What Is Cadillac's Certified Pre-Owned Program?
Exploring the pros and cons of a Cadillac CPO used car or SUV.
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A certified pre-owned (CPO) Cadillac could be a smart means of getting the keys to a reliable luxury vehicle, minus much of the uncertainty that typically comes with shopping for a used vehicle.
No matter what your used-car shopping budget might be, the two main challenges are knowing the vehicle is in sound mechanical condition and seeing a complete service history. This might include anything from routine oil changes to potentially serious fixes related to recalls or accidents.
There’s not one standard for all CPO programs. Generally speaking, a CPO vehicle is subjected to an inspection from a certified mechanic, comes with a full service history, and features some form of extended warranty.
Let’s take a look at what differentiates Cadillac’s CPO program and some of the vehicles that are eligible for it.
Criteria for Cadillac CPO vehicles
A Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle must be no more than four years old and have 50,000 or fewer miles showing on its odometer. Keep in mind that a brand-new Cadillac car or SUV comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, along with a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Free roadside assistance also extends for six years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Depending on the model year of the Cadillac CPO vehicle you’re considering, one or both of these warranties could still be active.
Which Cadillac vehicles are eligible?
So long as it doesn’t exceed the mileage limit and is less than four years old, every Cadillac sedan and sport-utility vehicle is covered under the luxury brand’s CPO program. This includes everything from the agile CT5 midsize sedan to the cavernous Escalade full-size SUV.
As Cadillac’s largest vehicle, the Escalade is known for offering acres of cabin and cargo space with its three rows of seating, along with a powerful 420-hp V-8 engine under the hood.
While its entire range is eligible, Cadillac does often have model-specific finance rates that can vary from month to month. Knowing what’s available is as easy as clicking a link to see the CPO models and their respective APR finance rates for a given month.
Pros and cons of Cadillac’s CPO program
Every CPO Cadillac undergoes a 172-point quality inspection performed by a certified mechanic. This helps uncover any potential issues or defects that might otherwise go unnoticed with a non-CPO vehicle.
A complete vehicle history report is provided, and an additional one-year/unlimited-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is added to the original four-year/50,000-mile warranty. This is transferable to another owner. Models equipped with satellite radio receive a free three-month trial period, too.
In a move that’s typical of CPO programs, Cadillac offers trip interruption reimbursement to help cover expenses related to towing, rental car, or hotel charges should your vehicle experience a mechanical breakdown.
Unlike some rival CPO offers, Cadillac does not provide an extended powertrain warranty, include any free maintenance, or have a fixed-term return policy. Cadillac does offer stand-alone CPO-related upgrades, such as extended coverage for wheel and tire damage, along with three tiers of added powertrain/mechanical coverage, and a prepaid maintenance plan.
