Cars and Drivers

Sporty Cars, SUVs Top List of New Cars Owners Keep the Longest

John Harrington

Published: October 16, 2017 10:20 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 7:09 am

Sporty cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) populate the list of new cars that owners keep the longest before selling, according to a new study by iSeeCars.com.

Toyota models occupy four of the top 10 spots on the list of cars that are held on to beyond the average length of ownership.

The Toyota Land Cruiser was kept the longest, 10.6 years before selling, compared with 7.3-year average. Only one of America’s best-selling cars, Ford Explorer, made the list of original-owner favorites.

Automotive research firm iSeeCars analyzed more than 15.7 million used vehicles sold by original owners to identify when new car owners sell their cars.

The average length of ownership for the top 10 models ranges from 8.8 to 10.6 years. The list includes four Toyotas, three of which are SUVs; four sports cars; and two Ford SUVs.

“While the average age of cars on the road overall has grown to well beyond a decade, among new car buyers, people are getting rid of their cars after 7.3 years on average — one to two years after they’ve paid them off,” said iSeeCars Chief Executive Officer Phong Ly.

Four sporty cars are among the models original owners love to keep — Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Chevrolet Corvette and Audi TT.

Not on the list are some of the nation’s most popular cars, such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. “We suspect that many buyers who purchased these sedans a few years ago have been trading them in for the sexier crossovers now that gas prices are significantly lower, thus driving down the average years they are owned,” said Ly.

Top 10 New Cars Owners Keep the Longest