10 Great Certified Pre Owned Luxury Car Options

Certified pre-owned luxury car options can really hit the sweet spot for a certain kind of customer: If you’re looking to save some money as compared to buying new, but want to avoid the risks of buying used, these choices may be just right. After all, certified pre-owned cars definitely cost less than current models, since they are, in fact, pre-owned. But because they’ve also been carefully reconditioned to manufacturer requirements, they’re likely to be in better shape, too. Many automakers additionally back their CPO vehicles with comprehensive warranty coverage, as a further way of building buyer confidence. And with so many premium automakers now involved in the certified pre-owned marketplace, the selection for customers is impressively extensive—as you will see on the following pages.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 is an ideal example of the benefits of certified pre-owned luxury car options: With recent prices as low as $67,600 for a car with 20,254 miles, the S550 is $29,000 less than its 2017 counterpart. Yet because the 2014 model was right at the cutting edge of its time for technology and luxury, it’s still ahead of the game as compared to many newer rivals today. For instance, that previously mentioned cost covers heated and ventilated Active Multi-Contour Seats with massage functionality, burl walnut wood trim, ultra-premium Burmeister audio and a bevy of driver-assistance technologies. Motivation then comes courtesy of a Biturbo V8 engine that serves up 449 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque.

Certified pre-owned luxury car options also can offer a chance to get vehicles that are no longer available—like a 2015 Audi S4. The current roster for the four-rings brand only shows a smaller S3 and a two-door S5, and to be clear, both are (much) more expensive than a 2014 S4 high-performance sport sedan. One of those could be had for $37,990 when Autobytel experts last checked, while the 2017 S3 has an MSRP of $42,900; the 2017 S5 opens at $53,100. Moreover, the S4 features a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that delivers 333 horsepower, 325 lb-ft. of torque, and 0-60 times under 5 seconds. Naturally, the S4 also boasts Audi’s hallmark “quattro” all-wheel-drive technology.

For drop-top enthusiasts, top certified pre-owned luxury car options include the 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i. A car like this—with a power-operated top and as few as 13,500 miles on it—can cost about the same as a new Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Z4, however, can out-zoom its rival with an adaptive “M” suspension and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that’s good for 240 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque; and that’s 85 more horses and an extra 120 lb.-ft. of torque versus the Miata. Also part of the BMW’s price: heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery and wood interior trim. A 14-speaker audio system enables the perfect open-air soundtrack.

Needless to say, in today’s auto industry, certified pre-owned luxury car options go well beyond actual “cars.” Premium SUVs and crossovers are increasingly popular alternatives to upscale sedans, and entries such as the 2015 Lexus RX 450h have the extra advantage of fuel-saving hybrid technology. Thus, the 2015 RX 450H has EPA ratings of 29 mpg city/27 mpg highway/28 mpg combined—with all-wheel drive and 295 horsepower. Nor does the vehicle skimp on luxuries. Despite a price of approximately $40,575—some 23.4 percent less than a 2017 RX 450H—this CPO vehicle showcases supple leather seating, a heated and ventilated front row, and a Lexus Enform infotainment system with navigation and voice recognition.

Supplying an especially strong value proposition among certified pre-owned luxury car options is the 2013 Infiniti M37. It’s a full-size sports sedan that had a tendency to be overlooked by customers the first time around, and as a result, some units are on the market now for below $33,000. Expect plenty of premium content at that price point as well, from heated leather front seats to a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel to a navigation-enabled infotainment system. There’s even real wood trim adorning the dashboard, console and door panels. As for sports sedan performance credentials, the all-wheel-drive M37 packs a 330-horsepower punch from its V6 engine, rides on a sport-tuned suspension, and wears aero-style body upgrades.

If you’re ready to try something a bit more athletic, you may want to consider a look at Porsche’s certified pre-owned luxury car options. Going the classic route, you can get a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet by ponying up a mere $59,000. Indeed, a one-owner car with 10,600 miles on the odometer came up recently for that price, complete with a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine that can produce 385 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. To be clear, this car also packs Porsche’s Sport Chrono Plus performance-enhancement package, plus heated and ventilated seats, a two-tone leather cabin and navigation—all in an aggressively designed convertible body style.

A 2013 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is another selection that stands out from run-of-the-mill certified pre-owned luxury-car options. The most obvious eye-catcher, of course, is the car’s dramatically designed station-wagon silhouette—which you won’t see as part of the current Cadillac portfolio. That opens up 53.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Meanwhile, to enjoy the same kind of performance found in the CTS sport sedan, owners can open up the wagon’s powerful V6 engine and rely on all-wheel drive. At $31,995, the 2013 Sport Wagon also sports Cadillac luxury cues like leather seating, heated and cooled driver and front-row passenger seats, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, navigation, a rearview camera system, and panoramic roof.

Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, certified pre-owned luxury car options can include serious surprises. Take the pre-owned 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE that kicked off the new year with a starting price of $79,977. Yes, that’s a 2017 model, driven a scant 890 miles. And yes, it’s one of the custom-look British Design Editions, which combine the “sophisticated driving technologies of the F-Type S with many performance-inspired features of the F-Type R.” In terms of specifics, that means 14-way power-adjustable performance seats, a 770-watt Meridian audio system, a supercharged 380-horsepower V6 engine, and an eight-speed “QuickShift” automatic transmission. Cat-like reflexes come from the car’s “Super Performance” braking system, dynamic stability control system, limited-slip differential, and adaptive suspension.

Want to try something a bit more exotic? Certified pre-owned luxury car options from Aston Martin can make taking that first step a bit more affordable. For example, a 2014 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe—with an original MSRP above $210,000 and an extra $27,000 in factory options—was on the CPO market recently for $139,950. Leveraging a 510-horsepower V12 engine, the car was tricked-out with Aston Martin’s carbon-fiber exterior upgrade package, rolled on 20-inch Satin Black wheels, and coddled passengers in a tasteful Cream Truffle cabin environment with super-soft Bridge of Weir leather. A 700-watt sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite-linked navigation, a rearview camera, and front and rear parking sensor are some of the technologies that are standard here.

Finally, for certified pre-owned luxury-car options with handbuilt engines and high-performance pedigrees, Mercedes-Benz has CPO certification for AMG-branded entries. The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Coupe is one such choice, giving owners a chance to own a range-toppings sport car for a relatively less expensive $109,999; a brand-new edition has an MSRP of $131,200. What they share are items like a 4.0-liter Biturbo V8—capable of brandishing 503 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque—and an extravagant array of Mercedes luxuries and technologies. On the list: Nappa leather upholstery, Burmeister surround-sound audio, adaptive braking, and the brand’s “Collision Prevention Assist Plus” bundle of driver-assistance measures.