Brands Ranked on Hyper-Loyal Followers
A few stand out when it comes to the submarket of owners who keep their cars a very long time.

More long-term owners keep the hybrid Toyota Highlander than any other model, according to the research.
Toyota
Some car owners don’t need the latest and greatest when it comes to their wheels. In fact, a subset keep theirs 15 years or more.
Online auto search engine and research site iSeeCars.com took a close look at infrequent traders to find which vehicle models inspire the most loyalty. The analysis produced a list dominated by one brand.
Based on the percentage of owners who keep their cars 15 years or more, Toyota comes out on top with seven models on the list, including the top five. The Highlander Hybrid inspires the most allegiance, 7% of its original owners keeping it at least 15 years.
The Japanese automaker’s other models on the loyalty ranking are, in ranked order, the Camry Hybrid, the nonhybrid Highlander, the Tacoma, Prius, RAV4 and Tundra.
In fact, the list of 13 models is all Japanese brands except for one by a U.S.-based automaker: the Ford Escape Hybrid. The others are from Toyota’s luxury line, Lexus, and Honda, Nissan and Subaru.
The preponderance of hybrids on the list suggests their higher fuel efficiency and lower operating costs help make them keepers, iSeeCars said. The company said earlier research it conducted found overall average new-car ownership lasts about eight years, meaning long-termers keep their rides twice that.
“The functional, high-value nature of these models aligns with long-term ownership,” said Executive Analyst Karl Brauer in a press release on the study. “If you’re keeping a car for 15 or more years you want reliability, practicality, and fuel efficiency, traits all of these cars offer.”
IseeCars also ranked brands, SUVs and pickups based on their hyper-loyal followings. Mazda and Hyundai made the brands list in fourth and fifth places, respectively, though they’re not represented on the individual model ranking.
LEARN MORE: How to Improve Retention, Defection and Conquests
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →