Can these cars go 300,000 miles?

Though our choices are based on a wide range of data, including reliability ratings for used and new vehicles and insurance-based maintenance records, some of the models best-suited to go the distance are to be expected, such as the Honda Accord, a sedan that for decades has been consistently among the most durable. Just last year, the owner of a 1990 Accord racked up 1 million miles.

2013 Honda Accord

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It was Japan, undeniably, that turned longevity into an industrywide priority, and Toyota has carried that tradition further than anyone. With its low breakdown rate and uncanny ability to stay drivable, the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the United States for the past decade. And ubiquity has its benefits; more models on the road means that it's easier, and cheaper, to find replacement parts.

2013 Toyota Camry

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"With some cars, it becomes more effective to just say, 'OK, this car's done,'" says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "Volvo is one brand where it makes sense to just keep replacing parts. Those vehicles are just so fixable." The most dependable Volvo is the C30, which cracked Consumer Reports' list of the 10 most reliable vehicles as recently as 2010.

2013 Volvo C30

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Though it's unclear just how well Detroit has closed the quality gap with Japan, Nerad makes an exception for full-size pickups. "They're throwback designs — big steel frames and tried-and-true 6-cylinder and V8 engines. It sounds clichéd, but they're built to last," he says. The Ford F-150, America's top-selling, famously reliable truck, is a solid choice.

2013 Ford F-150

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For the long haul, a full-size SUV is a gamble. They aren't standouts in terms of durability, and anyone still rumbling around in a Hummer knows how quickly consumer tastes and gas prices can shift. Crossovers, however, aren't going anywhere, and neither is the CR-V; it is rated the most reliable 4x4 by Warranty Direct.

2013 Honda CR-V

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Durability isn't necessarily one of Volkswagen's strong suits, but in terms of looks alone, the brand tends to age gracefully. "Sometimes, today's trend is tomorrow's disaster," Nerad says. He points out that bold designs from, say, Kia and Hyundai could backfire 10 years out. "Volkswagen is much cleaner, more classic, in its styling," Nerad says. The Passat is as timeless as a VW gets, a roomy, solid performer that promises to never embarrass.

2013 Volkswagen Passat

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Without a doubt, there are slicker-looking, better-driving hatchbacks. But the Yaris trounces competitors such as the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Golf in reliability. And in a 2012 J.D. Power and Associates study of used-car reliability, the Yaris was the highest-ranked subcompact, beating out the slightly higher-priced Honda Fit and Scion xD. The Yaris is the little car that could — or will.

2013 Toyota Yaris

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Certain kinds of powerplant complexity are potentially bad news down the line — overly tuned engines, for example, or the small, "mild hybrid" electric motors showing up in General Motors' eAssist models. But Subaru's famous all-weather, all-wheel drive is easily maintained, a trait backed up by the Forester's track record of repairs both rare and reasonably priced (compared with other crossovers). The Forester's consistently high safety marks should also inspire confidence, even as it ages.

2014 Subaru Forester

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Though models such as the Toyota Tundra tend to score well in reliability studies, Nerad gives the advantage to Ford and GMC. "American full-size trucks are built a little more robustly. It's almost overkill, in the amount of material in them and the strength of those materials," he says. The Sierra HD's road-oriented handling is a good fit for a truck that, after 200,000 miles, has no business splashing through muddy creeks.

2013 GMC Sierra 2500HD

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The choice between a Toyota Sienna and a Honda Odyssey is a toss-up. According to TrueDelta, which collects maintenance data from drivers, both minivans hit the shop less often than the Chrysler Town & Country. The Sienna is the smarter choice, though, because of its simplicity. The Odyssey's high-tech features, such as built-in Wi-Fi and satellite TV, not only bump the sticker price, but foretell pricey repairs to come.

2013 Toyota Sienna

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Is it possible for a car to not only survive old age, but to become sexier with each passing decade? Nearly any car can weather the decades in a garage, but the Mustang has a shot at achieving vintage glory while in heavy rotation. The car's V6 and V8 engines are sturdy, workmanlike powerplants — nowhere near as breakdown-prone as those found in Porsches or BMWs — and this year, J.D. Power and Associates rated the Mustang highest in initial quality in its segment.

2013 Ford Mustang

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The cars most likely to outlast the rest are the ones you'll barely notice. We're thinking of cars such as the compact Civic; it is practically designed to be invisible. Again, the trick to an extended lifespan is simplicity. The Civic Hybrid and natural-gas-burning Civic GX are sustainable-tech pioneers, but if the finish line is 300,000 miles away, the plain, gas-burning Civic wins the race.

2013 Honda Civic

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For more information on any of the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Honda Accord
-Toyota Camry
-Volvo C30
-Ford F-150
-Honda CR-V
-Volkswagen Passat
-Toyota Yaris
-Subaru Forester
-GMC Sierra HD
-Toyota Sienna
-Ford Mustang
-Honda Civic

Compare: All 12 Vehicles

Based out of the Boston area, Erik Sofge is frequent contributor to Popular Mechanics and Slate.com. He specializes in everything scientific and technical.

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