Did you know there is only an 8.6% chance ofa typical vehicle lasting for 250,000 miles (down from an 11.8% chance in 2023)? However, breaking the barriers of conventional pickup truck longevity, a 2024 update to the previous 2023 study byiSeeCars.com unearthed a lineup of 19best truck modelsdefying the odds and are most likely to surpass a quarter-million (250,000) miles.
Initially established in 2013, the 2024 study analyzed more than 402 million vehicles (up from 260 million in 2023), scrutinizing which vehicles were most likely to reach impressive mileage milestones.
"Modern vehicles are getting more durable, with 30 models offering a 12 to 36% chance of reaching a quarter million miles," said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. "Many consumers still consider a car's usable lifespan to end at 100,000 miles. But our latest longest-lasting study confirms that even 200,000 miles isn't the end for many cars. The top nine cars on this year's list have a better than 20% chance of hitting 250,000 miles."
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Who Topped the List for Pickup Truck Mileage?
In 2024, SUVs took over half the spots (16) on the overall longest-last vehicles list. However, pickup trucks are also prominently included on the list, with eight models included (down from the 10 pickup truck models on the list in 2023).
Pickup trucks are often known for their longevity. Used regularly by service fleets, construction fleets, and other work truck fleet operations, they outdrive their larger counterparts.
So, what arethe most reliable pickup trucksfor longevity?
Whether you are curious about the best full-size or small truck,Toyota has emerged as the most dominant brand when looking at longevity. On the "Brands Most Likely to Last 250,000 Miles," Toyota shows a 17% chance, twice the average longevity in that vehicle class.
Which Trucks and SUVs are Expected to Have the Most Recalls?
Ram ranked number three for brand longevity (11.5% chance of lasting 250,000 miles or 1.3x average), with GMC close behind in fourth (11.4% or 1.3X average) and Ford sitting in seventh (9.5% or 1.1x).
The Ram 3500 took the "Most Likely to Last 250,00 Miles" top spot in 2024. It had a 42.6% chance of lasting 250,000 miles, or 2.2x the average.
In 2023, theFord F-350 Super Dutyclaimed the throne as the most durable model, with a 49.1% chance of crossing the 250,000-mile mark and beyond.
Changing Trends in these Smaller, More Fuel-Efficient Trucks
The study's findings underscore a continuing trend in the automotive industry.
In 2023, Brauer shared that vehicle lifespans have consistently risen, with over 20 cars now displaying a 20% or higher probability of reaching the coveted quarter-million-mile milestone.
Today, "the long lifespan of heavy-duty trucks inevitably pushes several light-duty models to below average," said Brauer. "But as noted in our list of the top 30 longest-lasting vehicles, many of these 'below average' trucks do quite well compared to other light-duty vehicles."
The once widely accepted notion that 100,000 miles marked the upper limit of a car or truck's usability has been challenged over the past three decades.
The study's expansion to predict vehicles with the greatest likelihood of surpassing 250,000 miles signifies a significant leap in understanding modern automobiles' remarkable endurance potential.
Longest Lasting Trucks and theMost Reliable Light-DutyTrucks
What's a half-ton truck? Is it the same as a light-duty truck? Often intermixed, a light-duty truck is often called a half-ton truck due to the truck's payload capacity. However, modern trucks can exceed those numbers.
According to iSeeCars, trucks (pickup and heavy-duty) are, on average, 19.4% likely to reach the impressive milestone of 250,000 miles or beyond.
Surpassing this average benchmark, 11 truck models exhibit even greater longevity potential.
Among these contenders, heavy-duty pickup truck models dominate the field, but notable names like the Ram 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, GMC Sierra 2500, and Ford F-350 Super Dutyalso boast a higher-than-average likelihood of crossing the quarter-million-mile mark. Smaller pickup trucks are still struggling to hit those higher mileage marks but the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline were all above the average line.
Which Trucks are Most Likely to Last 250,000+ Miles? Toyota Tacoma Tundra and Toyota Tacoma Makes the Cut
So, what are the best trucks that aremost likely to last 250,000 miles or more? What can you expect from these reliable trucks? And just what goes into making the most reliable trucks of all time (or at least 2024)?
Rank | Model | % Chance of Lasting 250,000+ Miles | Compared to Average |
1 | Ram 3500 | 42.6% | 2.2x |
2 | Toyota Tundra | 36.6% | 1.9x |
3 | Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 29.6% | 1.5x |
4 | GMC Sierra 2500HD | 29.1% | 1.5x |
5 | Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD | 29.1% | 1.5x |
6 | Ford F-350 Super Duty | 28.3% | 1.5x |
7 | Ford F-250 Super Duty | 27.4% | 1.4x |
8 | Ram 2500 | 27.2% | 1.4x |
9 | Toyota Tacoma | 26.7% | 1.4x |
10 | GMC Sierra 3500HD | 26.0% | 1.3x |
11 | Honda Ridgeline | 25.8% | 1.3x |
OVERALL AVERAGE | 19.4% | -- | |
12 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 18.8% | 1.0x |
13 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 16.1% | 0.8x |
14 | Ford F-150 | 15.8% | 0.8x |
15 | Nissan Titan | 14.8% | 0.8x |
16 | Ram 1500 | 11.5% | 0.6x |
17 | GMC Canyon | 11.2% | 0.6x |
18 | Chevrolet Colorado | 10.4% | 0.5x |
19 | Nissan Frontier | 9.6x | 0.5x |
iSeeCars.com analyzed data for over 402 million cars. The average odometer reading for each vehicle was calculated at each yearly age, and a proprietary model based on these average mileages was developed to estimate the probability that each vehicle would survive to various mileage thresholds. Heavy-duty vans and models with insufficient data were excluded from further analysis, except heavy-duty trucks were included for the truck-specific analysis.
