place among 12 full-size cars. The Avalon has been described as a more plush and refined Camry. And, yes, you can get 500,000 miles out of your Toyota Avalon if you get the right model year and take care of it.

Ford Crown Victoria

Based on the Ford Panther platform, the Ford Crown Victoria was built to last. They were used as police interceptor vehicles for a long time. Known as the Crown Vic, they can easily go 300,000 miles. But half a million or oven north of 1 million miles is possible. If you want a cheap used car offering plenty of power, reliability, and a comfortable ride, consider the Crown Vic.

Mercury Grand Marquis

Also built on the Ford Panther platform was the Mercury Grand Marquis. The classic highway cruiser has rear-wheel drive, a 4.6-liter V8 engine, a massive trunk, good comfort, and durability.

Toyota Echo

If you thought the Toyota Corolla was a cheap commuter call, check out the Toyota Echo. It’s even less expensive and unapologetically bare-bones. And while not as well known as the Corolla, the Echo is still a reliable vehicle that can last hundreds of thousands of miles. You can get them inexpensively on the used car market.

Lexus GX 460

If you want a reliable, luxurious, and long-lasting SUV, consider a Lexus GX 460. If comparing a 4Runner and a Lexus GX 460, you see that the main differences are that the latter offers more horsepower, towing capacity, and standard advanced features and technology than the latter.

Consider These 16 Options If You Want a Car That Can Last 500,000 Miles

Man walking around showroom — Image credit: ViDI Studio / Shutterstock.com

More drivers are holding onto their cars longer. If you don’t like switching vehicles too often, finding a vehicle that can last 500,000 or more miles is a great idea. It starts with finding a reliable one and taking good care of it.