15 Cars Owners Still Love After Years of Driving

There’s no doubt about it – new cars are exciting. But we car geeks also know the joy of building a bond with a vehicle and maybe even giving her a name. We also know how hard it is to give that broken-in car to the great beyond when it’s time ‌to let her go. 

Those of us who like to get comfortable and settle into our whips long-term need to be selective about our choices. So, in the spirit of long-term connection and camaraderie with our commuters, here are 15 cars owners love after years of driving.

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is the quintessential cross between comfort, safety, and power. With class-leading reliability, its ownership costs are low and manageable. In fact, a recent study reports that Highland owners hold on to their cars almost two and a half times longer than the typical car owner, and it’s no mystery why.

The Highlander boasts a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder turbo engine and a towing capacity of 5000 pounds. With the ability to swap between Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive, a cozy 12.3-in. multimedia screen to guide the way, and ‌heated and ventilated front seats, it’s easy to get comfy in this big, bold beauty. 

Toyota Prius

There’s no shortage of jokes about the Toyota Prius, but it’s neck-and-neck with the Highlander for vehicles owners keep for over a decade. The Prius packs a surprising amount of power, with 194hp front-wheel drive and 196 all-wheel‌ drive. Fuel figures of 57 mpg make this car hard to replace. 

Owners love the Prius’ 2.0L 4-cylinder hybrid engine and Electronically Controlled Continuous Variable Transmission (ECVT) after a decade or two of ownership. Did you know the modern Prius can go 0–60 in seven seconds? 

Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small, sporty ripper that drivers hold on to for decades. Miata geeks will mod this car repeatedly–the more custom, the stronger its statement, they say. 

But even with its stock specs, the MX-5 is worth holding on to. Its 181-hp-pushing SKYACTIV-G2 2.0 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine fires 181hp at 7,000 rpm. The integrated SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual transmission makes driving the contemporary Miata a blast for years. 

Honda CR/V

Honda describes the CR/V  as “the hybrid that gives you more,” so it’s no wonder CR/V owners keep their whips for nearly two times longer than average. Even the base-model CR/V is reliable and safe.

That said, when you upgrade to the Sport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, or Sport Touring Hybrid options, you add a sporty aesthetic and a highly responsive 204-horsepower powertrain to the package. 190hp at 6,000rpm, and Honda’s signature Real-Time All-Wheel-Drive with an Intelligent Control System balances with a Driver-Assistive tech option to keep its owners happy. 

Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is one of our all-time favorite vehicles, so we’re not surprised to see it high on the list of cars owners love after years of driving. In fact, 14.5% of Tacomas that are 15 years old still belong to the person who bought them. 

The Tacoma boasts a max hp of 326 and a max torque of 465 lb-ft. This rugged little ripper of a truck can tow 6500 lbs. Choosing between an 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission guarantees the buyer will love driving their Tacoma for decades. 

Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester owners are committed to this quintessential tourer, so much so that 12.8% of original drivers hang on to their Forester for at least 15 years. Suburu’s Standard EyeSight Driver Assist package makes driving a Forester an interactive adventure. 

True to its namesake, the Forester makes the perfect ‌camp vehicle. A Starlink multimedia package integrates seamlessly with Apple or Android phones, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance keeps camping options open. For adventurers who want to push Forester’s boundaries,  the 2024 Wilderness trim adds 17-inch matte black-finish alloy wheels and Yokohama GEOLANDAR all-terrain tires.

BMW Z4

The BMW Z4 is one of the sports cars owners hold onto the longest due to its signature style and world-class engineering. The standard BMW Z4 sDRIVE30i packs a horsepower of 255hp. Don’t let this modest figure mislead; with 295lb-ft of torque, the base model still hits 0–60mph in 5.2 seconds.

On the other hand, the enhanced BMW Z4 M40i stocks a 3-liter TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder engine that cranks out 382hp and 369 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm. Riders who choose what they like from the beginning are more likely to stay in love long-term.

