Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Pro Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 | Certified Pre-Owned

Lexus is one of the leading names in luxury cars. Along with that comes a larger price tag than other vehicles. That’s why many buyers opt to buy a Lexus certified pre-owned vehicle instead of a brand-new car. It’s a great way to drive a Lexus without breaking the bank.

We’re about to investigate the Lexus CPO program, including their warranty, inspection process, and other perks.

TLDR; The standout feature from the Lexus CPO program is a specific CPO warranty that has unlimited miles for two years. The biggest downside is that the warranty is not transferable. Lexus CPO vehicles undergo a thorough inspection before being certified. Lexus also provides some above-average perks to go along with their cars.

Lexus’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Information

The Lexus certified pre-owned program provides a good warranty combined with a comprehensive inspection. All vehicles must pass the inspection with a 100% score to be included in the CPO program.

What does Lexus’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Lexus provides an L Certified Limited Warranty to all of Lexus certified pre-owned vehicles. This warranty covers any repair or replacement of components that fail under everyday use. The cause of failure must be determined to be a manufacturer’s defect.

You can view an extensive list of what is not covered in the warranty brochure (page 10), but we’ll cover the highlights:

• Batteries
• Body panels
• All fluids
• Glass
• Hybrid battery
• Sheet metals
• Structural framework and welds
• Wheels and rims
• All accessories
• Any component that has not failed, but a repair facility is recommending be replaced
• Any damage caused by collision, abuse, misuse, larceny, or negligence
• Contamination of fluids and fuels
• Alterations to the vehicle and related components
• Wars, riots, insurrection, natural disasters
• Failures caused by modifying factory parts
• Lack of maintenance

While this list might look long and intimidating, these are all standard exclusions for CPO warranties and even new car warranties. Lexus is more forthcoming about their exclusions than other automakers, making the exclusions look like a drawback of the program.

There is no charge or deductible for repairs while under warranty.

How long does Lexus’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Last?

The L Certified Limited Warranty begins when the Basic Warranty expires or when you purchase the vehicle and lasts two years. There is no mileage cap.

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Lexus explicitly states that the warranty is not transferable, and if you buy your Lexus from anyone other than an authorized Lexus dealer, the warranty is void. Unfortunately, for anyone looking to buy a Lexus, this harms your resale value since you won’t be able to offer a warranty along with the sale.

Lexus’s Certified Pre-Owned Inspection

Every Lexus must pass a 161-point inspection before being admitted into the Lexus certified pre-owned program. You can view all 161 points on their website, but we’ll cover the main highlights below:

• Vehicle history, including verifying VINs match and checking or recalls
• Exterior appearance, including body damage and dents
• Door lock system, including master key remote entry and warning chime when a key is in the ignition or vehicle
• Lights/Indicators, including fog lights and headlights
• Interior appearance, including armrests and radio markings
• Seats, including memory control and headrests
• Instrument panel, including brightness control knob and gauges functionality
• Windows, including auto windows and window lock
• Steering wheel, including tilt and horn
• Windshield wiper, including clean wiper blades and rain-sensing wipers
• Center console, including climate control and cooler box
• Inside/Outside rearview mirror, including controls and overall condition
• Glove compartment, including lamp condition
• Release lever, including fuel lid and trunk lever
• Trunk compartment, including first aid kit and light functionality
• Fluid levels, including oil and coolant
• Mechanical, including engine noise and emission control test
• Battery, including no damage and testing charge
• Tires and wheels, including tread depth and sidewall condition
• Brakes, including rotors condition and calipers functionality
• Chassis, including body plugs and transmission mounts
• Road test, including starter system and engine performance

That may seem like a more comprehensive checklist than other automakers, but that’s only because they broke it down into more categories. It’s still a thorough inspection, and we’d expect nothing less from Lexus.

