While short-term leasing became popular during the post-recession years, vehicle owners are holding onto their rides for longer periods than ever. Americans now reportedly keep their cars, trucks and SUVs for an average of around eight years according to TheZebra.com , with the typical model on the road having been driven for 12.
5 years. Affordability – actually the lack of it – is a key factor here, with Kelley Blue Book reporting the average transaction price for a new model, though down a bit this year, still approaches a whopping $48,400. But as we all know, some cars last longer without saddling their owners with chronic repair bills and age more gracefully than others, which helps make long-term vehicular relationships more amenable for several years past their final car-loan payments.
Which models do motorists hold onto most tenaciously? A study conducted by the online marketplace iSeeCars.com determined which ones have the highest percentage of original buyers who keep them for 15 years or longer, reflecting a high degree of satisfaction with regard to quality, reliability and ownership costs. The site’s statisticians found that the “most loved” vehicles in this regard come from Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Hyundai and Subaru.
Perhaps surprisingly, several of the top-rated vehicles are hybrid-powered, which indicates a high-level of consumer satisfaction with gas/electric models that their current sales boom reflects. The results are based on an examinatio.