10 Best Luxury Certified Pre-Owned Programs in 2020

2020 Mercedes Benz GLE450 ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

When you buy a brand-new car, it loses a chunk of its value as soon as you leave the dealer lot. But when you buy an ordinary used car, you might worry that you’ve just brought home someone else’s problems. That’s why so many folks like certified pre-owned cars: These used vehicles are meticulously inspected and, if necessary, repaired to meet a car brand’s exacting standards. And in case something slipped through the cracks, they’re typically backed with a generous warranty plan.

These benefits are particularly valuable if you want a luxury car. That’s because luxury cars can be so expensive when they’re new, yet also potentially expensive if something goes wrong once they’ve gotten older. But not all CPO programs are created equal, as they provide varying degrees of protection and other perks for buyers. Nor are all CPO vehicles created equal, as some cars are simply more desirable than others. Taking all this into account, we’ve lined up our 10 favorite luxury certified pre-owned programs for 2020. We’ve arranged them in approximate order of most affordable to most decadent.

Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned

If you're looking at certified pre-owned luxury vehicles because you want a luxury car that fits your budget, Lincoln is a great place to start. Its vehicles are more affordable than most luxury brands' when they're new, and, in turn, CPO Lincolns are also less expensive than CPO BMWs or Lexuses. Our favorites include the MKC and MKX crossovers and the Continental full-size sedan, all of which deliver a serene ride without feeling like an old-school boat.

Every certified pre-owned Lincoln has less than 60,000 miles on the odometer and provides warranty coverage of either six years or 100,000 miles from the time the vehicle was purchased new. 

Photo by Lincoln

Acura Certified Pre-Owned

Acura is another brand that offers relatively affordable certified pre-owned vehicles. Its vehicles offer a sporty, high-tech vibe; you'll find it even in the value-priced ILX compact sedan and the seven-passenger MDX crossover.

When you buy a CPO Acura, its engine and transmission remain under warranty of up to seven years or 100,000 miles from the vehicle's original purchase. Other components are covered for up to six years or 100,000 miles from the original purchase — or, if you bought the car after the original four-year factory warranty had already expired, two years (still with the 100,000-mile cap) from the date of your CPO purchase. Vehicles up to six years old and with 80,000 miles are eligible for the Acura certified pre-owned program. 

Photo by Acura

Certified by Volvo

Forget about the idea of Volvo as a dowdy family car. Recent Volvos boast beautiful design details, high-tech interiors, and supercharged and turbocharged engines. And since these advantages have been around for a few years, you can now get them in a Certified by Volvo CPO vehicle. 

Every certified pre-owned Volvo has five years of warranty coverage from its original purchase date, with no mileage restriction. That's a recent change from a seven-year/100,000 mile warranty — and it's good news for folks who plan lots of road trips. With their comfortable seats, strong safety record, and fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines, recent Volvos are a great choice for a long drive. Certified by Volvo vehicles max out at five years old with 80,000 miles. 

Photo by Volvo

L/Certified by Lexus

Lexus has earned a sterling reputation for reliability, which adds peace of mind when you're purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. Lexus's CPO L/Certified program adds to that with two years and unlimited miles of warranty protection; this coverage begins upon the expiration of the four-year factory warranty, or — if it had already expired before you bought your certified pre-owned Lexus — upon the date of your CPO purchase. Lexus also throws in two years or 20,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance visits at your dealership. 

Some of our favorite Lexus models are its fuel-saving gas-electric hybrids, but the brand also features powerful, rich-sounding V6 and V8 engines among its CPO inventory. Whichever Lexus you buy, count on some of the nicest upholstery in the business. 

Photo by Lexus

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned

A longtime strength of the Mercedes-Benz brand has been its diversity. Its widely varied lineup includes coupes, sedans, convertibles, station wagons, crossovers, and traditional SUVs. It has subcompact cars and full-size ones. It has comfort-focused luxury vehicles and high-performance sports machines. Whatever you're looking for, it's hard to imagine that Mercedes doesn't fill that niche. 

