Fun fact: If we're talking about how long the current generation of a model has been around, the Dodge Durango is the oldest American SUV on the road. The third generation debuted for the 2011 model year, and, while it's had its share of updates since then, it's still largely the same SUV it was 15 years ago.Meanwhile, Tesla has been skipping the whole generational relaunch structure entirely, issuing continual updates, instead, so you have, for instance, the 14-year-old Tesla Model S, still on its first generation at the time of its retirement.So this gets us wondering: American automakers don't mind selling the same car for a decade or longer. What about Japanese automakers? If anything, Toyota seems almost too eager at times to introduce a new model, driving the prices of the 2023 Tacoma up with the 2024 relaunch, for instance. But is that always the case? Well, thanks to Mitsubishi, Mazda, and, surprisingly, Lexus, the answer is "not necessarily". The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Has Been On Its First Generation Since 2011 Mitsubishi The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has been around since the 2011 model year, and while it's had a handful of facelifts, it's still essentially the same car it was 15 years ago.You can scour our reviews for this car, and you'll have a hard time turning up a lot of positive comments. The Outlander Sport is reliable, we'll give it points for that, and Mitsubishi does a fine job of making the car look newer than it really is with occasional facelifts. Beyond that, we've generally found this car to be old and outdated. It's not a lot of fun to drive, the powertrain feels downright wimpy in 2026, and the cabin feels cheap and plasticky. People Keep Buying This Car Mitsubishi Despite all of its shortcomings, the Outlander Sport has had no problem meeting its (presumably modest) sales goals year after year.The Outlander Sport isn't exactly dominating the crossover market, but it's clear that underwhelmed auto reviewers have done little to sway buyers away from the SUV, no matter how hard we try. So, what keeps drivers coming back to the most outdated Japanese car on the market?Well, let's take a look at the trims. 2.0 S - $24,995 2.0 ES - $26,595 2.0 LE - $27,495 2.0 SE - $28,845 2.4 SEL - $29,695 Cars aren't getting any cheaper. There's nothing left under $20,000, and the average price is closer to $50,000 as of early 2026. Bearing that in mind, it's not so surprising that the Outlander Sport is still kicking. It's cheap, it's reliable, and it averages 26 miles to the gallon, combined. If you're a budget-conscious driver, you could do a lot worse. The Third-Gen Lexus IS Has Been Around Since The 2014 Model Year LexusThe Lexus IS first hit the market in 1998 for the 1999 model year. A second generation launched for the 2006 model year, and now you've got the third-gen model. The concept dates back to the 2012 Paris Motor Show, while the car went into production in 2013. For comparison, we're using a 350 for the 2013 model year, and a 350 F Sport for 2026.When we last reviewed this car, for the 2024 model year, we noted that it was "surprisingly spry" despite its dated underpinnings. The suspension strikes a nice balance, offering a firm feel while being relaxed enough for the morning commute. It handles well, and the six-cylinder Toyota 2GR engine under the hood hardly feels its age. If It Ain't Broke... Lexus The continued relevance of the Lexus IS isn't hard to figure out. It's still fun to drive, simple as that, and the third generation's sales numbers reflect that.The IS 350 currently starts at $45,500. It's a luxury car at a luxury price, but it's a couple grand cheaper than a competing BMW 330i, and it's a Lexus, meaning it's backed by the most reliable brand on the road, according to JD Power. So you've got a driver-friendly car that looks cool, is fun to drive, costs less than the nearest European competitor, and is easier to maintain than most luxury cars. The Fourth-Gen Mazda Miata Debuted For The 2016 Model Year Mazda The fourth-gen Mazda MX-5 Miata debuted in early 2015 for the 2016 model year, coming in a few hundred pounds lighter than its predecessor, and packing one of two naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G four-pots.Aside from a horsepower boost, the Miata hasn't changed much in the last decade. It's still the charming, affordable roadster it was 10 years ago. We've always been fans of the Miata here at CarBuzz, awarding it our Affordable Fun prize in 2024, when it was still selling for under $30,000. The Miata Is Still The Perfect Budget Sports Car Mazda USA Our own Roger Biermann put it best when we handed the Miata our Affordable Fun award."Sports car rivals come and go, but the Miata remains evergreen, and its ability to put a smile on your face at a budget price never fails to impress." – Roger Biermann, CarBuzz Managing EditorWe could see a new Miata by the end of the decade, but, for the time being, relaunching this car would almost threaten to spoil a good thing, and it's still as popular as ever at a starting MSRP of $30,430.You know how Costco is dead-set on never seeing the hot dogs selling for more than $1.50? Mazda is a bit like that with the Miata. As soon as this car's MSRP is bumped into the $40,000 range, it's competing with hot hatches and pony cars, and that 181-horse powertrain starts to look a bit underwhelming. As long as the price stays closer to $30,000, Mazda can probably keep selling this thing unchanged for another decade. There's Plenty To Be Said For Driving An Outdated Car Lexus Just like everyone else, we get excited when we hear that there's a beloved nameplate with a new generation in the works. We can't wait to see what the automaker has changed, and what it's kept the same. But being the first kid on your block to drive the new BMW or Toyota comes with a certain degree of risk.There's only so much that an automaker can do to test a new car before it hits the road, meaning that early-adopters are signing up to be on-the-road guinea pigs. That is, all those manufacturing defects and oversights that the automaker didn't catch, the first-year buyers are going to be the people reporting the issue to the NHTSA. Older Cars Typically Come With Fewer Recalls Mazda When you're driving a car that's been around for a while, you can rest assured that most of those early kinks will have been worked out. For instance, if we look at the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the car has 10 recalls on file. By the 2022 model year, the car had just one recall on file with the NHTSA – for potential engine stall – in 76,508 units, dated 2019 to 2022, owing to an ECU software issue.Recalls are covered by the automaker, but even so, the less time your car spends in the shop, the better. New generations tend to be more fuel-efficient, they may have more advanced technology on board, but older generations buy you a peace of mind you won't get with the flashy new things.