Do Hondas Last Longer than Toyotas (Comparison)

It’s been a long-debated question, but do Hondas last longer than Toyotas? Both automakers design cars renowned for their quality and longevity, and both hold their value well throughout their respective lifetimes.

Toyota and Honda built a solid reputation based on reliability, affordability, and quality engineering over the years.

Do Hondas Last Longer than Toyotas?

For now, it seems that Toyotas consistently last longer than any given Honda model, in the real world, due to their time-tested reliability. According to Consumer Reports, Toyota is the third-most reliable automaker.

Unfortunately, Honda is only the fifth-most reliable automaker among all brands surveyed in 2020.

Also read: 3 Best Toyotas for the Money (with Exact Costs)

Honda vs. Toyota – Popular Model Comparison

These brands have stellar reputations for building vehicles with excellent fuel efficiency, reliability, and affordability. Let’s compare the potential lifespan of similar models from each brand.

Accord vs. Camry – The Accord and the Camry can potentially last anywhere between 200,000-300,000 miles. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles a year, then you’ll keep your Accord or Camry for 10-15 years. However, it isn’t unheard of to find outliers for either of these models that last into the 400,000 range. That’s potentially 25 years of driving.

If engine fuel efficiency is what you’re after on an Accord, I suggest the 192 hp, 1.5T turbo-four engine that gets 30/38 mpg city/highway or the 212 hp hybrid engine that gets 48/47 mpg.

The Camry continues to be one of the only cars that still offer a V6 option, and I would choose the 3.6L V6 engine. On its own, the engine cranks out 301 hp and 267 lb.-ft of torque at peak capacity; it also has an excellent fuel economy of 22/33 mpg city/highway.

2. Civic vs. Corolla – The Civic and the Corolla are compact cars with plenty of customer reviews because they are trendy and sought after for their reliability.

Honda Civics will generally last for 20 years or around 300,000 miles in its lifetime. As a result, they are highly dependable, despite not scoring as well as their Toyota rivals. When I think of a Corolla, I think of the pinnacle of longevity and quality engineering.

In 2018, Honda redesigned their Civic platform to include a 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbo that puts out 306 hp and 297 lb.-ft of torque. This engine is exclusive to the Civic Type-R, but it is widely considered a reliable engine comparable to the 2.0L 4-cylinder in most Civics. In addition, its fuel economy is excellent, sitting at 22/28 mpg city/highway.

Like its rival, Corollas will last for 300,000 miles. In 2010, the story of a high-mileage Toyota Corolla S dominated the airwaves. This particular vehicle had clocked 603,500 miles in just five years.

Toyota Corollas have remained the same over the years, receiving only minor technological upgrades and infotainment improvements. The engines haven’t changed much because they are reliable and will last well over 200,000 miles.

The 1.8L, 4-cylinder is a standard engine, included in their base models Corollas that can achieve 26/34 mpg city/highway. I am confident that this is one of the best engines you can find in a Corolla, and it will serve you well.

Also read: Honda vs. Toyota- Resale Value (1-10 Years)

3. Highlander vs. Pilot – Mid-sized SUVs are becoming more popular as customer preferences have shifted. Many consumers are looking for reliable family vehicles that also obtain great mileage.

Toyota Highlanders are well-designed and mirror the age-old reliability of Toyota vehicles and easily last for 300,000 miles. That is 20 years of driving, which is much longer than your typical SUV. Scotty Kilmer, a popular automotive Youtuber, gives the Highlander high marks and mentions that some Highlanders last up to 400,000 miles.

If you’re looking for reliability, then I would suggest the 2nd generation of the Highlander. While it doesn’t have the new gadgets that current models have, its 3.5L V6 will get you anywhere you need to go.

Honda Pilots are similar SUVs and are a beacon of reliability. Many reports suggest that a Pilot should last around 250,000-300,000 miles which gives it a potential of 16-20 years of driving. All Honda Pilots use a variant of the original 3.5L V6 engine. I suggest sticking with the third generation as any timing belt issues have been recalled and fixed.

4. RAV4 vs. CR-V – Compact SUVs are just a popular as ever, and for good reason. For instance, in 2020, Toyota RAV4 sold approximately 430,387 units, while the Honda CR-V only sold 323,502.