Other Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Perks

All automakers include some perks with their CPO programs. Lexus provides quite a few bonuses to go as well:

• Complimentary maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles, up to four occurrences, beginning when you purchase the vehicle
• Rental car reimbursement, up to $50 per day for five days, if your vehicle needs to be in the shop for more than eight hours
• Travel protection, including three nights (up to $200 per night) and substitute transportation ($50 per day for five days), if the vehicle is down for more than eight hours and the incident occurred over 100 miles away from home
• Roadside assistance, including towing, lockout services, and battery jumpstarts

This perk offering is quite generous, especially the travel protection and rental car reimbursement. The threshold for receiving both perks is that your vehicle is incapacitated for more than eight hours, which seems reasonable. Including roadside assistance is standard yet valuable. When compared to Acura, you’ll notice fewer perks but more maintenance visits.

What stands out the most from their perk offering is the complimentary maintenance. While a few other automakers offer a similar perk, Lexus is well above the industry standard with this offering.

Overall, the Lexus certified pre-owned offering is slightly above average, and we recommend it for Lexus fans. Their inspection is thorough, and their warranty offering is standard, which are the two most important aspects of a CPO program. We suggest that you have an independent mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection before you make your purchase. The perks are nice but don’t sway us one way or the other.

The Lexus certified pre-owned program is perfect for Lexus fans who want a reliable, warrantied vehicle without paying new car prices.

Alfa Romeo Certified Pre-Owned Pro Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 | Certified Pre-Owned

Alfa Romeo is a legendary Italian automaker that has created quite the name for itself over the years. Due to their reputation and performance heritage, it’s expensive to get into a brand-new Alfa Romeo. Thankfully, Alfa Romeo has a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle program available. This program enables you to step into a premium vehicle without paying brand new prices.

We want to say upfront that there is no official Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned website. We typically pull our information from the manufacturer’s website for these articles to ensure accuracy. In this case, we’ve had to rely on local dealerships and third-party sources to gather the Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned program’s details. It’s worth noting that there is a notoriously low inventory of Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned vehicles. You’ll need to check with your closest dealership to see if they have any available before you get your heart set on their CPO program.

TLDR; We simply don’t have enough reliable information about the Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned program to make a firm decision. Without an official website, we’re left scraping information from wherever we can find it, and we’d prefer to hear the information directly from the source. However, we are displeased by their CPO warranty offering, and we’d like to see the inspection checklist. While the perks are lacking, we don’t think that matters when talking about an Alfa Romeo.

Alfa Romeo’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Information

To be eligible for the Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned program, the vehicle must meet the following criteria:

• Five years old or newer
• 50,000 miles or fewer
• Pass a 175-point inspection

Once these requirements are met, the car will be sold and warrantied as a CPO vehicle.

What does Alfa Romeo’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

An Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned vehicle comes with two warranties: the Powertrain Limited Warranty and the Maximum Care Coverage Warranty.

The Powertrain Limited Warranty is specific to the powertrain and covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. The Maximum Care Coverage Warranty is their bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers most components in the vehicle.

For both warranties, the issue must be related to a manufacturer’s defect to be covered. Any problems related to misuse, neglect, or maintenance will not be covered under either warranty. To maintain warranty eligibility, you’ll need to ensure that you abide by the maintenance schedule and keep detailed records.

We’re glad to see that there are no deductibles for warrantied repairs. That’s a mark of an excellent CPO program.

Both warranties are transferable to a new party, significantly boosting your resale value should you decide to sell your car. However, there is a $150 transfer fee, but that can be worked into the sale price.

How long does Alfa Romeo’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Last?

Alfa Romeo has taken after other automakers and offered two warranties with different durations:

Powertrain Limited Warranty

• Seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first
• Begins when the vehicle was first purchased

Maximum Care Coverage Warranty

• Three months or 3,000 miles, whichever occurs first
• Begins when you bought the vehicle

We are surprised to see that the Maximum Care Coverage Warranty only lasts three months or 3,000 miles. That’s the same duration as an average oil change. It’s unreasonable to expect a manufacturer’s defect to appear in such a specific timeframe.

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The powertrain warranty is a perfect length, however. It’s on par with other automakers and is long enough to reveal any manufacturer defects with the vehicle. We always like to see a separate warranty that’s explicitly focused on the powertrain.

