Cars with a five-year warranty
Like the sound of a long warranty for peace of mind - whether you buy new or used? Here are the brands that offer a five-year warranty
When it comes to the subject of car warranties, bigger is generally better. Nothing shows a manufacturer's confidence in its build quality or reliability like a lengthy guarantee that should cover you against any major failure. Most manufacturers offer a three-year new car warranty, but a handful give you five years of cover. This is good if you purchase a new car, but even better if you go for a used car, as you get two years' cover with a three-year-old car - a model which would typically be out of warranty.
As warranties are transferable to subsequent owners, having a few years of manufacturers' warranty left means that used cars within warranty should be worth more than they would be otherwise - so if you buy a new car and sell within five years, you should get more money back. And for those purchasing used cars that are less than five years old, you get the benefit of that extra peace of mind.
As well as warranty length, you should also consider the various conditions, which typically limit the mileage that you can cover and which parts are included. For example, the class leader in warranty length is the Kia seven-year warranty - which is limited to a maximum of 100,000 miles. In the case of Kia, the battery and air-conditioning refrigerant are only covered for 24 months and cracks in the exterior glass are only covered for the first 100 miles or three months, whichever is soonest. Even so, this warranty gives you plenty of peace of mind, compared with most three-year warranties.
And finally, cars with a shorter warranty aren't necessarily less reliable. The most reliable car on sale in the UK, according to Auto Express’ Driver Power Survey, is the Lexus NX. Lexus has performed admirably in these satisfaction surveys for years, and yet, Lexus’s standard warranty is currently only three years, although as you'll see below that hasn't always been the case.
1. Renault
Renault is the latest manufacturer to offer a five-year warranty across its entire range of new cars. As of 18 December 2019, all new Renaults have been eligible for this extended cover of either five years or 100,000 miles - whichever comes first.
What's more, the first two years are covered by an unlimited mileage warranty, and on top of this, the Zoe's electric battery pack is covered by an extended 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Cars included:
2. Hyundai
Hyundai proudly offers its five-year warranty with unlimited miles attached to it, which it has offered since 2002. It also throws in roadside assistance, five annual vehicle health checks, plus a 12-year anti-perforation warranty for most models. And it’s available with all new Hyundai cars.
This warranty can be transferred between owners too, so it’s great for second-hand buyers. It also includes two years’ brake and clutch cover, plus three years’ worth of cover for perishable suspension components. Word of warning though - as with most manufacturers, this warranty doesn’t apply if you use the car for commercial use.
Plug-in and electric models cover their high-voltage batteries for eight years, between 100,000 and 125,000 miles depending on the model.
Cars included:
3. Isuzu
Throughout the years Isuzu has made some weird, wonderful and very reliable cars.
Its current range in the UK is limited to just one car, the D-Max pickup. All D-Max models come with a five-year/125,000-mile warranty.
Cars included:
4. Toyota/Lexus
The warranty situation at Toyota is quite confusing these days. There have been several offers on the table from the Japanese manufacturer over the past few years, but for all new Toyota models bought between January 1 2019 and June 1 2021, they will be covered by a five-year/100,000 mile warranty.
That period was extendable to seven years if the car was 'properly maintained' using Toyota parts, so it's worth checking exactly how much warranty your car still has if you're shopping around for Toyotas of this age.
It's also worth noting that all Lexus models of the same age are also covered by the same five-year warranty (Lexus is owned by Toyota). Any models bought before or since this 36-month window will be covered by a standard three-year warranty.
More recently, Toyota and Lexus cars get three years or 60,000 miles of cover, but annual servicing can extend this to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Cars included:
Cars with extended five-year warranties
An extended warranty can either be a God-send or a bit of a waste of money, depending on if you need to use it or not.
Some people argue that if manufacturers are confident their cars will last that long they should offer longer warranties in the first place. While others argue that extended warranties will pay for themselves the older a car gets.
This is supported by the fact some manufacturers offer extended warranties on a case by case basis, helping them ensure unscrupulous motorists aren’t trying to cover the fact they haven’t looked after their cars well.
Below is a list of manufacturers that offer car warranties of at least five years. Prices vary depending on manufacturer and circumstance.
|
Manufacturer |
Standard warranty length |
Max extended warranty length |
|
Audi |
3 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/90,000 miles |
|
DS |
3 years/60,000 miles |
5 years |
|
Ford |
3 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/100,000 miles |
|
Honda |
3 years/90,000 miles |
5 years |
|
Maserati |
3 years/unlimited mileage |
5 years |
|
Seat |
3 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/90,000 miles |
|
Skoda |
3 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/100,000 miles |