Pickup trucks i SUV they are the go-to vehicles for most buyers today. Both offer many benefits for many different people. It is their versatility that makes them so attractive. For families, it’s the practicality of having enough space for all members and their luggage, not to mention its off-road capability (to a certain extent). For others, pickup trucks are not just utility vehicles, pickup trucks are used to tow and transport heavy things, where transportation is a way of life from construction to farming and ranching.
No matter what the appeal, both are very popular vehicles in the US and therefore their engines should be reliable and last a long time. As reliable as pickup truck and SUV engines are, some are more reliable than others. Using information gathered from two iSeeCars Longest Car and Car Lifetime studies, as well as vehicle history data, we’ve compiled a list of five pickup truck and SUV engines that will last you a lifetime. life
10 Toyota Tundra
Toyota might as well have a seal for their vehicles that says don’t question the reliability because it’s rock solid. So it’s not really a headliner that the Tundra is on this list for a pickup truck with a reliable engine. It’s one of the most reliable full-size pickup trucks out there.
The second-generation Tundra offers the most reliable, a 5.7-liter V8 that makes 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. The naturally aspirated V8 is so reliable that it has been in Toyota vehicles for about 14 years. The iSeeCars Lifetime Study places the Toyota Tundra at the top of trucks with the longest life expectancy, with a potential 256,022 miles. They also found that 4.0% of Tundra trucks will exceed 200,000 miles, which is nearly double the pickup average of 2.2%. Additionally, Vehicle History states that “reaching 300,000 miles is not out of the norm” for a Tundra, while one owner comments on putting nearly 400,000 miles on his Tundra pickup truck.
9 Honda Ridgeline
Honda is a company that definitely does not fall into the category of the least reliable car brands. With legendary engines that every gearhead should know about like the Honda B-Series, it’s not hard to see why Honda engines are so good.
They’re the heart of its reliability, and the ones that go into the Honda Ridgeline make the midsize pickup one of the most reliable trucks out there. Honda has used the same 3.5-liter V6 in the Ridgeline since it hit the market in 2006. That’s how reliable this engine is. It ranks second in an iSeeCars study, with 3.7% of Honda Ridgelines surpassing 200,000 miles with a potential lifespan of 248,669 miles. Vehicle History claims that the “Honda Ridgeline may be the most reliable truck on the market” and that “these engines routinely go 200,000 miles with just oil changes and scheduled maintenance.” One owner claims they’ve done 257,000 miles and it’s still rock solid.
8 Toyota Tacoma
You don’t become America’s best-selling midsize pickup truck for nearly two decades without doing something right. And one of those right things is being powered by engines that don’t let you down. There’s a choice of two engines, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V6, and both are very reliable.
According to Vehicle History, the Toyota Tacoma is one of the longest-lasting trucks on the road today, with at least one reaching an incredible 1.5 million miles. Many owners report putting over 300,000 miles on their Tacoma. iSeeCars ranks third with a potential lifespan of 235,070 miles, where 2.8% of Tacomas will last past 200,000 miles. Simply put, Toyota’s reputation for reliable engines remains strong with the Tacoma pickup truck.
7 Ford F-150
Ford trucks have been the best-selling trucks in the United States for more than four decades and are generally considered one of the most reliable brands on the market when it comes to durability. Much of this is due to its engine. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost is Ford’s most reliable F-150 engine ever. It has a life expectancy of up to 250,000 miles; however, some owners have reported reaching close to 300,000 miles with proper attention to maintenance and care.
According to iSeeCars, the Ford F-150 has a potential useful life of 232,650 miles, with 2.4% of these trucks exceeding 200,000 miles, slightly above the pickup truck average. For a pickup truck with one of the most reliable engines, the Ford F-150 definitely earns a spot on this list.
6 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a history of being a reliable and durable full-size pickup truck. That’s largely from the engine that’s under the hood. The Chevrolet small block engine has stood the test of time and is well known in the automotive industry for powering Chevy trucks for many decades. It’s not just about trucks either, in its time the small block has powered some iconic muscle cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang GT350. Small and large blocks are highly regarded for their power and reliability.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is one of those pickups that has a reliable engine that will last a long time. According to iSeeCars, the Silverado 1500 has a potential lifespan of 230,515 miles, with 2.3% of them achieving more than 200,000 miles. However, Vehicle History says that “many owners have reported owning Silverados with more than 300,000 miles on the odometer.”