Alfa Romeo’s Certified Pre-Owned Inspection

All Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned vehicles have passed a thorough 175-point inspection and scored 100%. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate even a rough checklist of the Alfa Romeo inspection points. All we’ve found is that they inspect 175 points, and that’s the end of it.

We believe that they inspect all 175 points, but not making the checklist available to the public is a mark against the program.

Other Alfa Romeo Certified Pre-Owned Perks

Every automaker includes at least a few perks with their CPO program, and Alfa Romeo is no different. Their perks are:

• 24/7 Roadside Assistance, including emergency towing, lockout assistance, and fuel delivery
• Rental car allowance, up to $35 per day for up to five days
• Carfax Vehicle History Report (are those trustworthy?)
• Three-month subscription to SiriusXM

All of these perks are incredibly standard, and nothing jumps out as unique. However, if you’re in the market for an Alfa Romeo, you’re likely not all that interested in the perks.

Overall, we are not thrilled with the Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned program. The Maximum Care Coverage Warranty is far too short. Fortunately, the Powertrain Limited Warranty lasts much longer to make up for it.

We’re also not happy about the lack of a publicly available inspection checklist. While 175 inspection points is quite a bit, we’d like to see what they are. The unverified inspection points mean you must have a pre-purchase inspection completed by a third-party mechanic before making your purchase.

If you’re looking at buying an Alfa Romeo certified pre-owned vehicle, you will likely be more interested in the reduced-price tag than the inspection and warranty. The inspection and warranty are the most crucial elements of a CPO program, and Alfa Romeo lacks in both departments. We’d like to see the inspection checklist, and for that matter, Alfa Romeo needs an official website for their CPO program.

Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned Pro Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 | Certified Pre-Owned

Lincoln is one of the top names in the luxury vehicle market. If you’re looking at getting into a Lincoln, you should consider looking into their certified pre-owned (CPO) program. You’ll be looking at cars that have been inspected and come with a warranty. It’s a nice compromise between buying a new car and buying a used car.

We’re about to look at the Lincoln certified pre-owned program, including the warranty offering, the inspection process, and the included perks.

TLDR; We’re pleased with the Lincoln CPO program. Although an extended warranty or separate powertrain warranty (like General Motors) would be appreciated, the existing warranty offering is sufficient. They have a thorough inspection process that gives us faith in the quality of the cars they’re selling.

Lincoln’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Information

Every Lincoln certified pre-owned vehicle must meet the following requirements:

• Passed a 200-point inspection
• 60,000 miles or fewer
• Clean Carfax report

Once these conditions are met, the car will be warrantied and sold as a Lincoln certified pre-owned vehicle.

What does Lincoln’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Every Lincoln certified pre-owned vehicle includes a Comprehensive Limited Warranty. While they direct you to contact the dealership for the warranty manual, they do provide a list of the significant areas that are covered:

• Brakes
• Steering components
• Front-wheel drive system
• Rear-wheel drive system
• Transmission
• Engine
• Front and rear suspension
• Electrical systems
• Air conditioning and heating
• Technology components
• Emissions
• Factory audio system
• Safety system

Overall, they say that their warranty protects more than 1,000 components. Lincoln says you’re protected against failure of all covered components due to abnormal wear resulting from defective materials or workmanship, in addition to mechanical breakdowns.

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We want to dive deeper into what this coverage means, but they don’t make a comprehensive warranty manual available on their website. You’ll need to clarify what this phraseology means when you visit the dealership. Does it mean they’ll buy you new tires if the wheel alignment is off due to poor workmanship, resulting in uneven wear on your tires? It’s an important distinction to make. They state that the warranty excludes ‘wear-and-tear’ items, but what if a part is worn down faster due to their workmanship?

Lincoln does not discuss if they have a deductible on warrantied repairs. If they had made a warranty manual available online, we’d be able to tell if there was a deductible. Instead, you’ll need to ask the dealership if there is a deductible on covered repairs.

How long does Lincoln’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Last?

Lincoln’s Comprehensive Limited Warranty lasts for six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. The clock started when the car was initially purchased, however, not when you bought the vehicle.

