How much of a premium do you place on reliability?
If you’re looking for additional assurance on a used-car purchase or a less expensive alternative to a new car, a certified preowned vehicle (CPO) may be for you.
The benefits of buying a car that’s typically been inspected, reconditioned and given an extended warranty come with a higher price tag than a non-CPO car, but rankings from iSeeCars can point you in the direction of the lowest premiums.
Analysis of more than a million used cars of the 2015 model-year onwards compared this cost difference. It uncovered a list of SUVs, pickups, sedans and one minivan with average premiums of just 1.6 to 2.1 percent on the price of their non-CPO equivalents, and which range from $291 to $813 extra in dollars.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door 4×4, offers the lowest average premium in percentage terms and is joined in the top 10 by other SUVs including the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Tahoe and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
“The average CPO vehicle costs 3.6 percent more than its non-CPO equivalent, and consumers are faced with deciding if the terms of the warranty and certification are worth the added cost,” said Phong Ly, iSeeCars CEO. “However, certain models have significantly lower-than-average CPO premiums that can bring peace of mind to used car buyers for just a few hundred dollars more.”
Top 10 cars with the lowest CPO premiums
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, 1.6 percent, $523
- Nissan Rogue, 1.7 percent, $302
- Honda CR-V, 1.7 percent, $339
- Honda Odyssey, 1.8 percent, $420
- Chevrolet Tahoe, 1.8 percent, $707
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 1.9 percent, $529
- Honda Accord, 1.9 percent, $322
- Honda Civic, 2.0 percent, $291
- Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2.1 percent, $560
- GMC Sierra 1500, 2.1 percent, $646
Average premium for CPO cars, 3.6 percent, $813
When considering a CPO vehicle, review the specifics of what the program covers to help you weigh the pros and cons and the value it offers. You can read more about buying certified versus non-certified used cars here.
Also, think about finding and financing your next car through RoadLoans, the online lender which works with a national network of trusted auto dealerships. RoadLoans dealers are able to show approved applicants select, high quality models meeting our standards for age, mileage and financing.
Written by:
With 10 years of experience in auto finance, Rob Looker helps car shoppers find the right vehicles with the right financing so they can enjoy the road ahead. When he’s not creating content, he’s often behind the wheel, exploring new…
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