10 Best Luxury Certified Pre-Owned Programs in 2018

2016 Mercedes AMG GLE63 S Coupe 009 ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Owning a luxury car can be both a blessing and a challenge. On the one hand, by providing cutting-edge technology and a slew of convenience features, luxury cars improve your ownership experience. On the other hand, owners may worry about expensive repairs if anything goes wrong — particularly on a used vehicle.

But by choosing a certified pre-owned luxury car, you get a great mix of benefits. Here's how: An automaker inspects its used cars, then repairs them before offering them in its CPO program, then rejects those that it can't bring up to its standards. After that, it extends the factory-backed warranty to provide extra protection for the pre-owned buyer. The terms vary across different luxury brands' CPO programs, as do the vehicles these brands offer. Here are our 10 top picks of the best luxury Certified Pre-Owned programs, listed alphabetically.

Acura Certified Pre-Owned

Acura pitches itself as a purveyor of intelligent premium products — sedans and crossovers that deliver plenty of luxury, style, and performance at a lower price tag than the leading European competitors. To save even more money on an Acura, you can consider one of its CPO offerings. Our favorites include the family-friendly seven-seat MDX crossover and the fun but comfortable TLX sedan. 

The Acura CPO program provides a factory powertrain warranty for seven years or 100,000 miles from a car's original sale date, and items besides the engine and transmission are covered for up to five years or 62,000 miles. The Acura program is available to vehicles no more than six years old and with no more than 80,000 miles. 

Photo by Acura

Audi Certified Pre-Owned

Modern Audis feature ample technology, meticulously crafted interiors, super-composed driving dynamics, and crisply elegant styling. By picking a certified pre-owned model, you could miss out on the current models' technologically dazzling dashboards, but you'll still get a fine vehicle at a solid value. We especially love the A6 sedan and A7 liftback, but it's tough to find a weak spot in Audi's diverse lineup. 

Audi's CPO program adds two years of 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage after the original factory warranty expires at four years or 50,000 miles. That gives certified pre-owned Audis up to six years or 100,000 miles of warranty protection, whichever comes first. To be eligible for CPO status, an Audi must be no older than five years or 60,000 miles and pass a 300-plus-point inspection.

Photo by Audi

Bentley Pre-Owned Programme

For most people, the only way to afford a Bentley is to buy one that's used. The Bentley CPO programme — yes, it uses the British spelling — also protects you from unexpected repair costs for 12 months with unlimited miles after you purchase the car used. The best news yet: Bentley offers CPO vehicles that are up to 10 years old, making it even easier to afford one. As we write this, we see a CPO 2008 Continental GT Speed coupe listed for just $62,995, which isn't bad for a car that cost more than $200,000 when it was new. 

Bentley rounds out its unique CPO experience with a tour of its British factory, a free Bentley Owners' Magazine subscription, and invitations to special events at your local dealership.

Photo by Bentley

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned

Cadillac's recent model offerings are perhaps the most diverse vehicle range of any luxury brand. The ATS and CTS are world-class sports sedans, with among the best handling you'll find on a comfortable four-door. These cars' V performance models are also among the fastest. And then there's the extra-plush XTS full-size sedan, the edgy-looking but smooth-riding SRX crossover, and the road-dominating Escalade full-size SUV. Best of all, you'll typically pay many thousands less for a CPO Cadillac than a European competitor of similar age and condition. 

The Cadillac CPO program is unfortunately limited to cars that are no more than four years or 50,000 miles old. But it does extend the warranty to six years or 100,000 miles from the vehicle's original purchase date, ensuring that you've got plenty of protection left.

Photo by General Motors

Jaguar/Land Rover Approved Certified Pre-Owned

Jaguar and Land Rover are sister brands with a suite of distinctive luxury products that complement each other nicely. Jaguar focuses mainly on elegant sports sedans and the gorgeous F-Type coupe and convertible. Land Rover offers crossovers and SUVs in various sizes and price points — all the way from the compact, affordable, and fuel-efficient Discovery Sport and Evoque up to the iconic Range Rover. 