When compared to the mileage requirements to be included in the CPO program, you’ll at least have 40,000 miles left on the warranty, possibly more. We believe that this is a perfect amount of time for any manufacturer’s defects to become apparent.

However, we would like to see Lincoln add another warranty to the end of the Comprehensive Limited Warranty. Another alternative would be adding a powertrain warranty to the overall warranty offering.  

The warranty is completely transferable to a new party if you decide to sell your car while it’s still covered. We love to see this policy, as it significantly increases your resale value if you choose to sell your vehicle.

Lincoln’s Certified Pre-Owned Inspection

Lincoln performs a 200-point inspection of all cars before they are sold as certified pre-owned vehicles. You can view the complete list online at the Lincoln website, but we’ll cover the main points below:

• Vehicle history report, including VIN inspection and a clean title
• Road test, including engine idle functionality and cruise control functionality
• Vehicle exterior, including body panel condition and bumper condition
• Vehicle interior, including airbag functionality and interior amenities condition
• Vehicle diagnostics, including checking for any current or historical trouble codes
• Underhood, including fluid levels and timing belt condition
• Underbody, including checking for frame damage and emissions control test
• For hybrids, check the hybrid cooling system and the 110V power outlet functionality

Once a vehicle has scored a perfect 100% on Lincoln’s inspection, it will be warrantied and sold as a CPO car.

Lincoln inspects more points on their cars than many other automakers (Volkswagen only inspects 112 points). We’re happy to see that they’re conducting a thorough inspection, as we believe the inspection is a vital element of the overall CPO program.

Other Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned Perks

Like other automakers, Lincoln has decided to offer a few bonuses to go along with all their certified pre-owned vehicles. These perks are:

• Carfax Vehicle History Report
• 24/7 Roadside Assistance, covering emergency tows, flat tire replacement, lockout services, and battery jump starts

Surprisingly, those are the only perks listed on their certified pre-owned website. It’s a minimal perk offering. It’s possible that they think the same way we do, that perks should not persuade you into buying a car.

Overall, we are pleased with the Lincoln certified pre-owned program. They have a thorough inspection and reasonable warranty offering, which are the two most essential parts of any CPO program. While they could stand to offer more perks, that’s not a mark against them in our eyes.

Even though Lincoln has a thorough inspection process, you should still have a third-party mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection before making your purchase.

The Lincoln certified pre-owned program is a perfect way for Lincoln fans to get into one without breaking the bank on a new car.

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 | Certified Pre-Owned

Mercedes-Benz is the ultimate name in luxury cars. If you want a smooth ride with an impeccably designed interior, you want a Mercedes-Benz. However, the new car price is often a deterrent. Luckily, a certified pre-owned (CPO) program is available that allows you to buy a Mercedes-Benz that has been inspected and comes with a warranty.

We’re about to go over the Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned program, including the warranty, inspection process, and any included perks.

TLDR; We like what we see about the Mercedes-Benz CPO program, but there simply isn’t enough verifiable information available about the program to make a firm call. Their website does not discuss warranty coverage, nor do they disclose the official inspection checklist. We might be able to let the lack of a checklist slide, but not letting us know what is and is not covered by the warranty is disappointing.

Mercedes-Benz’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Information

To be considered for the Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned program, a vehicle must meet the following criteria:

• Clean Carfax vehicle history report
• Six model years old or newer
• 75,000 miles or fewer
• Serviced according to the maintenance schedule

Something that jumps out about their eligibility requirements is the maintenance schedule adherence. Other programs make sure that vehicles have had oil changes, but Mercedes-Benz ensures that the owner’s manual maintenance schedule has been followed.

What does Mercedes-Benz’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Every Mercedes-Benz will be covered by either the New Vehicle Limited Warranty or the CPO Limited Warranty when purchased. Mercedes-Benz does not make any warranty literature available on their website, and we don’t want to rely on third-party reports about what’s covered.

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The fine print on their CPO page says that you’ll need to talk to the dealer about exclusions and details about the warranties. You should make this the first thing you talk about when you arrive at the dealership: what is covered in the warranty.

