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10 vehicles racking up the highest yearly mileage, led by a minivan at 20,872

Some vehicles are driven far more than the rest of the road, and a new mileage analysis puts numbers on it. Minivans and large SUVs fill almost every spot, with one sedan and one pickup breaking the pattern. Here are ten vehicles that rack up the highest yearly mileage, starting with the leader at 20,872 miles.

1. Chrysler Pacifica: Mileage Leader

Chrysler Pacifica — Image Credit: Alexander-93 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Alexander-93 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

The Pacifica averages 20,872 miles a year, 56.7% above the 13,323-mile gas-car average and the most of any gas vehicle, as reported by Motor1’s mileage ranking.

Minivans dominate the top of the list, and the gap over the typical gas car is wide. The figures describe how much each model is driven, not the reasons behind it, so the ranking says little about what owners use these vans for day to day. Even so, the margin over the average is large enough that the model stands apart from nearly every other gas vehicle tracked in the study.

2. Chrysler Voyager: Close Runner-Up

Chrysler Voyager — Image Credit: Cutlass - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Cutlass – CC0/Wiki Commons

Averaging 20,549 miles a year, the Voyager sits 54.2% above the gas-car average, according to the same Motor1 mileage analysis.

Only a few hundred miles separate it from the Pacifica at the top. The pair of Chrysler vans together set the pace for the entire list, which suggests the minivan body style is a strong predictor of heavy annual use in this dataset. Its near-identical figure also fits the fact that the two vans are closely related, so similar usage patterns are unsurprising for a pair like this.

3. Chevrolet Suburban: Big Hauler

Chevrolet Suburban — Image Credit: Kevauto - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Kevauto – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

The Suburban averages 19,626 miles a year, 47.3% above the gas-car average, based on Motor1’s reported data.

As the first full-size SUV on the list, it shows the heavy driving is not limited to minivans. The numbers cover mileage only, so they say nothing about fuel costs or how the miles are split between commuting, travel and work use. Still, a figure near 20,000 miles a year is high for a vehicle of this size and keeps it ahead of every other SUV in the ranking.

4. Kia Carnival: Minivan Number Three

Kia Carnival — Image Credit: MercurySable99 - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: MercurySable99 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Kia’s minivan averages 18,884 miles a year, 41.7% above the gas-car average, as shown in the Motor1 report.

That makes it the third minivan in the top four, reinforcing the pattern at the head of the list. It trails the Chrysler pair by roughly 1,700 to 2,000 miles a year, a gap that is notable but still leaves it far ahead of the typical gas car. Even a lower rank within the group represents far more driving than most gas-powered cars on American roads see in a typical twelve months.

5. Chevrolet Malibu: Sedan Standout

Chevrolet Malibu — Image Credit: HJUdall - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: HJUdall – CC0/Wiki Commons

The Malibu averages 18,857 miles a year, the only ordinary sedan in the top 10, according to Carscoops’ coverage of the rankings.

Nearly every other entry is a minivan or a large SUV, so a mainstream sedan stands out. The source offers no explanation for its place, and the figure alone does not show who is driving these cars or what they are used for. Because it sits among much larger vehicles, the result is a useful reminder that heavy mileage is not confined to any single body style.

6. GMC Yukon XL: Long-Wheelbase Workhorse

GMC Yukon XL — Image Credit: HJUdall - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: HJUdall – CC0/Wiki Commons

With an average of 18,734 miles a year, the Yukon XL runs 40.6% above the gas-car average, per Carscoops’ mileage roundup.

Large GM SUVs take two spots on the list, with the Suburban ahead of it. The numbers do not separate private owners from fleets or livery operators, so the cause of the heavy use remains an open question. Even so, the figure places it comfortably ahead of several rivals and well above what the average gas-powered vehicle racks up in a year.

7. Nissan Armada: Full-Size Contender

Nissan Armada — Image Credit: HJUdall - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: HJUdall – CC0/Wiki Commons

The Armada averages 18,098 miles a year, 35.8% above the gas-car average, according to Carscoops’ reporting on the data.

Its figure is lower than the vans and GM SUVs ahead of it, yet still well above the national gas-car norm. As with the rest of the list, the data describes how far the vehicles travel rather than why they are on the road so much. Those higher totals still count as heavy use, and they place the model solidly within the group of the most-driven vehicles reported.

8. Toyota Sequoia: Japanese Heavyweight

Toyota Sequoia — Image Credit: Elise240SX - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Elise240SX – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

Toyota’s full-size SUV averages 17,856 miles a year, which is 34.0% above the gas-car average, according to WKRN’s summary of the findings.

It is one of three large SUVs in the final stretch of the ranking. The gap between it and the leading Pacifica is about 3,000 miles a year, a reminder of how steeply the average falls even within this high-mileage group. Even at the lower end of the list, the model still beats the national gas-car average by roughly a third, which is a sizable difference.

9. Ford Expedition MAX: Stretched Ford

Ford Expedition MAX — Image Credit: Ethan Llamas - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Ethan Llamas – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons

The Expedition MAX averages 17,299 miles a year, 29.8% above the gas-car average, as WKRN’s report on annual mileage shows.

The extended-length body gives it room for passengers and cargo, which may suit heavy use, though the source does not say so. Its place near the bottom of the top 10 still leaves it nearly 30% above the typical gas vehicle. The result also shows that even vehicles at the bottom of the ranking are driven substantially more than the typical gas car in service.

10. GMC Sierra 1500 Limited: Lone Pickup

GMC Sierra 1500 Limited — Image Credit: Charles from Port Chester, New York - CC0/Wiki Commons
Image Credit: Charles from Port Chester, New York – CC0/Wiki Commons

The Sierra 1500 Limited averages 17,069 miles a year, 28.1% above the gas-car average and the only pickup in the top 10, per WKRN’s mileage coverage.

Closing out the list, it is the sole truck among a field of vans, SUVs and one sedan. The figure points to heavy use but cannot show whether the miles come from work, towing or long commutes, since the data reports totals only. Its inclusion is a notable exception, because pickups are often assumed to be heavily used yet only one managed to reach the top ten here.


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