Drivers who are shopping around for a used Saturn vehicle 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 Saturn CPO program.
Saturn is a part of General Motors, and has been discontinued. However, many Saturn vehicles still fall under the GM Certified Pre-Owned program. In order to qualify, Saturn cars must be under five years old, and have less than 75,000 miles. They come complete with a 12 month/12,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty, as well as an extended six year/100,000 Powertrain Limited Warranty.
Inspection
In order to ensure that all Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles are safe to drive, Saturn subjects all CPO vehicles to a 172-point inspection that includes the following procedures and areas:
- Vehicle History
- Road Test
- Engine Compartment
- Hybrid Vehicle Component Check
- Under-vehicle Inspection
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Exterior and Interior Condition and Detailing
Warranty
Saturn CPO vehicles come with two limited warranties. The first covers the entire vehicle bumper-to-bumper for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. The second is a Powertrain Limited Warranty, which covers repairs or replacements of major powertrain components for six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The warranty also includes certain benefits including:
A maintenance program that covers two maintenance visits over the course of two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
A complete CARFAX vehicle history report including the service record.
A three-month trial of OnStar’s Guidance Plan, plus three years of the OnStar Basic Plan.
A three-month subscription of SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s All Access package.
A 24-hour roadside assistance program that offers emergency services.
Pricing
Purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned Saturn vehicle instead of a used vehicle can make a difference in the price. The bottom line will usually be around 14% higher than a regular “used” vehicle.
For example, at the time of this article in April 2016, a used 2010 Saturn Vue has a Kelley Blue Book value of $8,849; the same vehicle in the Saturn CPO program is priced around $10,049.
Compare Saturn 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.
