In 2006, Consumer Reports reported that the average life expectancy of a new vehicle was eight years or about 150,000 miles. But now, 15 years later, many drivers are still hitting the streets behind the wheel of autos they purchased in 2006 or earlier.
The Toyota Prius tops the list for vehicles that original owners keep for 15 years or longer, according to iSeeCars.com. That doesn’t make it the most popular “old car” in every part of the country, though. The Prius reigns supreme in nine of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. But 16 other models have fans in at least one U.S. city each. (Across the country, these are the cars that Americans keep the longest.)
The Toyota marque is clearly the favorite, topping the list in 34 of the 50 metro areas. Toyota’s dominance is spread across seven models: Prius, Sienna, Tundra, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, and Camry. Honda also makes a good showing, capturing hearts in seven cities with Pilots, CR-Vs, Civics, and Odysseys. Neither manufacturer shows up, needless to say, on the roster of new cars that are most likely to break down.
Only one American company, Chevrolet, breaks through in two of the 50 cities — Austin, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo. Other than that, Japanese cars own the list. In fact, seven of the ten car brands people don’t want to give up come from Japan, according to the iSeeCars’ study “Cars Owners Keep the Longest.”
The metro area where you’re most likely to see an original owner driving a vehicle that is 15 years old or older is San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, where the favorite is the Prius.
Click here to see the longest-kept cars in the largest 50 cities.
1. Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sequoia
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sequoia for 15+ years: 12.7% (10th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.3%
> Average commute time: 24.39 minutes
[in-text-ad]
2. Atlanta, GA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 13.2% (13th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 85.2%
> Average commute time: 32.53 minutes
24/7 Wall St.
3. Austin, TX
> Longest-kept car: Chevrolet Colorado
> Share of original owners who kept their Chevrolet Colorado for 15+ years: 15.3% (25th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 83.7%
> Average commute time: 27.73 minutes
4. Baltimore, MD
> Longest-kept car: Nissan Frontier
> Share of original owners who kept their Nissan Frontier for 15+ years: 19.9% (6th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 84.6%
> Average commute time: 31.66 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
5. Birmingham, AL
> Longest-kept car: Nissan Frontier
> Share of original owners who kept their Nissan Frontier for 15+ years: 12.5% (8th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 92.8%
> Average commute time: 28.07 minutes
6. Boston, MA-Manchester, NH
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 10.0% (2nd lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 72.9%
> Average commute time: 32.56 minutes
[in-text-ad]
7. Charlotte, NC
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 12.6% (9th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 87.5%
> Average commute time: 27.69 minutes
8. Chicago, IL
> Longest-kept car: Subaru Impreza
> Share of original owners who kept their Subaru Impreza for 15+ years: 17.2% (16th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 76.8%
> Average commute time: 32.39 minutes
9. Cincinnati, OH
> Longest-kept car: Honda Pilot
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda Pilot for 15+ years: 11.7% (5th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.1%
> Average commute time: 25.84 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
10. Cleveland-Akron (Canton), OH
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 14.5% (21st lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.5%
> Average commute time: 24.94 minutes
11. Columbus, OH
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Highlander
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Highlander for 15+ years: 14.9% (22nd lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 89.3%
> Average commute time: 25.01 minutes
[in-text-ad]
12. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Highlander
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Highlander for 15+ years: 15.7% (24th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 89.7%
> Average commute time: 28.65 minutes
13. Denver, CO
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Highlander
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Highlander for 15+ years: 16.6% (20th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 82.2%
> Average commute time: 28.79 minutes
14. Detroit, MI
> Longest-kept car: Honda Pilot
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda Pilot for 15+ years: 18.3% (8th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 91.5%
> Average commute time: 27.49 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
15. Fresno-Visalia, CA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Camry
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Camry for 15+ years: 15.8% (23rd highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.8%
> Average commute time: 24.33 minutes
16. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, MI
> Longest-kept car: Honda Pilot
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda Pilot for 15+ years: 10.2% (3rd lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.6%
> Average commute time: 21.94 minutes
[in-text-ad]
17. Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 15.5% (25th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 89.4%
> Average commute time: 23.53 minutes
18. Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sequoia
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sequoia for 15+ years: 13.3% (15th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.9%
> Average commute time: 25.55 minutes
19. Harrisburg-Lancaster-York, PA
> Longest-kept car: Subaru Forester
> Share of original owners who kept their Subaru Forester for 15+ years: 17.8% (10th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.1%
> Average commute time: 24.16 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
20. Hartford & New Haven, CT
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tacoma
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tacoma for 15+ years: 13.5% (17th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.2%
> Average commute time: 24.15 minutes
21. Houston, TX
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 17.8% (10th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.1%
> Average commute time: 30.68 minutes
[in-text-ad]
22. Indianapolis, IN
