If you don’t want to spend too much money on a brand-new car — but you’re (rightfully) concerned about the potential repair bills often associated with buying a used car — a certified pre-owned model could be the best choice for you. That’s because CPO cars normally come with a big discount compared to brand-new vehicles — and they include long, manufacturer-backed warranties for increased peace of mind. Better yet, many automakers offer CPO deals and incentives to help further entice buyers. To show you what we mean, we’ve rounded up a few of the top offers available in September on some of our favorite certified pre-owned vehicles and from a few of the top CPO programs.
Ford
Ford’s certified pre-owned program offers good coverage, touting 7 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and an additional 12-month or 12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty after the original factory warranty expires. Our only gripe is the high deductible, which — at $100 per visit — is more than most rivals. But in September, Ford makes up for that costly deductible with a good incentive: Through the end of the month, qualified shoppers who buy certain certified pre-owned Ford models can get 1.9 percent interest for up to 66 months — an impressively long and desirable term, especially for a used model.
Kia
Kia offers a strong certified pre-owned program. It touts 12 months of bumper-to-bumper coverage, which is desirable — but it also offers up to 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection from the original sale date, which is better than virtually any other certified pre-owned program on the market. In September, Kia is supplementing its excellent warranty with an impressive incentive for qualified shoppers: Through the end of the month, drivers can get a certified pre-owned Kia with just 1.9 percent interest for up to 36 months, which is a good offer for any used vehicle.
Lexus ES
The Lexus certified pre-owned program is among the very best, as it offers exceptional warranty coverage: 6 years of protection with no mileage limit. Few automakers offer unlimited mileage warranty coverage, and such coverage provides excellent peace of mind for shoppers interested in dependability and trouble-free car ownership. In September, Lexus also has another offer up its sleeve: an excellent interest rate for certified pre-owned versions of the brand’s large ES luxury sedan. For qualified shoppers interested in the sedan, Lexus is offering 0.9 percent interest for up to 48 months on both gasoline- and hybrid-powered models.
Mazda
Mazda’s certified pre-owned program roughly mimics that of Toyota and Honda, as it touts a long powertrain warranty from the car’s original sale date (in this case, 7 years or 100,000 miles) plus a 12-month or 12,000-mile extension to the car’s comprehensive warranty. In September, Mazda’s CPO program also offers another benefit: an excellent finance deal for qualified shoppers looking for a good interest rate on their next car. Through the end of the month, shoppers can get 1.49 percent interest on certified pre-owned Mazda models for up to 36 months — a deal you’d typically expect to find on new cars.
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque is a compact crossover that serves as the entry-level model in the Range Rover lineup, touting standard all-wheel drive and a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine. Meanwhile, Land Rover’s certified pre-owned program is excellent, as it offers an impressive 7 years or 100,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection — better than virtually any other automaker. In September, you can get an Evoque with Land Rover’s excellent CPO warranty — and a great interest-rate incentive. Through the end of the month, qualified shoppers interested in a certified pre-owned Evoque can get rates as low as 0.9 percent for 24 months, or 1.9 percent for up to 60 months — excellent deals, especially when coupled with Land Rover’s good CPO program.
Find a Land Rover Range Rover Evoque for sale
Subaru
Subaru’s certified pre-owned warranty isn’t quite as comprehensive as CPO warranties offered by some brands, as it offers 7 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection from the original sale date but no additional bumper-to-bumper coverage, as is offered by some brands. Still, Subaru overcomes this issue in September by offering an alluring incentive on certified pre-owned vehicles: Through the end of the month, Subaru is touting 1.49 percent interest for up to 36 months on certified pre-owned models, which is a good interest rate available on all CPO vehicles to qualified shoppers.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen’s certified pre-owned program boasts good coverage, adding 2 years or 24,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection to the original 3-year or 36,000-mile factory warranty for a total of 5 years or 60,000 miles of coverage — better than many other programs. In September, VW is also offering several incentives for drivers who choose a CPO model. The best deal is for qualified drivers looking to finance a certified pre-owned Volkswagen, as the automaker is touting 1.99 percent interest for up to 60 months on all CPO VW models. But Volkswagen is also offering up to $500 cash back, which is an unusual (and welcome) incentive on a used model.
Volvo S60
Volvo’s certified pre-owned program is among the best, as it offers 7 years or 100,000 miles of comprehensive warranty coverage from the original sale date — along with several other benefits. In September, the program is even more enticing if you’re interested in buying a certified pre-owned S60 sedan. That’s because the automaker is offering 0 percent interest for up to 24 months on certified pre-owned 2015 S60 sedan models — an excellent deal on a used vehicle. For shoppers interested in a different year or model, Volvo says other cars are available with rates starting from 0.9 percent for 24 months.
What it means to you: If you’re interested in getting a lightly used vehicle with a full manufacturer-backed warranty, our list of September’s best CPO deals is a great place to find a great deal.