The brands' certified pre-owned program provides warranty coverage for up to seven years or 100,000 miles from the original purchase date. It's open to Land Rovers and Jaguars that are up to five years or 60,000 miles old. 

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Lexus L/Certified

The Lexus "L/Certified" CPO program throws in a perk that many new-car buyers would envy: two years or 20,000 of free scheduled maintenance. Moreover, Lexus ensures that even an older CPO vehicle will have plenty of warranty coverage. The oldest L/Certified Lexus can be six years old with 70,000 miles, which is beyond the base factory warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. But you get two years and unlimited miles of warranty with your CPO purchase. If there's still some factory warranty remaining on your L/Certified vehicle, the CPO warranty begins once that expires. 

Lexus' cars, crossovers, and SUVs promise smooth, quiet rides and well-finished interiors. The RX crossover is renowned for its comfort and refinement, and the IS and GS sports sedans offer commendable handling poise. Many recent Lexus models are also available as fuel-sipping gas-electric hybrids.

Photo by Lexus

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned

From the lithe SLK convertible to the seven-passenger GLS crossover to the value-priced CLA sedan, Mercedes-Benz has a wide model range built around a shared set of virtues: an unmistakable styling scheme, solid build quality, and composed driving dynamics. We especially love the interiors of the most recent Mercedes products, but even an older model isn't likely to disappoint. Note that Mercedes renamed its crossovers in 2015 to 2016, so if there's a model you'd like, make sure you check the inventory under both of its names. 

The Mercedes-Benz CPO program provides five years with unlimited miles of warranty coverage from a vehicle's original sale date; extended warranties are also available. The program is open to Benzes up to six years old with up to 75,000 miles. Another program perk: If you don't like the car you buy, you can swap it for another CPO Mercedes within seven days or 500 miles.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned

Most luxury vehicles are more posh and comfortable than the average car. Porsche's products are also quite fancy, to be sure, but its main strength is performance. While a classically elegant and exhilaratingly fun Porsche 911 is pretty pricey when it's new, a certified pre-owned model is more financially accessible. Porsche will provide two years and unlimited miles of warranty coverage from the date of a CPO purchase — not bad for a car that can be up to eight years old with up to 100,000 miles. If any factory warranty is remaining, the two years begin once that expires.

If you're interested in Porsche's sporty driving experience but want something a little more functional, the company also sells the excellent Panamera sedan and the Macan and Cayenne crossovers. 

Photo by Porsche

Tesla Used Vehicles

Tesla avoids the "certified pre-owned" name, but the company's humbler description means the same thing. When Tesla sells a used vehicle, it's been inspected, repaired if needed, and backed with a factory warranty. In Tesla's case, the warranty for most components is either four years or 50,000 miles or two years or 100,000 miles, depending on the specific car. Either period starts at the time the car is purchased used, which is uncommonly generous. The electric battery and drivetrain, however, only get the balance of the original eight-year/unlimited mileage warranty that began when the car was bought new.

Eligible models are the Model S all-electric sedan and the Model X all-electric crossover. Both vehicles are unlike anything else on the market, not only providing EPA-estimated ranges exceeding 200 miles per charge but also lightning-quick acceleration.

Photo by Tesla

Volvo Certified Pre-Owned

Volvo is going through a design renaissance, with modernized exterior styling and absolutely stunning interiors. Some of these upgraded Volvos are already available in the pre-owned market — most notably the XC90 crossover, but also the S90 and V90 full-size sedan and station wagon. And even if you pick another Volvo, you'll likely get more safety features than you'd find on a similarly aged competitor, along with extra-comfortable seats. 

Warranty coverage is a generous seven years or 100,000 miles from the car's original sale date. Volvo's CPO program includes vehicles up to five years old with up to 80,000 miles.

Photo by Volvo