5 Toyota Sequoia
When the average life of a car engine is around 200,000 miles, don’t expect the Toyota Sequoia, expect a lot more. Of course, being a Toyota, you know there’s reliability all around. It’s no surprise that Toyota engines are some of the most iconic engines ever made and are highly reliable.
That’s exactly what you get in the Sequoia. In the latest generation, there’s a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid; however, in earlier models, there are powerful 4.6-liter V8 and 5.7-liter V8 engines. After conducting their study, iSeeCars ranked the Sequoia number one with a potential lifespan of 296,509 miles. When it comes to car reliability, this is an impressive figure. Also, on average, 14.2% of Toyota Sequoias will reach the 200,000 mile mark. This is an SUV that has one of the most reliable engines under the hood.
4 Chevrolet Suburban
Here’s another offering from Chevrolet, this time in the form of a full-size SUV. Capable of seating nine, some might call the Chevrolet Suburban a perfect family SUV that has been around since the mid-1930s. The new generation offers a choice of two V8 engines (a 5.3-litre and a 6.2-litre) or a 3.0-litre diesel.
As we’ve seen with the Silverado, Chevy engines are very reliable, and the Suburban is an SUV powered by a long-lasting engine. iSeeCars ranked it the third highest in its study, with the Suburban having a potential lifespan of 265,732 miles. iSeeCars also found that 6.6 percent of Chevrolet Suburbans will last more than 200,000 miles. According to Vehicle History, there are also some rare claims of owners having close to 300,000 miles on their odometer, with proper maintenance.
3 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size SUV that seats seven to eight people. It’s another SUV powered by one of the best small block engines of all time, the Chevy small block. The latest generation Tahoe has either a 5.3-liter V8 or a 6.2-liter V8. As we know from the Silverado pickup truck and the Chevrolet Suburban, the Chevy small block is a powerful and reliable machine that can last for many years when properly cared for.
iSeeCars ranks it seventh on its longest-lasting car list, with a potential lifespan of 250,338 miles, while 4.4% of Tahoe SUVs last longer than the benchmark 200,000 miles. Depending on the vehicle’s history, you can expect to get up to 300,000 miles from a Tahoe, with regular maintenance. However, some Vehicle History owners claim over 300,000 miles and one owner claims over 400,000 miles.
2 GMC Yukon XL
The GMC Yukon XL is a full-size SUV that uses the same platform as the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe. It’s powered by a 5.3-liter V8, capable of producing 355 hp and 363 lb-ft of torque, and is one of the most reliable engines in an SUV. But that’s not surprising considering GM uses the small-block engine in many of its cars. It has a long service life that the Vehicle History states is “at least 200,000 miles with regular maintenance.”
Also, the owners claim they are “almost 350,000 miles and counting” and “220,000 still running.” Additionally, the iSeeCars study found that the potential lifespan of a GMC Yukon XL was 252,360 miles, and that 5.2 percent of Yukon XLs will reach the coveted 200,000 miles. This is definitely an SUV with a reliable engine.
1 Toyota 4Runner
Another Toyota has a place on this list as a mid-size SUV that has a reliable engine. Armed with Toyota’s reputation for bulletproof reliability, the 4.0-liter V6 engine is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most reliable engines ever put into a vehicle. It’s been living under the hood of a 4Runner since the late 1980s, and as we know, Toyota’s reliability is beyond question.
The 4Runner’s engine has a potential life of 244,665 miles, according to iSeeCars’ longevity study findings, and 4.6 percent of 4Runners will last beyond the 200,000-mile target. Vehicle History calls the 4Runner “one of the brand’s most reliable vehicles, with many 4Runners living to see up to 300,000 miles,” with proper maintenance. Some owners report that they have over 300,000 miles on their odometer, with one person reporting a mileage of 320,000 and another with 338,000.
