Volvo Cars North America has one of the best Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle purchase programs, according to the experts at Autotrader, the internet’s ultimate automotive marketplace.

Volvo Cars North America (VCNA)’s certified pre-owned (CPO) program was ranked in the top three of all automakers, better than those from leading European, Asian, and domestic brands. The report comes as February VCNA CPO sales increased 58 percent (up to 1,343 cars up from 850) during the same period last year.

The car shopping experts at Autotrader analyzed every brand’s CPO program to determine not just how they compare, but which ones offer the best combination of amenities that CPO shoppers should look out for.

Each Certified Pre-Owned Volvo has to meet the strictest criteria and is backed by a best-in-class warranty. Each has to pass a rigorous 130-point test, have less than 80,000 miles, and receive a clear Carfax™ Vehicle History Report. Volvo replaces or repairs any needed components, carefully checking the exterior and powertrain, and issues a 7-year/100,000 mile exclusionary warranty calculated from the original in-service date. Free roadside assistance and a zero deductible for all warranty visits are included.

A certified pre-owned vehicle can be a great option for car shoppers looking for the amenities of a new car on a used car budget. According to Autotrader’s 2014 Certified Pre-Owned study, familiarity with CPO is at an all-time high, with 75 percent of new car shoppers and 45 percent of used car shoppers saying they’re familiar with CPO. In addition, the number of new and used shoppers considering CPO for the first time has doubled in just one year.

“Volvo is proud to attach yet another glowing accolade to its certified pre-owned program,” said Jeff Pugliese, Portfolio Manager at Volvo Cars North America. “Volvo certified pre-owned vehicles offer customers the same confidence and pride as owning a brand-new model at a more affordable price.”

To determine which programs stood above the rest, Autotrader editors took into consideration the following primary factors:

Warranty length: “The longer, the better,” Autotrader Site Editor Brian Moody said. “Many of the best CPO programs offer coverage up to 100,000 miles.”

Transferrable: Editors felt that warranties that are transferrable to the next owner were desirable as it essentially improves that car's resale value and speaks to the manufacturer's confidence in the vehicle's quality.

Little or no deductible: The best warranty programs have no deductible for covered repairs; however, editors included some programs that were otherwise compelling even if they have a small deductible (less than $100).