Is more than 200,000 miles good for light-duty trucks? Absolutely. Are you going to see a lot of these extremely high-mileage trucks in a commercial fleet operation? Probably not. But knowing they can last this long is a fantastic indicator that the truck will make it for the miles your fleet needs. These showcase the best truck options for fleet operators based on reliability.
While these longer-lasting pickup trucks are proving to be the most reliable, they aren't necessarily the most fuel-efficient trucks on the market. Fuel economy is not an indicator of longevity; however, more fuel-efficient mileage numbers are starting to be seen in this longer-lasting light-duty throughmidsize pickup truck class and larger.
Learning More about the Longest-Lasting Pickup Trucks
Check out the highlights of a few of the top longest-lasting pickup trucks and the most reliable truck brands:
- 2024 Toyota Tacoma: The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a mid-size pickup. For its fourth generation in 2024, Tacoma utilizes a new high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame; adds numerous features that off-road enthusiasts can play with; features an available fully redesigned multi-link coil rear suspension that improves ride and handling; and offers two powerful and efficient turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains including a top-of-the-line i-FORCE MAX hybrid producing 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque.
- 2024 Ram 2500 & 3500:The Ram Heavy Duty sets the standard for durability, performance, and comfort, outpacing competitors in every category. With a towing capacity of up to 37,090 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,680 pounds, it’s the most powerful and capable pickup in its class. Ram was the first to break the 1,000 lb.-ft. torque barrier with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, now delivering 1,075 lb.-ft. of torque. Its class-exclusive link-coil rear suspension (2500) and optional rear air suspension (2500 and 3500) ensure top-tier ride and handling, making it the ultimate in capability, refinement, and comfort.
- 2023 Ford F-350 Super Duty:The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup redefines the heavy-duty truck segment by merging robust performance with advanced technology. It features Pro Power Onboard for onsite power, the Ford Prosuite for operational efficiency, and 5G connectivity to meet the demands of various industries. With engine options like the 6.8L V-8 and a high-output 6.7L Power Stroke diesel V-8, it aims for top towing, payload, torque, and horsepower. Innovations like the Ford Pro Upfit Integration System enhance work equipment integration.
- 2024 Toyota Tundra:The Toyota Tundra full-size truck introduces new powertrains, including a twin-turbo V-6 and a hybrid variant, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission equipped with intelligent shift modes and TOW/HAUL options. The i-FORCE twin-turbo V6 delivers 389 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque, while the i-FORCE MAX hybrid boosts performance to 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. of torque. This hybrid system, featuring a motor generator and a Ni-MH battery, enhances fuel efficiency to an EPA-estimated 20-24 MPG, depending on the configuration. The electric motor primarily powers the vehicle at lower speeds, with the gasoline engine taking over at speeds above 18 mph for consistent mid- to high-speed performance.
- 2024 Chevrolet Silverado: New for the 2024 model year, the Chevrolet Silverado features a 2.7L high-output I-4 engine with the new TurboMax name and features an available Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel engine on the ZR2. The models are available on WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, ZR2, LTZ, and High Country trims, with Super Cruise available on the High Country. The truck bed features 12 standard tie downs, 89.1 cu.-ft. of cargo space, and an available up/down tailgate. The available Multi-Flex tailgate has six functions, ideal for work truck drivers. The Trailering package is standard on Custom trim and above, and available on WT models.
- 2024 GMC Sierra: The 2024 model-year GMC Sierra features updated capabilities and a refined second-generation 3.0L inline-six Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine standard on its extreme off-road Sierra 1500 AT4X trim. First introduced on select 2023 Sierra 1500 trims, the automaker noted that the updated 3.0L Duramax engine comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission and delivers max power of 305 horsepower (a 10% increase compared to MY22), and max torque of 495 lb-ft (a 7.6% increase from MY22). In addition, for the 2024 model year, the 2.7L Turbo High-Output Engine will now carry the name TurboMax.
- 2024 Ford F-150: The 2024 model-year Ford F150 is designed to enhance the ability to tackle challenges with purposeful features and tech. It has Built Ford Toughcapability to handle tough pursuits. And, it has a tough new design, including the new available Pro Access Tailgate for even more access and utility. With increased production mix of PowerBoost Hybrid for 2024 and off-road ready models like Tremor, Raptor,and Raptor R,there’s an Ford F-150 for almost every use case.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in July of 2023 and has been updated with additional information on the top pick uptrucks with a major update in August 2024. Check back for more updates!
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