These 12 budget cars refuse to die before 320,000 km
Toyota leads the list, but it's far from alone. Twelve affordable models that keep going strong past 200,000 miles — and the model years worth watching.
320,000 kilometers. That’s how far these cars can go — without falling apart on the way. Experts put together a list of 12 relatively affordable models that stay reliable even past 200,000 miles — which works out to roughly 320,000 km. The lineup includes Toyota Corolla, Camry, Avalon, 4Runner and Sienna, Lexus IS, Honda Accord, Ridgeline and CR-V, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150 and Subaru Outback.
The bar was high. Not just “runs a long time,” but a triple test: purchase price, repair costs and the real odds of reaching big mileage with ordinary, no-fanaticism maintenance. A car has to be affordable to buy — and not bleed its owner dry afterward.
Toyota Corolla is the obvious pick here: cheap to buy, thrifty, pennies to run. Camry and Avalon became a byword for the unkillable sedan ages ago. The 4Runner wins differently — through sheer simplicity and a colossal reserve of durability engineered in from the start. As for the Honda CR-V and Accord — strong mainstream picks, but with a caveat: certain model years and engines deserve a closer look. One thing ties the whole list together — reaching 320,000 km doesn’t take a premium badge.