Toyota 4RUNNER

Whether we’re lugging gear up a mountain or commuting our family through the city, the Toyota 4Runner is one of the most reliable choices we’ll ever make. 4Runner owners are 1.5 times more likely to keep the car for a decade and a half than average. 

The 4Runner boasts a 4.0-liter V6 and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs. Its dependability is matched only by its comfort on and off the road. The modern 4Runner stocks an 8-inch touchscreen, selectable 4-wheel drive, and an impressive JBL audio system. Whether drowning out the sounds of kids or coyotes, 15 speakers, with an amplifier and subwoofer, can keep drivers happy. 

Honda Pilot

Honda Pilot owners have loved this mid-sized SUV for years thanks to its comfort-meets-safety orientation. Still, the Pilot produces a surprising 285hp at a peak rpm of 6,100.

All-season tires, stock roof rails, and a seating capacity of eight make the Pilot the ideal family cruiser. Switching between its Normal, ECON, Snow, Tow, and Sport driving modes makes the Honda Pilot a lovable and versatile driving experience. 

BMW M5

Not many sedans hit the streets as flashy and sporty as the BMW M5 Sedan. M5 owners hang onto this pup for longer than most sports car owners care to admit, and we get it. 

The MxDrive is BMW’s most performance-oriented all-wheel drive system, allowing drivers to select between 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD modes for maximum road control. It also packs a powerhouse of an engine. Its 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8 motor has a BMW-original oil pan design that holds pressure when navigating technical corners.

Toyota Tundra 

Toyota Tundra owners are somewhere around two times more likely to keep their trucks for over a decade than the average driver. The top-line Tundra packs impressive power–its i-Force Max motor pushes out 437hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. But even the base model engine hits 389hp.

The Tundra has become the prime example of how to mix rugged dependability with high-class comfort. Its Multi-Terrain Select lets drivers choose from five different terrain modes.  Refined driver control and a locking rear differential make driving the Tundra enjoyable on and off the road. 

Toyota Corolla

Reader’s Digest reports that the Toyota Corolla is officially the best-selling car of all time, with almost 50 million units sold worldwide. Corolla owners aren’t quick to fall out of love with their ideal sedans either, as 11.4% of OG Colorolla owners keep their cars for at least 15 years.

Fly sport seats and intuitive driving controls enhance the Corolla’s roomy interior. A touchscreen display controls an intuitive navigation system and phone connectivity to help you further personalize your drive.

Nissan Frontier

With a 310-horsepower V6 and a 9-speed automatic transmission available on the base model, it’s no wonder Frontier owners love driving this car after years of ownership. The Frontier’s towing capabilities reach 6,640 lbs. Its 3.8-liter DIG DOHC 24-valve V6 engine chops at 281 lb-ft of torque. 

Almost 9% of original Frontier drivers still love their trucks after 15 years of ownership, and it might have something to do with Nissan’s habit of building out their base models. An accessible touchscreen display with the NissanConnect OS, impressive rear-underseat storage, and a 73.3-inch bed length keep drivers happy for years. 

Chevrolet Corvette 

The Chevy Corvette is as American as watching Adam Sandler movies while eating Apple Pie, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the longest-kept sportscars around. The modern Stingray is more refined than ever, with a quarter-mile time of 11.2 fast seconds, thanks to 495 horsepower.

By 2024, a Driver Mode Selector will be standard on all Corvette models. Modern Vet drivers can choose from preset modes, such as Weather, Tour, Sport, and Track. The modern Corvette also equips customizable driving modes. When properly employed, custom modes can keep the driving experience fresh for years. 

Honda Civic 

The Honda Civic is the car to buy for drivers seeking efficiency, safety, dependability, and comfort that holds up after years of ownership. The contemporary Civic boasts Honda’s signature Sensing Safety and Driver-Assistance features, making it a prime choice for comfortable commuting and meditative cruising.

It’s not hard to figure out why Civic owners keep their cars for as long as they can. The ownership costs are highly manageable, and Civic’s reliability is legendary. Plus, a 160-watt audio system is just what the doctor ordered for long-term love-driving.