Some car owners don’t need the latest and greatest when it comes to their wheels. In fact, a subset keep theirs 15 years or more.
Online auto search engine and research site iSeeCars.com took a close look at infrequent traders to find which vehicle models inspire the most loyalty. The analysis produced a list dominated by one brand.
Based on the percentage of owners who keep their cars 15 years or more, Toyota comes out on top with seven models on the list, including the top five. The Highlander Hybrid inspires the most allegiance, 7% of its original owners keeping it at least 15 years.
The Japanese automaker’s other models on the loyalty ranking are, in ranked order, the Camry Hybrid, the nonhybrid Highlander, the Tacoma, Prius, RAV4 and Tundra.
In fact, the list of 13 models is all Japanese brands except for one by a U.S.-based automaker: the Ford Escape Hybrid. The others are from Toyota’s luxury line, Lexus, and Honda, Nissan and Subaru.
The preponderance of hybrids on the list suggests their higher fuel efficiency and lower operating costs help make them keepers, iSeeCars said. The company said earlier research it conducted found overall average new-car ownership lasts about eight years, meaning long-termers keep their rides twice that.
“The functional, high-value nature of these models aligns with long-term ownership,” said Executive Analyst Karl Brauer in a press release on the study. “If you’re keeping a car for 15 or more years you want reliability, practicality, and fuel efficiency, traits all of these cars offer.”
IseeCars also ranked brands, SUVs and pickups based on their hyper-loyal followings. Mazda and Hyundai made the brands list in fourth and fifth places, respectively, though they’re not represented on the individual model ranking.
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