ATLANTA, Jan. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles are a great option for savvy shoppers looking for the quality of a new car without the extra cost. Nearly a quarter of car shoppers are considering purchasing a CPO vehicle, according to a recent Autotrader study*. Shoppers looking for a used vehicle they can trust with safety and reliability certified by the manufacturer should look at shopping CPO. Autotrader experts have identified 10 CPO luxury and 10 CPO non-luxury "Must-Shop CPO Cars" that offer a look similar to their brand-new counterparts with affordable pricing and a manufacturer-backed warranty.

"With a certified pre-owned vehicle, consumers get great value in a gently used vehicle that has been heavily evaluated by a manufacturer-specific checklist," said Brian Moody, executive editor, Autotrader. "Also, many CPO programs offer new-car perks like special financing, roadside assistance and rental car coverage. Buying a CPO vehicle gives you the feeling of a brand new car without spending every dollar you have."

There are many advantages to purchasing CPO models, as the vehicles have to pass a background check before a rigorous multi-point inspection is conducted using a process established by the manufacturer. After bringing the vehicle up to standards, a warranty is added which provides buyers peace of mind in the event that a repair is needed in the future. Customers get the confidence of a new-car experience without the extra cost and instant depreciation of value.

Criteria used for CPO luxury vehicles: a retail price of approximately $65,000 or less; a manufacturer-backed certified warranty must have a minimum of 6 years or 100,000 miles of total powertrain coverage included in the purchase price; similar look to a current new car.

Criteria used for CPO non-luxury vehicles: a retail price of approximately $40,000 or less; manufacturer-backed certified warranty must have a minimum of 5 years or 100,000 miles of total powertrain coverage included in the purchase price; similar look to a current new car; vehicles must have an overall federal government safety rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars.

To learn more about the top CPO vehicles selected by Autotrader experts, read the "Good as New: 10 Must-Shop CPO Luxury Cars" and "Good as New: 10 Must-Shop CPO Cars" articles on the Autotrader site.

For more information on CPO programs or to search for your next CPO car, visit Autotrader's hub for CPO information at http://www.autotrader.com/research/certified-cars/index.jsp.

* Autotrader 2016 CPO Study

About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or certified pre-owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.

Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader^®, Dealer.com^®, Dealertrack^®, Kelley Blue Book^®, Manheim^®, NextGear Capital^®, vAuto^®, Xtime^® and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

SOURCE Autotrader