Since there is no separate powertrain warranty discussed, you’ll also need to ensure that the provided warranty covers the powertrain.

It’s not clear if the warranty is transferable to a new party. You’ll need to clarify with the dealer if this warranty is transferable, as this will significantly impact resale value should you decide to sell your car.

How long does Mercedes-Benz’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Last?

The Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned warranty lasts for one year with no mileage cap. The year begins when you purchase the vehicle or the date that the New Vehicle Limited Warranty has expired.

The New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers the vehicle for four years and 50,000 miles, which means that not every CPO vehicle sold will have this coverage. However, every CPO car will at least have the CPO Limited Warranty for at least one year.

We think one year is a bit too short for a CPO warranty. We’d like to see it doubled or even tripled since one year might not be enough time for manufacturer defects to show themselves.

The CPO warranty may be extended by up to two additional years. The cost for doing this is not disclosed, so this is something you’ll have to discuss with the dealership.

Mercedes-Benz’s Certified Pre-Owned Inspection

Every vehicle that’s sold as a Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned vehicle has passed a 165-point inspection. Unlike other automakers, Mercedes-Benz does not make the full checklist available online. However, they do go over what is inspected in the online CPO manual, but we’ll cover the main highlights below:

• Appearance, including any scuffs or scratches
• Chassis, including steering and suspension
• Electrical, including headlamps and fuses
• Engine, including transmission and brake clutch
• Materials, including the owner’s manual and spare keys

We do not like that they have not made their exact checklist available online. Almost every automaker with a CPO program has posted their inspection checklist in plain sight. However, we’re supposed to take Mercedes-Benz’s word that there are 165 points being inspected, even though we don’t know what those points are.

Other Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Perks

Every Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned vehicle comes with a selection of bonuses, just like other automakers. The perks provided by Mercedes-Benz are:

• Special financing options for specific CPO models
• 24/7 Personal Assistance that helps route trips and includes roadside assistance that covers jump-starts, refueling, and tire changes
• Vehicle Exchange Privilege, which allows you seven days and 500 miles to exchange your vehicle for another CPO vehicle if you are not satisfied
• Carfax Vehicle History Report (but are those reliable?)
• A three-month trial to SiriusXM

Most of these perks are standard. However, one jumps out as unique to Mercedes-Benz: Vehicle Exchange Privilege. Having the ability to exchange your car for a different CPO car is incredible. It’s unlikely that you’ll suddenly discover any major issues within the timeframe, but you may drive it enough to realize that it’s just not the right fit. Instead of driving it for years, you can trade it in and find a better fit.

Overall, we simply don’t have enough information to make a firm call on the Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned program. The Vehicle Exchange Privilege is fantastic, but the lack of public information about warranty coverage and their inspection process leaves us worried. We do like how the CPO Limited Warranty is added on to the end of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty if one is still active.

Please make sure that you have an independent mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection before making your purchase. The mechanic will let you know if there are any current or potential issues with the car before signing the contract.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 | Certified Pre-Owned

Cadillac has a long-held reputation for providing a luxurious ride. Depending on who you ask, they’re also the epitome of class. Anyone looking to drive a Cadillac should consider the Cadillac certified pre-owned (CPO) program. It’s a way to buy a slightly used, inspected, and warrantied Cadillac, which is better than buying used and cheaper than buying new.

We’re about to go through the Cadillac CPO program, including the warranty, inspection process, and any provided perks.

TLDR;  We’re displeased by the Cadillac CPO program. The warranty they offer for their CPO vehicle isn’t long enough. While their inspection is thorough, we would like Cadillac to extend their warranty and bring back the powertrain warranty that came with all Cadillacs for five years.

Cadillac’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Information

Cadillac won’t allow any used car to become a CPO vehicle. To become a Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle, the following criteria must be met:

• Pass a 172-point inspection
• Have 50,000 miles or fewer

Once these conditions are met, the car will be warrantied and sold as a Cadillac CPO vehicle.