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sequoia
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sequoia for 15+ years: 15.3% (25th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 91.1%
> Average commute time: 25.62 minutes
23. Jacksonville, FL
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Highlander
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Highlander for 15+ years: 17.0% (19th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 87.6%
> Average commute time: 27.26 minutes
24. Kansas City, MO
> Longest-kept car: Chevrolet Colorado
> Share of original owners who kept their Chevrolet Colorado for 15+ years: 12.4% (7th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.8%
> Average commute time: 23.86 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
25. Las Vegas, NV
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 18.2% (9th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 87.9%
> Average commute time: 25.95 minutes
26. Los Angeles, CA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sequoia
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sequoia for 15+ years: 20.8% (4th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 84.0%
> Average commute time: 31.70 minutes
[in-text-ad]
27. Memphis, TN
> Longest-kept car: Honda Civic
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda Civic for 15+ years: 13.3% (15th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 93.6%
> Average commute time: 24.80 minutes
28. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 17.2% (16th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 86.1%
> Average commute time: 30.29 minutes
29. Milwaukee, WI
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 17.4% (14th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.5%
> Average commute time: 23.47 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
30. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 17.3% (15th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 85.0%
> Average commute time: 26.12 minutes
31. Nashville, TN
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 11.6% (4th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.2%
> Average commute time: 28.51 minutes
[in-text-ad]
32. New York, NY
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 17.8% (10th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 55.2%
> Average commute time: 37.72 minutes
33. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News,VA
> Longest-kept car: Acura MDX
> Share of original owners who kept their Acura MDX for 15+ years: 14.5% (21st lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 89.1%
> Average commute time: 24.63 minutes
34. Oklahoma City, OK
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 17.8% (10th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 92.4%
> Average commute time: 23.73 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
35. Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 14.1% (18th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 88.2%
> Average commute time: 30.16 minutes
36. Philadelphia, PA
> Longest-kept car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
> Share of original owners who kept their Mazda MX-5 Miata for 15+ years: 16.3% (21st highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 79.4%
> Average commute time: 30.81 minutes
[in-text-ad]
37. Phoenix, AZ
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 16.0% (22nd highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 86.1%
> Average commute time: 27.87 minutes
38. Pittsburgh, PA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 14.4% (19th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 83.3%
> Average commute time: 27.66 minutes
39. Portland, OR
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 18.6% (7th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 78.4%
> Average commute time: 26.76 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
40. Raleigh-Durham (Fayetteville), NC
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Sienna
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Sienna for 15+ years: 12.8% (11th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 86.8%
> Average commute time: 27.44 minutes
41. Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 20.0% (5th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 85.7%
> Average commute time: 28.22 minutes
[in-text-ad]
42. Salt Lake City, UT
> Longest-kept car: Honda Odyssey
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda Odyssey for 15+ years: 15.0% (23rd lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 87.1%
> Average commute time: 23.34 minutes
43. San Antonio, TX
> Longest-kept car: Honda CR-V
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda CR-V for 15+ years: 17.1% (18th highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 89.8%
> Average commute time: 27.40 minutes
44. San Diego, CA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tundra
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tundra for 15+ years: 21.8% (3rd highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 84.3%
> Average commute time: 27.18 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
45. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 26.4% (2nd highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 65.1%
> Average commute time: 35.17 minutes
46. Seattle-Tacoma, WA
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Tacoma
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Tacoma for 15+ years: 13.4% (16th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 76.7%
> Average commute time: 31.59 minutes
[in-text-ad]
47. St. Louis, MO
> Longest-kept car: Honda CR-V
> Share of original owners who kept their Honda CR-V for 15+ years: 9.8% (the lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 90.3%
> Average commute time: 25.99 minutes
24/7 Wall St.
48. Tampa-St Petersburg (Sarasota), FL
> Longest-kept car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
> Share of original owners who kept their Mazda MX-5 Miata for 15+ years: 11.9% (6th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 86.2%
> Average commute time: 28.34 minutes
49. Washington, DC (Hagerstown, MD)
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Prius
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Prius for 15+ years: 29.3% (the highest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 74.7%
> Average commute time: 35.59 minutes
[in-text-ad-2]
50. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, FL
> Longest-kept car: Toyota Highlander
> Share of original owners who kept their Toyota Highlander for 15+ years: 13.2% (13th lowest)
> Share of population that commutes by car, truck, or van: 86.1%
> Average commute time: 30.29 minutes
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
