Pop quiz: What's the best car warranty? The one you never have to use, of course! Trick question aside, warranty coverage can vary greatly between manufacturers. Buying new? If you're keeping your car for more than three years, this is information you'll want to keep in mind when shopping the competition. If you're buying used from an independent seller, make sure to get complete maintenance records from the seller as dealerships will request this data for any warranty repairs.
Basic Complete Vehicle
Most manufacturers offer a 3-year, 60,000 km warranty for when anything goes wrong with your new purchase (aside from cosmetic damage and regular wear-and-tear). Luxury marques (and Volkswagen) typically offer a 4-year, 80,000 km warranty. But who reigns supreme? Mazda offers a 3-year warranty, but does not impose a distance-based restriction, unique in this category (in fact, their warranties are unlimited distance across the board). Infiniti offers a 4-year, 100,000 km warranty, but it's Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi at the top, all with 5-year, 100,000 km warranties.
| Manufacturer | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Dodge SRT, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Honda, Jeep, Mitsubishi1, Nissan, RAM, Scion, Subaru, Toyota | 3 years | 60,000 km |
| Mazda | 3 years | unlimited |
| Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo | 4 years | 80,000 km |
| Infiniti | 4 years | 100,000 km |
| Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi2 | 5 years | 100,000 km |
1 i-MiEV, Lancer Evo, Lancer Ralliart
2 all models except i-MiEV, Lancer Evo, Lancer Ralliart
Powertrain
Most cars are covered by a 5-year, 100,000 km powertrain warranty, though there is greater variation in both duration and distance covered. European luxury marques tend not to offer a separate powertrain warranty; rather, powertrain components fall under the basic 4-year, 80,000 km warranty. Standouts in this category include Tesla, which offers an 8-year, unlimited distance warranty, and Mitsubishi, with 10 years and 160,000 km.
| Manufacturer | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge SRT | 3 years | 60,000 km |
| Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Smart, Volvo | 4 years | 80,000 km |
| Acura, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mitsubishi1, Nissan, RAM, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen | 5 years | 100,000 km |
| Buick, Chevrolet, GMC | 5 years | 160,000 km |
| Mazda | 5 years | unlimited |
| Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln | 6 years | 110,000 km |
| Tesla | 8 years | unlimited |
| Mitsubishi2 | 10 years | 160,000 km |
1 i-MiEV, Lancer Evo, Lancer Ralliart
2 all models except i-MiEV, Lancer Evo, Lancer Ralliart
Rust-Through
Also known as corrosion/perforation warranty (but distinct from surface corrosion), this covers you when that little bit of bubbling paint turns into a yawning, orange-rimmed chasm. Most manufacturers offer a 5-year, unlimited distance warranty, though many European brands offer a 12-year, unlimited warranty.
| Manufacturer | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysler, Dodge, Dodge SRT, Fiat, Jeep, RAM | 3 years | unlimited |
| Tesla | 4 years | 80,000 km |
| Acura, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Toyota | 5 years | unlimited |
| Buick, Chevrolet, GMC | 6 years | 160,000 km |
| Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus | 6 years | unlimited |
| Infiniti, Mazda | 7 years | unlimited |
| Audi, BMW, Mini, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo | 12 years | unlimited |
Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance packages are not all created equal; however, you can expect 24-hour availability, towing, jump-starting and spare tire installation at the very least. There are too many variables to capture succinctly in a table, so refer to the manufacturer's documentation to confirm which services they provide and the extent of their coverage. Special mention goes to Cadillac and Lincoln for their 6-year, 110,000 km offerings.
| Manufacturer | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge SRT, Nissan, Scion, Toyota | 3 years | 60,000 km |
| Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi1, Subaru | 3 years | unlimited |
| Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Tesla, Volkswagen | 4 years | 80,000 km |
| Infiniti | 4 years | 100,000 km |
| Acura, Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Smart, Volvo | 4 years | unlimited |
| Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Kia, RAM | 5 years | 100,000 km |
| Buick, Chevrolet, GMC | 5 years | 160,000 km |
| Hyundai, Mitsubishi2 | 5 years | unlimited |
| Cadillac, Lincoln | 6 years | 110,000 km |
1 i-MiEV
2 all models except i-MiEV
Hybrid Powertrain
The warranty coverage on most any hybrid/electric vehicle powertrain is the same: 8 years, 160,000 km. A notable exception here is Tesla, which covers its powertrains and 85 kWh battery packs for 8 years with no distance limit, while its 70 kWh battery pack is covered for 8 years, 200,000 km.
| Manufacturer | Duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz, Smart | 4 years | 80,000 km |
| Porsche | 6 years | unlimited |
| Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen | 8 years | 160,000 km |
| Tesla (70 kWh battery) | 8 years | 200,000 km |
| Tesla (powertrain, 85 kWh battery) | 8 years | unlimited |
Still with us? Warranty terms present a mind-boggling array of numbers and conditions, though they only make up part of the picture when it comes to owning a reliable ride. Before committing to a purchase, check online for reviews from current owners of the same model generation.