The difference is in the details, but your typical RAV4 can last approximately 200,000-250,000 or about 13 to 16 years of driving. Bill, a Youtuber for a channel called CarsThatLast, talks about specific models lasting anywhere between 329,000-372,000 miles but with transmission issues.

Toyota RAV4 have increased their reliability in each consecutive generation. However, I suggest buying from the third generation and sticking to the later models from 2009-2012. For these models, improvements in the 2.5L, 4-cylinder engine kept the vehicle fuel-efficient and reliable.

I consider the Honda CR-V to be durable and reliable. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it should give its owners 250,000-300,000 miles in its lifetime. That is approximately 15-20 years of driving.

Honda CR-V isn’t meant to be left out. However, owners favor the 1.5L 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine because it cranks out 190 hp and accelerates quickly. I suggest following their preference. Plus, it achieves 28/34 mpg city/highway.

Honda vs. Toyota: Reliability

Toyota and Honda use quality parts and innovative engineering to build cars that last and hold their value; this makes these vehicles popular. Let’s explore the general reliability of Toyota and Honda. Both automakers rely less on outside suppliers and more on their resources.

Honda – typically, their vehicles undergo more refining, and they don’t seem to change much in terms of engine design. For instance, its V6 engine dates back to the mid-1990s. Hondas have these issues:

Excessive oil consumption – this is common in vehicles with V6 engines. Initially, Honda blamed driver negligence but settled in a class-action lawsuit.
Vibrations when braking – this common issue usually occurs around 95,000 miles. The vibrations come from warped rotors, and it costs around $900 to fix.
Transmission issues – unfortunately, this is an issue reported before the 90,000-mile mark and costs around $2,291 to fix.

Toyota – they change structural and cosmetic designs of their vehicles but rarely make mechanical changes. The V6 engine used in many popular models is tweaked to meet EPA regulations but is fundamentally the same engine. Despite that, the cars have issues:

Excessive oil consumption – Affected cars could consume a quart of oil per 1,200 miles in some cases. Engine improvements and recalls usually took care of it. This job could cost somewhere between $1,200-$2,300.

Transmission issues – Generally, problems arise because of malfunctions in the Engine Control Module. A $900 repair bill to reprogram the ECM can take care of the problem.

Power Steering issues – Owners would often see a leak, and the rack and pinion would have to be replaced; eventually, the part failed again. This type of repair would cost $1,300 to fix.

Also read: Mazda vs Toyota: Which Brand is More Reliable?

Honda vs. Toyota: Particular Car Elements Lifespan

While both Honda and Toyota usually don’t require severe repairs, they still require regular maintenance. So in that regard, it’s wise to know the potential length of time certain parts would last.

Time (miles/years)	Honda	Toyota
Batteries	3-5 years/50,000 miles	3-5 years/50,000 miles
Transmissions	10-15 years/200,000 miles	15-20 years/250,000 miles
Brakes	4-5 years/65,000 miles	5-6 years/70,000 miles
Tires	4-5 years/60,000 miles	6 years
Spark Plugs	3 years/35,000 miles	3 years/35,000 miles

Honda vs. Toyota: Rust

Even the most reliable cars are subject to the inevitable problems that are associated with corrosion. This natural process occurs in Hondas and Toyotas due to driving conditions in the environment.

For the last 25 years, Civics and Accords have had the worst rusting problems. They rust in door frames, engine subframes, rear bumpers and joints, and quarter panels.

Places like the Snow Belt, where excessive moisture and chemicals are on the roads, cause more issues with rust.

Toyota trucks are notorious for rust issues. In 2016 there was a class-action lawsuit that cost the company 3.4 billion dollars to settle. The rusting problems affected Tacomas, Tundras, and Sequoias, compromising the structural integrity of the frames. Usually, these issues were caused by chemicals and moisture on the roads that corrode paint and protective coatings.

Also read: Do Hondas Last Longer than Toyotas (Comparison)

Conclusion

When it comes to reliability, Toyota seems to have the edge over Honda, sticking with time-tested features that have proven to work for them. In addition, keeping more control over all that goes into their vehicles has kept them mechanically sound over the years. As a result, Toyota can go several years without making fundamental changes to their product while keeping their reliability.

Yet, Honda appears to be getting over the hump and becoming more dependable. While their company and available resources aren’t as significant as Toyota’s, they are still competitive. Used Honda shoppers should see if any recalls or bulletins are outstanding before buying, but they can purchase new models without fear.