And to keep your Benz more affordable, you can opt for a certified pre-owned model. Mercedes protects your purchase with the remainder of the vehicle's four-year factory warranty, plus 12 months (with unlimited mileage) of extra coverage that begins either when the factory warranty expires or when you purchase your CPO vehicle. And if you realize you picked the wrong Benz, you can easily swap it for another vehicle in the company's CPO inventory within seven days and 500 miles of your purchase. The certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz program maxes out at six model years old with about 75,000 miles. 

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Jaguar/Land Rover Certified Pre-Owned

Whether you want to conquer the pavement or explore what lies beyond, the Jaguar/Land Rover certified pre-owned program will have a CPO vehicle for you. These sister British brands collectively offer a lineup of desirable SUVs, sedans, and sports cars, from the all-terrain Land Rover Range Rover to the evocative Jaguar F-Type roadster. We're even starting to see the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace crossover turn up in the company's CPO inventory. 

Whichever model you choose, you'll enjoy a generous seven years or 100,000 miles of warranty, starting from the date the vehicle was purchased new. It's open to Land Rovers and Jaguars that are up to five years or 60,000 miles old. 

Photo by Land Rover

Tesla Used Cars

The Tesla Model 3 gets all the attention these days as the "affordable" Tesla. But you may be able to get the posher, more spacious Model S for even less money through the electric-car maker's certified pre-owned program. Pre-owned Teslas like the Model S sedan and Model X crossover still have the cutting-edge technology, ridiculously speedy acceleration, and long electric ranges that make the Model 3 such a hot item today. And if you're interested in going electric for environmental reasons, you'll appreciate the eco-friendliness of buying used. 

The "Tesla Used Cars" branding sounds like a soft sell, but it includes a comprehensive inspection and reconditioning process. And each CPO Tesla comes with one of two warranties: either four years or 50,000 miles from the date you buy it, or two years from your CPO purchase with total vehicle mileage maxing out at 100,000. Either way, the battery and electric motor are covered for eight years or 150,000 miles from the vehicle's original purchase date. 

Photo by Tesla

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned

When a Porsche is on your bucket list but you can't stomach the expense of a new one, the company's extra-generous CPO program can help get a delightful sports car into your garage. Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicles can be as old as 13 years with 124,000 miles, and they still get two years with unlimited miles of warranty coverage. Buying an older Porsche without having to worry about repairs makes for a perfect combination. 

Of course, you can also enjoy savings on a recent-model Porsche coupe, convertible, sedan, or crossover. Whichever model you choose, you can count on lively performance — especially on a winding road. 

Photo by Porsche

Maserati Approved

Maserati is another luxury performance brand that's more within reach via its certified pre-owned program. Although some critics swear off Italian cars as notoriously finicky, Maserati backs its "Approved" CPO vehicles for up to six years or 100,000 miles from their original purchase date.

And while some neighborhoods have more Porsches than Camrys, you'll stand out anywhere in your Maserati Coupe, convertible, sedan, or SUV. A certified pre-owned Maserati provides an exotic experience without making you worry about exotic repair costs.  

Photo by Maserati

Certified by Bentley

When none of your cars cost less than $160,000 and many of them cost twice that, it's no surprise that many of your admirers will turn to CPO options instead of trying to buy new. Fortunately for Bentley fans, the company's certified pre-owned program is open to a range of vehicle ages — bringing the price down from the stratosphere into the merely expensive (think $60,000). Or if your budget would have covered even a new Bentley, you can get one with just a few thousand miles, then use the savings for a new kitchen in your second vacation house. 

Every Certified by Bentley vehicle includes at least one year of warranty coverage, with unlimited miles. It begins either when the three-year factory warranty expires or when you purchase your CPO vehicle. 

Photo by Bentley