Used-car prices remain stubbornly high due to the inventory shortage, with the average new-vehicle transaction price expected to reach a staggering $43,737, according to J.D. Power’s March sales forecast, In turn, budget-conscious shoppers may look for older used vehicles that tend to carry lower price tags — but this strategy isn’t risk-free: Older vehicles typically come with more miles on the odometer and more potential problems. To help balance affordability with peace of mind, Honda and its luxury Acura brand have expanded their certified pre-owned programs.
Which Vehicles Qualify?
The new CPO offerings, HondaTrue Used and Acura Precision Used, are scaled-back versions of the brands’ existing CPO programs for newer models. The new programs are available for used vehicles purchased directly from Honda or Acura dealerships and cover vehicles up to 10 years old. Previously, Honda and Acura’s CPO programs were only offered for 5-year-old or newer models.
What’s Included?
Although the new programs’ limited warranty powertrain and non-powertrain coverage is significantly shorter than Honda and Acura’s standard CPO offering, owners still get the benefit of things like a 112-point inspection that addresses any maintenance needs for the vehicle, complimentary emergency roadside services and an exchange window.
HondaTrue Used
2012 Honda Civic | Cars.com photo by Ian Merritt
Included in HondaTrue Used is a limited warranty that includes 100 days/5,000 miles of powertrain and non-powertrain coverage. In comparison, the HondaTrue Certified and Certified Plus programs for 5-year-old or newer models offer seven years/100,000 miles for powertrain coverage and up to five years/86,000 miles for non-powertrain coverage. In addition to the limited warranty, the HondaTrue Used program offers a complimentary three-month SiriusXM subscription, a three-day/300-mile exchange policy and the following Honda Motor Club benefits for the duration of the non-powertrain limited warranty:
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Towing to a local Honda dealership
- Flat-tire change with spare
- Battery boost
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Lockout assistance
- Winch service
- Trip-interruption expense reimbursement
- Concierge service
- 24-hour Honda dealer locator
Acura Precision Used
2015 Acura TLX | Cars.com photo by Evan Sears
Acura Precision Used’s limited warranty stretches further, with six months/7,500 miles of powertrain and non-powertrain coverage. As with Honda’s programs, that’s still significantly shorter than Acura’s standard CPO program for newer vehicles, which includes seven years/100,000-miles of powertrain and two years/100,000 miles of non-powertrain coverage.
Acura’s Precision Used program comes with the same SiriusXM subscription and exchange policy as HondaTrue Used along with the following Acura Motor Club benefits for up to 12 months/12,000 miles:
- Emergency towing
- Flat-tire change
- Battery boost
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Lockout assistance
- Computer trip routing, map services
- National hotel privileges directory
- 24-hour Acura dealer locator
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Keyword: Honda, Acura Expand Certified Pre-Owned Programs to 10-Year-Old Cars