A Used Car Has 150,000 Highway Miles — Is That Better Than 80,000 City Miles?

A 150,000-mile highway car can experience less stop-and-go wear than an 80,000-mile city vehicle, but maintenance history and current condition matter more than the odometer alone – Shutterstock

A used car with 150,000 highway miles can sometimes make more sense than one with 80,000 city miles. That sounds backward until you consider what those miles actually involve.

Highway driving usually puts fewer demands on brakes, transmissions, steering components, and cooling systems than constant stop-and-go traffic. City driving can rack up wear faster because the car repeatedly accelerates, brakes, idles, turns, bumps over rough pavement, and starts again.