A sweeping new study has identified which brands’ vehicles are the most likely to reach 250,000 miles – just a tad over 400,000km – and the results add more weight to Toyota’s enviable reputation for build quality.

The research by iSeeCars examined the odometer readings on 395 million vehicles to arrive at the rankings, which also feature Jaguar and Maserati at the bottom of the table with a zero per cent chance of reaching the milestone.

3

Toyota easily topped the list with a 19.7 per cent chance of lasting for 250,000 miles, significantly ahead of Lexus on 14.4 per cent and Honda on 13.3 per cent. Honda’s premium Acura brand scored 9.5 per cent, and the overall average across all brands tested was 5.4 per cent.

The biggest surprise in the rankings is how German brands fared. Despite being widely hailed for their craftsmanship and longevity, BMW, Audi and Porsche struggled badly, and Mercedes-Benz wasn’t a lot better. Mercs had a 2.6 per cent chance of reaching the mark, with Volkswagen on 1.5 per cent, Beemers on just 0.5 per cent – the same as Audi – and Porsche coming third last overall at 0.3 per cent.

Mazda came in at just under the industry average on 5.3 per cent, with Nissan on 3.4 per cent, Subaru on 2.8 per cent and Kia on 0.8 per cent. Tesla, the lone EV-only brand tested, scored 3.3 per cent.

Chinese manufacturers weren’t covered in the study, which is somewhat American-centric. Of the US brands, General Motors was best with 5.8 per cent, with Lincoln on 4.7, Ram on 4.2 and Ford on 4.1 per cent.

Silver Mercedes-Benz SUV driving on a winding mountain road at sunset.
4

However, there is a caveat with the results for luxury brands. iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer pointed out that those types of vehicles often aren’t driven as much as their mainstream counterparts. “For instance, Porsche’s low probability is more a reflection of lower use by Porsche owners than a lack of quality or durability,” he said.

The strong result for Toyota won’t come as a surprise to Aussies. The marque won the Automotive Brand of the Year title at the Roy Morgan Trusted Brands Awards earlier this month, making it the eighth straight year it has taken the crown.