Honda Builds the Longest-Lasting Vehicles In Important Segments

Our friends at iSeeCars.com have been very busy lately, pouring over 260 million vehicle transactions that occurred between 2012 and 2022. The study was trying to figure our which vehicle models were the most likely to last for more than a quarter million miles. One that we spotted high on the list was the Honda Pilot.

The study is perfectly timed since vehicle shortages are pushing many owners to stay in the vehicle they already own rather than be swindled by a local dealer asking for a huge markup over MSRP on a new model. “The cost of new and used cars has never been higher, which means a long vehicle lifespan has never been more appealing to buyers on a budget,” said iSeeCars.com Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Looking through the study’s rankings confirms the many choices buyers have when seeking a longest-lasting car, truck or SUV.”

The Pilot came in sixth overall among all models. While sixth is certainly a respectable finish, we think it is more significant that the Pilot was first in its very important segment. Honda’s Pilot finished ahead of the Highlander (which is notably absent from the list), the Pathfinder, the Kia Telluride, and the Hyundai Palisade. In fact, none of those models are to be found among the top 20 longest-lasting models.

Honda very subtly kicked butt in this study. Many of the vehicles that ranked above the Pilot are gas-guzzling vehicle types that Honda simply refuses to build. If you look closely at the list, a quarter of the top sixteen models are Hondas. And in pretty much every case, a Honda ranks highest in its segment. Acura’s MDX also tops its segment.

While Toyota has been stealing headlines for generations for its dedication to quality, durability, and reliability, Honda has been in the mix all along. Note that Honda’s CR-V makes this list, but the Toyota RAV4 does not. Why does this matter? Well, simply because Toyota’s most popular-selling model is not ranked among the most reliable vehicles. Yet, Honda’s top-selling model tops its segment.

If you wish to dive more deeply into this great new study by iSeeCars, you can hit this link to jump to the summary page.

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his ten years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and TikTok @ToknCars, and view his credentials at Linkedin

Image of 2023 Honda Pilot courtesy of Honda