), you’ll appreciate Subaru’s Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle program. You’re guaranteed a car that’s been inspected, tested, detailed, and backed by an extended warranty… for an extra price, that is. A CPO Subaru costs about

28% more than an uncertified one

—but is it worth it?

Jerry

, the licensed

car insurance

broker and

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, has everything you need to know about the Subaru CPO warranty. We'll tell you what it covers, how much it costs to extend, and even how to lower your

Subaru insurance costs

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Subaru Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) warranty coverage

Every certified pre-owned (CPO) Subaru comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.This extends the original five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty by an extra two years/40,000 miles. Plus, there’s no deductible!

And because the program only accepts cars less than five years old and with fewer than 80,000 miles, the bumper-to-bumper warranty might still apply, too. For example, a lightly used

2020 Subaru Impreza

would still be covered by its original three-year/36,000-mile warranty. Keep in mind, though, that both warranties begin on the car's original sale date and not the day you purchase it as a CPO.

Here's a full breakdown of what's covered and what's not:

What’s covered

The Subaru CPO warranty covers the powertrain and transaxle, which are some of the most expensive parts in a car. They include parts like the:

Engine block and all internal parts

Cylinder heads

Valve trains

Oil pump and pan

Timing belts, gears, and cover

Water pump

Flywheel

Intake and exhaust manifolds

Oil seals and gaskets

Transaxle case and internal parts

Torque converter

Electronic transmission control unit

Seals and gaskets

Axle shafts and constant velocity joints

Propeller shaft

A defect in the manufacture or installation of any of these parts will qualify you to receive a repair or replacement at any official Subaru garage. And since the CPO warranty has a $0 deductible, your visit should be completely free of charge. Owning a CPO Subaru isn't all sunshine and daisies, though.

What isn’t covered

Like every automaker, Subaru doesn't cover repairs caused by normal wear and tear, misuse, or neglect. Unlike most other automakers, however, Subaru's CPO warranty is limited exclusively to the powertrain.

By contrast,

Toyota

’s CPO program includes a 12-month/12,000-mile comprehensive guarantee and a seven-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. On the other hand, a CPO

Honda

could qualify for general coverage for up to five years/86,000 miles, depending on its age. And that's on top of the original warranty!

Here’s what's missing from a CPO Subaru warranty:

Engine parts like the valve covers, motor mounts, and fuel injection system

Transmission

All-wheel-drive

Cooling and fuel parts like the radiator, heater core, and fuel lines

Steering

Front suspension

Brakes

Electrical components

Air conditioning

The only way to get coverage for these parts is to upgrade to one of Subaru's

Added Security plans

. There are two levels of parts coverage, two deductibles ($0 or $100), and a variety of terms available. Priced at $960 to $3,240, you can choose from between three years/45,000 miles to eight years/120,000 miles. You'll also receive a free tow to the nearest Subaru garage for repairs and reimbursement for your rental costs.

A Classic plan covers the major components listed above. If you want coverage identical to the original bumper-to-bumper warranty, choose Gold Plus. It includes every part listed in the Classic plan, plus hundreds of others, like lights, switches, and sensors.

Should a breakdown interrupt your out-of-town trip, it'll also cover food and accommodation.

Additional benefits

Subaru's CPO warranty makes up for its skimpy coverage with extra benefits such as:

Financing rates as low as 3.49%

24/7 roadside assistance

$500 owner loyalty coupon

CARFAX vehicle history report

SiriusXM three-month trial subscription

One-year trial subscription to STARLINK Safety Plus Package

Is a Subaru CPO warranty transferable?

A good warranty can make or break your decision to buy a car. Fortunately, you can pass your CPO Subaru along with its warranty intact, along with any remaining benefits. The cost of each transfer is $35.

MORE:

Used car warranties, explained

Subaru CPO program certification process

One of the biggest advantages of buying a certified pre-owned vehicle is that you don’t have to worry about

what to look for when buying a used car

—the dealership does it for you! This means that every CPO car is only as good as its inspection.

As we mentioned, Subaru's certified pre-owned program only accepts cars with fewer than 80,000 miles and five years on them. After that, they're subjected to a car history check with CARFAX and a

152-item checklist

, inside and out. Any part that doesn't meet performance standards (or isn't in the same condition as when it left the factory) is replaced with a genuine Subaru article.

By disqualifying cars with irreversible modifications, Subaru guarantees that you’ll leave the lot with an OEM-parts-only vehicle. Moreover, it’ll have passed both an underside inspection in the garage lift and a performance road test. Both a technician and a manager must sign off on the car before it's ready to go.

Maybe that's why 97% of Subarus sold within the last 10 years are still on the road today!

MORE: 7 things to look for when buying a used car

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Are Subarus reliable?

In the 2022 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey, Subaru was rated number one in satisfaction. What’s important, however, is whether or not that satisfaction lasts.

Let’s take a look at the reliability ratings for Subaru's top two cars, the Forester and Outback, to find out!

2022 Subaru Forester reliability scores

Following a redesign in 2019, the Foresteris now Consumer Reports' #1 compact SUV. It does a little worse on J.D. Power, dropping to third place in the same category. Still, in terms of affordability, you can’t do much better than

Subaru Forester insurance costs

Consumer Reports: 4 out of 5 predicted reliability (2022)

RepairPal: 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating (21st out of 26 compact SUVs)

J.D. Power: 84/100 quality and reliability score (2022)

2022 Subaru Outback reliability scores

The bigger the body, the higher the

Subaru Outback insurance costs

. It's a trade many buyers were willing to make, putting the Outback behind the Forester by just 100 sales in 2022. Not to be outdone, the Outback also took first place on Consumer Reports' list of best midsize SUVs.

Consumer Reports: 3 out of 5 predicted reliability (2022)

RepairPal: 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating (10th out of 26 midsize SUVs)

J.D. Power: 73/100 quality and reliability score (2022)

MORE:

Common Subaru transmission problems

Average Subaru repair costs

Due to Subaru's reputation for reliability, you won't need to visit the garage often, and it shouldn’t cost you much money when you do. RepairPal estimates that Subarus cost an average of $617 a year to repair, compared to $652 for all other models. It’s not a lot of savings, but it adds up once you consider what the CPO warranty covers.

Let's say you wanted a mechanic to check out a leak in your engine block. A diagnostic would cost you at least $150. If that leak indicated a crack, you'd be looking at a $5,000 to $7,000 bill for a replacement—if you weren’t covered by a Subaru CPO powertrain warranty, that is.

But that's the worst-case scenario. The average modern car lasts about

11 years and 200,000 miles

, so unless you’re very unlucky, you probably won’t get much use from a Subaru CPO powertrain warranty. The most

common problems with Subarus

are related to the transmission, electrical components, and other parts that are only covered by the company’s paid plans.

MORE:

Subaru tune-up cost

Our take: is a Subaru CPO warranty worth it?

Even if you take into account the sky-high cost of a new engine, a Subaru CPO warranty just isn’t worth it. There’s a slim chance you’ll use it since most cars start to fail well beyond their limits. Furthermore, competitors offer better warranties—some with free maintenance.

Whether a CPO Subaru is worth the money is another story. Thanks to the rigorous CPO inspection process, you're more likely to find a great car on a dealer's lot than in a private driveway. Take full advantage by upgrading your reliable Subaru with an Added Security plan to enjoy near-complete peace of mind.

How to save on Subaru insurance costs

Did we forget something? That’s right, we still haven’t told you where to find cheap car insurance for a used car! Don’t worry, it doesn’t take a whole article to learn money-saving

car insurance hacks

—just download

Jerry

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