Drivers in metro Denver are 1.2 times more likely than drivers nationally to keep cars they bought new on the road for 15 years or more, according to a new study from
About 9.4 percent of the cars and trucks in metro Denver aged 15 years or older are still in the hands of their original owners versus 7.4 percent nationally, according to the study, which examined 750,000 vehicles made between 1981 and 2003.
“Vehicles that are kept for so many years show that they can stand the test of time and likely don’t have to frequently undergo expensive repairs,” said iSeeCars CEO Phong Ly in a release.
And as high as Denver’s retention may seem, it only ranked 30th among metro areas. In the Bay Area, 17.2 percent of the 15-plus vehicles purchased new were in the hands of their original owners. Honolulu, Houston and Baltimore also ranked high for longevity.
Being reliable, aging well and not saddling owners with high repair bills are key contributors to owner loyalty. Japanese makes do well in that regard. The Honda Pilot at 23.1 percent and the Honda Odyssey at 21.8 percent were top among metro Denver owners for longevity. The Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sienna, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Sequoia and Subaru Forester were other models that Denver drivers didn’t ever sell.
