The Car Brands That Offer the Best Warranties
Manufacturer warranties are not only good for new car buyers. Those shopping for a pre-owned vehicle also benefit from them, especially if you’re in the market for a recent model. Getting your hands on a car or truck that is still covered by the manufacturer can be a blessing and bring some peace of mind to the whole experience. However, not all manufacturer warranties are created equal.
Every year, CAA-Quebec scrutinizes the many protections available on the market –new vehicle, powertrain, electric or hybrid system components, audio/video/navigation, emission control system, corrosion, seat belts and airbags, roadside assistance – in order spot the most beneficial ones, as well as those which are less interesting.
This year, CAA-Quebec tells us that Hyundai, Kia, Genesis and Mitsubishi still offer the best overall protections for different reasons. They offer full-vehicle coverage of up to 5 years/100,000 km. Mazda includes and unlimited mileage component, but only for three years.
When it comes to powertrain, Mitsubishi still dominates with its 10-year/160,000 km warranty, although Mazda offers 5 years or unlimited mileage. The first also comes out on top for the various hybrid or electric propulsion system components (excluding the high-voltage battery), again for 10 years/160,000 km.
Older vehicles are more prone to rust. When it comes to corrosion warranties, luxury brands Audi, BMW, MINI, Porsche and Lexus go up to 12 years or unlimited mileage for perforation. Beware: many offer no protection against surface corrosion.
What about electric vehicles? Inevitably, we also have to talk about plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles that use a high-voltage battery pack. The most common warranty you see in the industry is 8 years/160,000 km, but some brands will offer much better than that.
Consider Toyota, Lexus and Land Rover, which stretch it out to 10 years/240,000 km. Tesla offers an 8-year/192,000 km warranty on the Model 3 and Model Y with the larger battery. With the Model S and Model X, coverage increases to 8 years/240,000 km. As CAA-Quebec deplores, there is still some uncertainty regarding the replacement battery and its capacity among several manufacturers.
Don't forget that if the used vehicle you’re pulling the trigger on is still covered by the original manufacturer's warranty, it is your responsibility to verify and comply with the conditions imposed to keep this warranty valid.