Vehicles made to last in Dayton

Full-size SUVs and Honda sedans and vans are the vehicles most likely to reach 200,000 miles or more in the Dayton area, according to a study by automotive research firm and car search engine iSeeCars.com.

iSeeCars analyzed over 13.8 million cars sold nationwide in 2018 to determine which models have the highest percentage of cars that reached 200,000 miles. The top 14 models identified each have at least 2.2 percent (almost three times the overall average) of their vehicles reach that mileage and include a mix of vehicle types with nine SUVs including a hybrid, three pickup trucks, a sedan and a minivan.

The longest-lasting vehicles to reach 200,000 miles in Dayton were:

1. Ford Expedition

2. GMC Yukon

3. Honda Accord

4. Chevrolet Suburban

5. Honda Odyssey “With the right maintenance and care, today’s vehicles have the potential to reach 200,000 miles,” said iSeeCars CEO Phong Ly. “While large SUVs and pickup trucks appear most often on the list, those looking for sedans and minivans can also find a vehicle that is proven to be a high-mileage hauler.”

Earning the top spot on the list nationwide is the Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV, with 7.4 percent of its vehicles reaching 200,000 miles.

Two additional Toyota SUVs make the list, including the fifth-ranked Toyota 4Runner midsize SUV and the seventh-ranked midsize Toyota Highlander Hybrid. A downside to driving an SUV is its gas mileage, and the Highlander Hybrid leads its class in fuel economy while offering thirdrow seating to provide a more fuel-efficient alternative to traditional gas-guzzling family vehicles.

Six American full-size SUVs account for the remaining SUVs on the list, including the second-ranked Chevrolet Suburban, the third-ranked Ford Expedition, the fourth-ranked GMC Yukon XL, the sixthranked Chevrolet Tahoe, the ninth-ranked GMC Yukon, and the 14th-ranked Lincoln Navigator.

Fresh ingredients

Casey’s General Store opened eight Ohio stores all within the last three years, and there are more on the way in the Dayton area.

The gas station chain is based in Des Moines, Iowa and had a limited store count for years. That’s because it cooks foods like doughnuts and pizza from scratch with fresh ingredients, so it could only have stores that were in reach of its Iowa distribution center.

But then in 2016, it opened an Indiana distribution center and since then it has been rapidly opening gas stations and convenience stores in new ter-

ritories, including entering Ohio for the fifirst time. The chain focuses on rural areas, with its stores in smaller communities such as New Lebanon, Jackson Center and Astonia. New stores are in the works in Tipp City, Huber Heights and Covington.

Gas prices on the rise

Gas prices could exceed $3 per gallon by May and costs at the pump will continue to rise into the summer, according to experts.

Dayton-area motorists saw gas prices jump more than 30 cents last week, a trend that reporter Holly Shively said drivers could expect through May. The average Dayton-area gas price Friday was $2.58 per gallon, up 71 cents from the 2019 low of $1.87 at the start of the new year.

RichGillette is theDayton DailyNews business editor. Hecan be reached at rich. gillette@coxinc.comoron Twitter@richgillette.