What does Cadillac’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Every Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle includes a Limited Warranty, which is an extension of the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty that’s sold with every new car. This warranty covers most components of the vehicle. However, Cadillac does not include a specific exclusions list, unlike other automakers (Audi has a public exclusion list).

To be covered by this warranty, the issue must stem from a manufacturer’s defect. If the problem is related to misuse, neglect, abuse, or modification, the repairs will not be covered.

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All repairs must be completed at a Cadillac dealer. This policy is standard for all CPO programs. There is no deductible for warrantied repairs, which is something that we greatly appreciate.

Third-party sources say that the warranty is transferable, but we’re unable to find any information on the warranty transferability on the official Cadillac certified pre-owned website. You’ll need to ask the dealer about transferability.

How long does Cadillac’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Last?

Every Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle comes with a one-year Limited Warranty with no mileage cap. This warranty is active either after the expiration of the new vehicle Bumper-to-Bumper warranty or when you buy the CPO vehicle.

The original Bumper-to-Bumper warranty is good for four years or 50,000 miles. Compared to the requirements to participate in the CPO program, it’s entirely possible that you buy a car that doesn’t have a new vehicle Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. Fortunately, you’ll still be covered for one year with the CPO warranty.

It’s worth mentioning that model years 2012-2017 included a six-year and 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. If you purchase a vehicle within these years, you’ll retain the remainder of the powertrain warranty.

We don’t think a one-year warranty is sufficient for a CPO vehicle. Cadillac should lengthen the warranty and bring back their powertrain warranty. Offering a one-year warranty means that you have the equivalent of a few oil changes to discover any of the manufacturer’s defects. Considering it can take years for issues to show up, even when related to a defect, you could end up with repairs that would otherwise be covered.

General Motors offers a one-year warranty as well, but they also include a powertrain warranty to make up for it. Cadillac should follow suit.

Cadillac’s Certified Pre-Owned Inspection

Before being sold as a Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle, the car must pass a 172-point inspection. You can view the entire checklist online, but we’ll cover the major sections below:

• Investigate vehicle history, including a vehicle history report and checking for trouble codes
• Maintenance, including load testing the battery and changing the oil
• Check tires and brake pads, including measuring the remaining depth on treads and thickness on pads
• Detailing, including washing the carpet and waxing the exterior
• Road test, including checking acceleration and steering wheel alignment
• Functional tests, including checking airbag functionality and convertible top functionality (if applicable)
• Engine compartment, including checking the AC compressor and the power steering functionality
• Interior, including lighting and seating condition
• Exterior, including headlamp functionality and body panel condition
• For hybrid vehicles, inspect battery air intake and confirm the auto stop

Cadillac’s inspection seems thorough and touches on all the crucial parts of a vehicle. Their inspection process boasts 172 points, which is slightly above the average amount of inspection points.

Other Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Perks

Every automaker provides some perks to go with your new certified pre-owned vehicle. Cadillac offers the following bonuses:

• 24/7 Roadside Assistance for the length of the warranty, including coverage for lockouts, dead batteries, flat tires, and emergency tows
• Cadillac provides courtesy transportation if your vehicle requires repairs that are covered under the warranty
• A three-month trial of SiriusXM
• My Cadillac Rewards, which is Cadillac’s loyalty reward system

The above rewards are standard for a CPO program. Providing a courtesy vehicle if you need warrantied repairs is a nice perk, but many automakers include a similar bonus. While we’ve seen some CPO programs with fewer perks, we’ve also seen plenty of programs that offer more perks. Either way, we don’t think bonuses should play an essential role in helping you make a car purchasing decision.

Overall, we are not impressed by the Cadillac certified pre-owned program. The main reason is that they offer a CPO warranty that is far too short. One year is not long enough. Although other automakers offer similar warranties, we think this is too short to discover the manufacturer’s defects.

If you buy a Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle, make sure to have a third-party mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection before signing any paperwork. They’ll double-check the inspection and make sure it’s in prime condition.

Anyone who dreams of driving a Cadillac should consider their CPO program. However, if you’re only looking for a reliable CPO vehicle with a good warranty, there are other programs out there to explore.