If you have been shopping for a used Kia vehicle, you may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on to learn about the specifics of the Kia CPO program.
In order to qualify as a Certified Pre-Owned car, Kia vehicles must be under five years old, have less than 60,000 miles, and have a clean Vehicle History Report from CARFAX.
Inspection
In order to ensure that all Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles are safe to drive, Kia subjects all potential CPO vehicles to a 150-point inspection, which includes inspections on the following vehicle systems:
- Brakes
- Engine
- Drivetrain
- Steering
- Suspension
- Tires and Wheels
- Exhaust System
- Interior and Exterior
Warranty
Kia CPO vehicles come with a Powertrain Limited Warranty, which covers repairs or replacements of major engine, drive system, and transmission components for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is on top of the remainder of the one-year, 12,000-mile platinum coverage warranty.
The warranty also includes certain benefits including:
A complete CARFAX vehicle history report including the service record.
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A 24-hour roadside assistance program that offers emergency services including the following services:
- Rental car reimbursement, up to $35/day for a total of 10 days
- Towing reimbursement, up to $75 per instance
- Trip-interruption reimbursement, up to $100/day, for a total of $500 per instance
The ability to purchase additional failure coverage at an authorized Kia dealership.
Pricing
Purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned Kia vehicle instead of a used vehicle can make a minor difference in the price at most dealerships. The bottom line will usually be around 8% higher than a regular “used” Kia vehicle.
For example, at the time of this article in April 2016, a used 2012 Kia Optima has a Kelley Blue Book value of $12,812; the same vehicle in the Kia CPO program is priced around $13,862.
Compare Kia to Other Certified Pre-Owned Car Programs
Whether you decide to go with a CPO car, it's always wise to have an independent certified mechanic inspect any used car before buying it. Certified Pre-Owned does not mean the car is in perfect condition, and any used car can come with serious issues that aren't apparent to an untrained eye. If you're in the market to buy a used car, schedule a pre-purchase inspection for total peace of mind.