Keeping your car for a long time can save you a lot of cash. And some frugal folks are superstars when it comes to driving their vehicle until they run it into the ground.
Among American drivers, an average of 3.7% of original car owners keep their vehicle for at least 15 years, according to iSeeCars. Recently, the car search and research company looked at more than 929,000 cars from the 1981-2009 model years that were sold in 2024 in an attempt to discover which models remain with their owners for more than a decade.
Based on that analysis, these are the cars that have the highest percentage of owners who drive their vehicle for at least 15 years.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 7% (1.9 times more than the average)
In 2004, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid was unveiled as the first seven-seat hybrid vehicle, although it’s built on the Toyota Camry platform. It showed the world that hybrid cars don’t have to be small.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.9% (1.8 times more than the average)
When the Toyota Camry made its debut in 1983, it was considered to be a compact car. Over the years, it grew into a midsize car and is now one of America’s most popular midsize sedans.
The Camry Hybrid came along in 2006. It’s built on the same hybrid technology used on the Toyota Prius.
Toyota Highlander
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.6% (1.8 times more than the average)
The Toyota Highlander was introduced in 2001 and offered the “best of both worlds” — handling like a car but designed to go off-road if needed — according to Motor Trend. It’s a midsize SUV, larger than the Toyota RAV4 but smaller than the 4Runner.
A hybrid version was introduced just a few years after the debut of the original Highlander.
Toyota Tacoma
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.4% (1.7 times more than the average)
In the mid-1990s, the Toyota Tacoma was known as a compact pickup. But after a series of refinements, it found its way into the midsize category. The name is derived from the Salish Indian word for the mountain in Washington state that we know today as Mount Rainier.
Toyota Prius
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.3% (1.7 times more than the average)
The Toyota Prius dates back to 1997, when it became the first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle in the world, complete with its own tagline: “Just in time for the 21st century.”
The first generation was powered by a specially designed VVT-i 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, which gave it double the fuel efficiency of gas-powered cars with half the carbon dioxide emissions.
Honda CR-V
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.3% (1.7 times more than the average)
Honda CR-Vs have been on the market since 1997, making it one of the longest-standing compact SUV models. It’s also one of the most popular.
Ford Escape Hybrid
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.3% (1.7 times more than the average)
The Ford Escape Hybrid began life in 2004 — just three years after the original Escape debuted — making it the first hybrid SUV on the market. It remains a reasonably priced option for those looking beyond traditional SUVs.
Toyota RAV4
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 6.2% (1.6 times more than the average)
In 1994, the Toyota RAV4 made its debut as the first-ever crossover vehicle, according to Toyota: It had the look and feel of an SUV but was built on a unibody platform.
The fourth and latest generation of the vehicle has been on the market since 2013.
Lexus IS 350
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 5.8% (1.5 times more than the average)
In 2005, the Lexus IS was introduced to U.S. consumers as a compact sports sedan. It was originally named the Toyota Altezza when it was unveiled in Japan in 1998. (The Lexus and Toyota brands are both owned by the same company, the Toyota Motor Co.)
Nissan Versa
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 5.7% (1.5 times more than the average)
The Nissan Versa arrived in U.S. dealerships in 2006, and by the following year it had won Consumers Digest’s “Best Buy Award.” It has a reputation for comfort and usability.
Toyota Tundra
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 5.5% (1.5 times more than the average)
The first Toyota Tundra was built in the city of Princeton, Indiana — and unveiled at the 1998 Indiana State Fair. In 2008, production of this pickup truck moved to Texas.
Honda Ridgeline
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 5.5% (1.5 times more than the average)
Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks first hit the market in 2006 with a score of 84 out of 100 from J.D. Power, which was based on hundreds of thousands of opinions from verified car owners.
They’re built on the same platform as the Honda Pilot. This means they drive more like a car, which appeals to many drivers.
Subaru Forester
Share of cars that are at least 15 years old that have been kept by the original owner: 5.5% (1.5 times more than the average)
Subaru unveiled the Forester in the 1990s as a way to compete in the lucrative crossover market. Originally named the “Streega,” it was renamed the Forester before its debut in 1998.
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