Best CPO Program: L Certified by Lexus
For the fourth year running, L Certified by Lexus delivers an unmatched combination of warranty coverage and perks, earning our Best CPO Program award.
What’s Included: When L Certified, used Lexus cars and SUVs are covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty for unlimited mileage and up to six years from the date when the car was sold as new. If you do go in for a repair, there will be no deductible. In addition to excellent coverage, the L Certified program includes a free loaner vehicle for when your car is in the shop, free 24-hour roadside assistance, and free maintenance for up to two years or 20,000 miles. The one notable downside is that, unlike many competing programs, Lexus used car certification isn’t transferable and won’t be available to the next owner of the car.
Reliability: Lexus has a long-standing reputation for reliability, and this year provides no exception. In J.D. Power’s 2020 Vehicle Dependability Study, the Lexus brand only had 100 problems reported per 100 vehicles, which is the second best score among all brands rated in the study and well below the industry average.
Eligibility: To become L Certified, Lexus cars must be six models years old or newer, and have no more than 80,000 miles on the odometer. If they meet that criteria, used Lexus cars and SUVs must also pass a 161-point inspection.
CPO Deals: Some Lexus CPO deals include excellent financing options, with rates as low as 0%.
Recommended Pick, Luxury CPO: Audi
This year marks Audi’s first appearance as one our best CPO brands. Thanks to great warranty coverage and a few perks, this luxury brand’s certification program is easy to recommend to used car shoppers.
What’s Included: Pre-owned Audi cars and SUVs that have been certified are covered with a bumper-to-bumper warranty for one year and unlimited miles after the expiration of the new car warranty, for a total of five years of coverage from when the vehicle was first sold as new. Program coverage is transferable, so anyone you sell your CPO Audi vehicle to will have access to the remainder of the warranty. Additional program benefits include free roadside assistance and routine maintenance, as well as a free loaner vehicle for when your car is out of service. If you do need to take your car in for repairs, you won’t need to pay a deductible.
Reliability: Audi was marked for 136 problems reported out of 100 vehicles in J.D. Power’s vehicle dependability study. This score is about average for the industry, and slightly above average for luxury brands.
Eligibility: Audi cars and SUVs that are no more than five years old and have less than 60,000 miles on the clock are eligible for the Audi certified pre-owned program. Each vehicle must also pass a 300-plus point inspection, which is by far the highest inspection point count by a wide margin among both luxury and mainstream car brands.
CPO Deals: Audi is not currently offering any special deals on CPO models. That said, it’s worthwhile to check with your local dealership to see if they’ll offer you any good deals on finance or lease sales.
Recommended Pick, Luxury CPO: Infiniti
People who drive a luxury car daily expect dependability, and the Infiniti certified pre-owned program delivers additional confidence with comprehensive warranty coverage and benefits.
What’s Included: With pre-owned certification from Infiniti, you’ll have comprehensive warranty coverage for six years from when the car was new – as well as unlimited miles. Two additional years of coverage are available for a fee. With the program, you get one year of free maintenance, as well as 24-hour roadside assistance and access to free loaner vehicles for when your car is receiving repairs. Be aware that there is a $50 deductible for covered services. Infiniti pre-owned certification won’t transfer with the car when you sell it, but this perk is available for purchase with the warranty extension mentioned above.
Reliability: Out of 100 new Infiniti vehicles, owners reported 155 problems in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study. That’s slightly worse than the average for both luxury and mainstream brands.
Eligibility: To be certified, Infiniti cars and SUVs must be no older than six model years and have no more than 70,000 miles on the odometer. Each vehicle must also pass a 167 point inspection, which is about average for the industry.
CPO Deals: Infiniti is currently offering CPO shoppers financing rates as low as 0% on certain cars and SUVs ranging from those built as early as the 2015 model year.
Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Kia
You can still receive excellent CPO benefits without purchasing a premium vehicle. Among affordable brands, Kia’s CPO program is top-notch. Late-model Kias typically have numerous tech features, so you may feel like you’re driving a brand-new car.
What’s Included: Certified pre-owned Kias are backed by a six-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, starting from when the car was new. Both of these are among the best in the industry. While your CPO Kia is still under warranty, you will receive 24-hour roadside assistance. If you decide to sell the car, the warranties are transferable to a new owner for a low fee of $40.
Reliability: Out of 100 new Kia vehicles, owners reported 132 problems in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study, which is slightly better than the industry average.
Eligibility: All certified pre-owned Kia models must be less than five years old and have fewer than 60,000 miles. They also have to pass a 164-point inspection, which is slightly higher than industry average.
CPO Deals: Kia isn’t offering any current CPO deals, but it’s still worth checking at your local dealership to see if there’s any low-interest financing available.
Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Buick
Buick models often boast the quality materials typically found in more luxurious cars. However, with reasonable pricing, its CPO program is in the top tier of mainstream brands.
What’s Included: Buick CPOs are covered by a limited warranty for five years or 62,000 miles from when the vehicle was originally purchased. A powertrain warranty protects your certified pre-owned Buick for six years or 100,000 miles from when it was new. The warranties are transferable if you decide to sell the car. You’ll also get two free service visits over the duration of two years or 24,000 miles. Departing from the norm among mainstream brands, Buick CPOs have no deductible, making it easier if you need to take the vehicle in for any maintenance.
Reliability: Buick owners reported 103 problems per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power, which is among the best for mainstream brands.
Eligibility: Buick models that are six years old or newer and have fewer than 75,000 miles are eligible for the CPO program. In addition, all prospective Buick CPO models must go through a 172-point inspection, which is tougher than the average for the industry.
CPO Deals: Buick currently offers CPO deals with financing as low as 0.9%. Even so, be sure to check with your local dealer to see if there’s any other low-financing offers.
Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi’s Certified Pre-Owned program offers plenty of perks, so adding a CPO Mitsubishi to your driveway is a cost-effective way to get around – especially if you’re looking for an SUV.
What’s Included: The bumper-to-bumper warranty on a CPO Mitsubishi lasts for five years or 60,000 miles from when the vehicle was originally purchased. In addition, all certified pre-owned Mitsubishis are covered by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Its warranties are transferable, which means that all of the coverage and advantages will carry over to its next owner if the vehicle is sold. In addition, there’s 24-hour roadside assistance for the duration of the limited warranty and no deductible for service trips.
Reliability: Mitsubishi earns a 146 rating from J.D. Power for brand dependability, meaning out of 100 Mitsubishi vehicles, owners reported 146 problems. This is worse than the industry norm.
Eligibility: All eligible CPO Mitsubishi models must be less than five years old and have fewer than 60,000 miles. They also must go through a 123-point inspection to make the cut.
CPO Deals: There usually aren’t any nationwide CPO deals for Mitsubishi vehicles. However, it’s worth checking with your local dealer to be sure.
Award Methodology
To find the Best CPO Program, we looked at 20 different data points from 34 CPO programs. The winning program has the best combination of brand dependability, warranty coverage, and program benefits, such as roadside assistance, free loaner cars, and free maintenance.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you’re interested in a certified pre-owned car, check out our used car rankings to find the car that meets your demands. You can search for the CPO vehicles near you in our used car listings and use our best used car deals to find CPO financing offers from carmakers.
Best Certified Pre-Owned Programs for 2021
- Best CPO Program: Lexus
- Recommended Pick, Luxury CPO: Audi
- Recommended Pick, Luxury CPO: Infiniti
- Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Kia
- Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Buick
- Recommended Pick, Affordable CPO: Mitsubishi
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The Best Blend of Coverage and Benefits for Used Car Buyers
As advanced safety and infotainment technologies become standard in more new vehicles, prices will keep rising. The average price of a new car is now over $38,500, which is about $1,000 more than it was one year ago. Along with the most up-to-date technology, new cars are covered by warranties and tend to require less maintenance than used cars, which is why many buyers prefer to buy new. Still, the potential to save money by choosing a used car over a new model is a tempting proposition.
Those still considering which type to purchase should look at a select group of used cars: Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles. CPO models go through rigorous inspections and have standard warranty protections directly from the manufacturer, allowing shoppers to combine used car value with new car security. Several CPO programs also give the buyer additional perks. These can include 24-hour roadside assistance, complimentary loaner cars if your vehicle needs repair, no deductibles for service, and free maintenance for at least a year. All of these advantages are similar to what you may receive from a new car warranty.
CPO cars are more affordable than new cars, and because they’re normally only three to five years old, they often have similar features as new vehicles. This means you won’t be losing out on much in exchange for a lower price. Even though you’ll spend more than you would on a non-CPO used car, the added warranty coverage and extra benefits are often worth it. Plus, car companies often provide purchase deals on their CPO models, normally with much lower interest rates than you can find on used car loans. In short, taking advantage of a generous CPO deal will help compensate for its higher price tag.
Even though the perks of every brand’s CPO program are worth checking out, some are still better than others. In fact, warranty coverage and benefits can vary widely. To help you find the right option, we’ve sifted through data on warranties and any bonuses that each company provides and created this list of the best CPO programs available.
Once you’ve seen which brands offer the best CPO coverage, be sure to check out our best CPO deals and CPO car listings.
Read on to find out about the best CPO programs on the market today.