What Car Brands Offer Certified Pre-Owned Programs?
With the average price of a new vehicle in this country rapidly closing in on $50,000, it only makes sense that shoppers are turning to the used market to find their next ride.
The issue of supply and demand of used cars over the last few years has been examined ad nauseum, both on these pages and elsewhere, so we’ll spare our readers a reprise of what they already know. However, if a person can find a secondhand vehicle to their liking, there’s a decent chance it’ll come from one of the better Certified Pre-Owned programs (CPO) offered by major manufacturers.
CPO programs have historically been a decent way in which to get a nearly new vehicle, one which has allegedly passed a more rigorous checklist than some other used cars on the lot, for thousands less than popping for a new machine. These vehicles are usually less than five or six years old with fewer than 60,000 miles on the clock, though some programs vary in these measures. As with all brands, be alert for any gaps in warranty coverage on hybrids and their battery packs or plug assemblies.
[Images: Kia, Honda, Lexus, Alan Budman/Shutterstock.com]
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As mentioned, the last few years have turned that equation on its head but there are signs the market is returning to some sense of normalcy. We honestly don’t think it’ll ever completely return to the days of finding a on off-lease two-year-old vehicle with 20k on the clock selling for a percentage of the equivalent brand new model. Still, we can try - starting with a random assortment of leading CPO programs from mainstream brands.
Kia
Kia places a 165-point checklist on its CPO cars, looking at everything from engine performance at idle to proper operation of the memory steering column adjustment if so equipped. Recent additions of EV examination instruction help drag this program into the modern era. Twenty-four hour roadside assistance is part of the deal with financial coverage in some situations, along with rental car coverage if available.
Honda
Over at Honda, its captive finance arm is currently offering low interest rates on the notes of CPO vehicles, though it is limited to very specific model years and types of machines. Through its HondaTrue Certified deal, roadside assistance is offered along with a couple of complimentary oil changes. There is a three-day exchange policy (limitations apply, natch) and there’s no deductible on some repairs. They’ll also toss in 90 days of satellite radio, an ironic inclusion since Honda is notorious for generally including that feature only on its upper trims. Honda also brags about a 182-point inspection and lengthy warranties.
Lexus
Most buyers of luxury vehicles don’t like throwing away money any more than the rest of us ; wise investments are probably why they have cash to spend in the first place. Lexus caters to those customers with its L/Certified program, a nearly gold plated standard in the CPO industry. Lexus techs are presented with a 223-point inspection to complete. Roadside assistance and warranty on major parts are good for two years after the date of purchase or two years beyond basic warranty, with no mileage limitation. That latter detail is remarkable in terms of warranty. Same goes for complimentary maintenance in terms of a two-year deal, though 20k is its mileage cap.
