THE Toyota Tundra, which is in the final stages of being evaluated for the Australian market, has just been named as the longest-lasting vehicle in America.

Market analyst, iSeeCars, has revealed that the Tundra, Toyota’s largest pick-up truck, has a more than 36 per cent probability of reaching 250,000 miles, roughly 400,000km, during its life.

This is more than four times the average potential mileage most US market vehicles achieve in their lifetime. iSeeCars says that, overall, the average chance of all cars sold in America achieving 400,000km is just a little more than eight per cent.  If Toyota locally gives the green light, the Tundra is to be imported into Australia for conversion to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw Group at its factory in Clayton in Melbourne’s east. 

Walkinshaws have already converted 189 Tundras and these are under a trial that is now entering its fourth month with select customers participating in the so-called Tundra Insider Program. 

Senior Toyota management has expressed confidence in the quality of the imported vehicles and the quality of the conversions in Melbourne.

Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing, and franchise operations Sean Hanley told the media recently that any quality issues found during the trial have been small in nature, and that signs are positive the Tundra will launch in the local market soon.

“We’re in contact with 189 different customers on a regular basis and our quality issues have been low. We’ve had a couple of small things, some from the donor vehicle, and some just pure warranty things that we’ve had to address, but nothing major,” Mr Hanley said.Should the project proceed here, the news from America will give sales staff in Toyota showrooms an impressive peg on which to hang the Tundra which is to be pitched to buyers as an on-road, heavy-duty towing workhorse with better power, torque and towing capabilities than the LandCruiser.

Of the other pick-ups converted by Walkinshaws that were named in the iSeeCars survey, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is rated 10th in the US survey and the RAM 1500 was rated 30th.According to the data, around 18 per cent of Silverados are likely to reach greater than 400,000km but, according to the iSeeCars survey, only 11.5 per cent of RAMs are likely to reach greater than 400,000km. 

For the record, Toyota is the longest-lasting brand in the iSeeCars survey, making up nine of the 30 longest-lasting models. Along with the Tundra the closely-related Sequoia, then the 4Runner, Tacoma, and the Highlander Hybrid occupied the top five slots in the survey of more than 400 million cars.

Sean Hanley

Honda is the second longest-lasting brand with six models in the top 30. SUVs dominate the list, taking up 16 slots in the Top 30, followed by eight pickup trucks and four sedans.

Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst said in a statement: “Modern vehicles are getting more durable, with 30 models offering between a 12 and 36 per cent chance of reaching a quarter million miles. 

“Many consumers still consider a car’s usable lifespan to end at 100,000 miles. But our latest longest-lasting study confirms that even 200,000 miles isn’t the end of the line for many cars. 

“The top nine cars on this year’s list have a better than 20 per cent chance of hitting 250,000 miles,” Mr Brauer said.

Footnote: In 2022, a New Zealand newspaper delivery driver revealed that his 1993 Toyota Corolla wagon had covered more than two million kilometres. He bought the Corolla second hand from Japan in 2000 with 80,000km on it and has since covered 5000km a week between Wellington and New Plymouth. It has been serviced every fortnight and the cam belt has been changed nearly 20 times. The engine, transmission and bodywork are original.