Buying a used car with a long, manufacturer-backed warranty can make an awful lot of sense. After all, it’s no use saving some cash to buy a used car instead of a new one if you’re going to spend half as much again fixing it when it goes wrong.
In this guide, we are going to look at 10 great cars that when new came with the kind of long warranties that might still be in place for the second (or in some cases even third) owner.
WHAT IS A WARRANTY?
What do we mean by a warranty? Well, all new cars these days come with a warranty so that should something go wrong with the car (other than usual wear and tear), then the manufacturer will rectify it for free under the terms of the warranty.
Many new car warranties last for at least three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes up sooner. However, some manufacturers offer more than that, with warranties that last as long as seven years. For the warranty to remain valid the car’s previous owners will have needed to adhere to certain servicing schedules. As such, it’s important to always ensure this is the case. If in doubt, try contacting a franchised main dealer and supplying the car’s registration number.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A WARRANTY
Bear in mind that the cover offered by many of these warranties starts to tail off in the last few years. Therefore, it pays to check the small print so that you know exactly what your warranty does and doesn’t cover. For example, if the infotainment system goes wrong can it be fixed under warranty? Same for any mechanical issues, or electric items such as heated seats. While a long warranty might not always cover every item in its latter years, a warranty of some sort is always going to be preferable to no warranty at all.
So, which of these stoutly-warrantied used cars should you choose? Well, to help you pick one, here’s our count-down of ten of the very best.
When enquiring about a car, always make sure to clarify with the seller how much of the original warranty remains in place.
10 OF THE BEST USED CARS WITH LONG WARRANTIES
10. SSANGYONG TIVOLI
Warranty when new: 5 years, 100,000 miles (pre-Oct 2018)/7 years, 150,000 miles (post-Oct 2018)
The Tivoli, like all modern Ssangyongs, is a car of compromises. It doesn’t feel as plush inside as many other compact SUVs, it’s not terribly exciting to drive, and its engines can be noisy when pushed hard. However, this little SUV fights back by being extremely spacious, well equipped and comfortable. It’s also tremendous value, which is why it makes this list – and, up until October 2018, it came as new with a five-year warranty. Or, choose a model registered after October 2018 and it should qualify for the balance of Ssangyong’s revised seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty.
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9. RENAULT KADJAR
Warranty when new: 4 years, 100,000 miles (pre-Feb 2018), 3 years, 60,000 miles (Feb 2018-Dec 2019), 5 years, 100,000 miles (post-Dec 2019)
Renault’s popular SUV is based on the best-selling Nissan Qashqai, and offers just as much space, flexibility and a similarly fuss-free ownership experience. Choose one that was registered before February 2018 and it should also include the balance of what was then a four-year Renault warranty. After this date the cover reverted to three years, before moving to a five-year warranty in late 2019.
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8. KIA STINGER
Warranty when new: 7 years, 100,000 miles
The only executive car to make this list, the Kia Stinger would have finished higher were it not for the fact it’s quite rare, and therefore, comparatively hard to find. But find a good one – both diesel and petrol versions are available, including a sublime V6 GTS model – and you’ll have a striking four-door coupe that’s great to drive, smartly fitted out inside, extremely well equipped, and endowed with the balance of Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
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7. TOYOTA PRIUS
Warranty when new: 5 years, 100,000 miles
The Toyota Prius is a modern minicab favourite for a reason: it’s dependable, spacious, and cheap to run, especially if most of your motoring is around town. So generally reliable is the Prius that chances are you won’t ever need to use the warranty. But equally, there’s no harm in the fact that both the current shape models benefit from Toyota’s five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
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6. TOYOTA GT86 / SUBARU BRZ
Warranty when new: 5 years, 100,000 miles
Both of these badge-engineered sports cars came with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, and at the time of writing, they’re the only sports cars that have done so. Whichever you choose, you’ll get exciting handling, a sonorous and peppy four-cylinder engine, and even a pair of vestigial rear seats. For those who want a fun driving experience from their used car, with the reassurance of a warranty, these coupes are hard to beat.
Search for a used Toyota GT86 on CarGurus
5. HYUNDAI IONIQ
Warranty when new: 5 years, unlimited mileage
Hyundai’s take on the Toyota Prius is not only arguably a little more attractive than its big rival, but it also offers a choice of three different modes of propulsion: full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric. The hybrid is the most common, though, and it’s very efficient, well equipped and spacious – if rather bland to drive. Of course, Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty came as standard.
Search for a used Hyundai Ioniq on CarGurus
4. HYUNDAI i30
Warranty when new: 5 years, unlimited mileage
The old Hyundai i30 might not be the first car you’d think of as a rival to the Volkswagen Golf, but as a used buy it’s got an awful lot going for it. That’s particularly so with the latest model, which went on sale in 2016. Granted, the interior’s a little dull and it isn’t the most exciting car in the world to drive, but it is spacious, efficient, well equipped, easy to live with, and endowed with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
Search for a used Hyundai i30 on CarGurus
3. TOYOTA C-HR
Warranty when new: 5 years, 100,000 miles
You can take your pick of 1.2-litre petrol turbo or hybrid powertrains in the C-HR; the latter is better to drive, the former more efficient. Either way, the C-HR is surprisingly good fun to drive for an SUV, and it looks distinctive both inside and out. Granted, the rear seats are a little dark and claustrophobic, but if you can live with that, this is a fun and funky SUV choice – and one that came as new with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
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2. KIA CEED
Warranty when new: 7 years, 100,000 miles
As with the Hyundai i30 on which it’s based, the third-generation Kia Ceed is a cracking used car, with a choice of excellent turbocharged petrol engines, sweet handling and a smart, spacious interior. If you’re after a family car with a whopping warranty – and the Kia’s certainly is that, at seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first – this is the best there is.
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1. HYUNDAI i10
Warranty when new: 5 years, unlimited mileage
The i10 is one of our favourite city cars. It’s smart, spacious, good value, great to drive and cheap to run – and of course, you get Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. Avoid the lowest-specification S version and it’s even pretty well equipped. What more could you want in a small hatchback like this one? It’s so good, in fact, that we named it best city car in our 2019 Used Car Awards.
Search for a used Hyundai i10 on CarGurus
Read More:
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