SAN DIEGO – www.IntelliChoice.com, a provider of automotive cost and value analysis and part of Source Interlink Media, has announced the winners of its 10th annual ranking of Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Overall, Volvo took the top ranking for the second straight year among Luxury manufacturers, while Volkswagen holds its title for five straight years for best Non-Luxury program.

The biggest surprise was the addition of MINI to the top of the table in a virtual mathematical tie with VW. The rankings were announced at the 2009 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in San Diego, Calif.

“2008 marks the 10th year that IntelliChoice.com has issued the industry’s only report card for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles,” said James Bell, editor of IntelliChoice.com. “During that time, we have seen every automaker launch a CPO program, and many of them have built their programs with our inspection and ranking criteria as a guidepost. Even in this difficult economy, people will still need a new car now and then, and certified used cars are even more attractive to buyers who are looking for value. With depreciation rates running higher on many new cars, CPO is a great way for buyers to get a great car without taking a big hit when they drive it off the lot.”

Volvo and Volkswagen are repeat winners from last year, but Bell noted that the battle for CPO supremacy is tighter than ever, as 2008 marked the first mathematical tie in the non-luxury cars category (VW and MINI). “Many automakers score high on CPO rankings, so those that come out on top are to be commended for beating stiff competition,” said Bell. “There’s also good news for American automakers here, as Ford and GM scored tops on Brand Value for Luxury and Non-Luxury vehicles, respectively.”

While new auto sales are showing steep declines, Bell said that 2008 CPO sales have actually made slight gains, in terms of both month to month and year to year growth.

IntelliChoice.com 2009 CPO Winners

IntelliChoice.com investigates and analyzes 32 manufacturer programs. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles (CPOs) are cars, trucks, and SUVs that have come off lease or have been resold to dealers, and have been thoroughly inspected prior to sale. IntelliChoice.com’s Best Certified Pre-Owned Awards are presented in the Luxury and Non-Luxury classes. The following breaks out the top vehicles in each category and the three most important sub-categories:

• Luxury Cars

  Overall: Volvo

  Warranty: Porsche

  100% Inspection Compliance: Audi, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land

  Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo

  Brand Value: Lincoln

  
  

• Non-Luxury Cars

  Overall: VW and MINI (statistical tie)

  Warranty: MINI

  100% Inspection Compliance: Ford, Mercury, Nissan and Suzuki

  Brand Value: General Motors