by They say that modern cars “die” after 200-300 thousand km, and then it’s a road to the service center or to the reseller. But there are cars for which such predictions are just laughable. Their mileage has long exceeded a million kilometers – and not a single engine overhaul. Autocar magazine has collected seven such resilient models (with specific examples)
Lexus LS 400 (1996)
The classic Japanese sedan with a gasoline V8 under the hood became a symbol of durability back in the 90s. One such car traveled over 1.6 million km without any intervention in the engine. The secret, as always, is simple: regular maintenance, quality oil, and no urge to “gun it from the traffic light”.
Saab 900 SPG (1989)
This turbocharged hatchback was created for driving thrill, not for marathons. But reality surpassed the engineers’ intentions: the car covered over 1.5 million km, working mainly on long routes. Despite numerous adventures on the road, including unexpected collisions, the car remained running and even became a museum exhibit.
Mercedes-Benz 240D (1981)
One of the most reliable diesel “Mercs” of all time. Thanks to a simple design, strict service discipline, and steely endurance, the 2.4-liter engine easily survived 2 million kilometers. A true hero of the old school, demonstrating: no turbos, just an honest naturally aspirated engine and scheduled oil changes.
Honda Accord (1990)
A versatile sedan that covered huge distances every day. The car was regularly serviced, did not ignore maintenance schedules, and ultimately covered over 1.5 million km. Meanwhile, the engine never knew what an overhaul was. Japanese reliability once again lived up to its reputation.
Chevrolet Silverado (1991)
The full-size pickup with a gasoline V8 was used as a workhorse – with loads, trailers, and routes thousands of kilometers long. And although it sounds like a scenario for an early trip to the scrapyard, this Chevrolet managed to cover over 1.5 million km thanks to careful operation and competent maintenance.
Hyundai Elantra (2013)
Not only old models are capable of records. This Elantra managed to cover over 1.5 million km in just five years. The reason – intensive daily use and strict adherence to technical regulations. Hyundai officially recognized this mileage – and even gave a gift.
BMW 325i (1990)
This BMW didn’t cover a million in real-world conditions, but it’s still impressive. The car covered the distance on a test bench, where daily operation with regular oil changes was simulated. Despite the laboratory environment, the engine turned out to be surprisingly resilient and did not require a major overhaul.
