Remember all of the fantastic Nissan vehicles of 2020? No, of course you don’t. Hardly anyone remembers the vehicles that hit the market in 2020 because we were all very distracted by a swarm of other issues. You may have seen a model that truly sparked your interest, but before you had the chance to gather your thoughts and trade-in documents, the year was gone, and it was a new model year. But it’s not too late. You don’t need a time machine to slide behind the wheel of the cars, trucks, and SUVs that Nissan churned out to celebrate a new decade. In fact, many of them are lurking on the Certified Pre-Owned Nissan sales lot, waiting for intrepid buyers like you who value a low-mileage, almost-new vehicle.
Perhaps the time has come to reclaim this decade. Instead of worrying about the opportunities we missed, maybe we should make peace with the new chances we have. While you may not have been able to purchase a brand new 2020 vehicle of your dreams, the dream isn’t over– it just moved to the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) lot.
What Exactly Is a Certified Pre-Owned Nissan?
Most drivers are familiar with the concept of a pre-owned car. That’s basically a fancy way for saying “used,” right? In a nutshell, yes, but if you’re thinking about vehicles in terms of “new” and “used” only, you’re missing out on a large chunk of the most stock.
A Certified Pre-Owned Nissan is used in that it has been driven by another person or persons before, but there’s a twist: it needs to be in pristine condition. Nissan will only certify vehicles that are less than six years from the original new sale date and that have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer. That means CPO Nissans are essentially the next best thing to new. Many of us only dream of finding a recent model with low mileage; Nissan rounds them up and certifies them, making them easier to find and enjoy.
But it doesn’t stop there. We all know that just because a car has low mileage and isn’t that old doesn’t mean it’s in good shape. Nissan knows how to tell lemons from cherries, which is why the vehicle then goes through two inspections. First, a CARFAX Vehicle History Report is completed to ensure there’s nothing lurking in the vehicle’s past that might indicate it’s in anything less than perfect condition. Then, a Nissan-trained technician completes a 167-point comprehensive inspection. Every blemish in the car’s appearance and performance is noted and corrected or reconditioned using only Nissan-approved parts. Once the car passes the rigorous inspection, it is officially certified by the manufacturer as a Certified Pre-Owned Nissan.
There Are No Guarantees, But How About Warranties?
The inspections are a nice touch, but there’s a method behind Nissan’s stringent policy. Each Certified Pre-Owned Nissan includes a Factory Backed Limited Powertrain Warranty, which can only be provided by Nissan dealers on vehicles that have met the manufacturer’s requirements for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. This Limited Powertrain Warranty provides 7-years or 100,000 miles of peace of mind in case there should be a problem with the engine, transmission, transfer case, or drivetrain. This includes internal components, such as cylinder heads, valve trains, seals and gaskets, universal bearings and joints, and more.
The deductible on this coverage is just $100 a visit and includes repair or replacement of parts with Nissan-authorized new or remanufactured replacement parts. That is to say, the repairs are thorough, complete, and high-quality, giving you peace of mind that things are being done correctly the first time. This generous warranty continues for 7 years or 100,000 miles after the original date the vehicle was purchased from the new car lots and extends the original new-car warranty to whichever comes first.
As a bonus, Nissan offers Emergency Roadside Assistance coverage on all Certified Pre-Owned vehicles for the duration of the Limited Powertrain Warranty. That means free assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for situations such as jump-starting a dead battery, changing out flat tires, and helping drivers deal with accidental lock-outs.
Nissan bumps up this coverage to include some practical assistance for drivers who like to explore. This includes Towing Assistance, which offers a towing stipend to get you off the side of the road and into a shop, up to 250 miles from where your vehicle stopped. Also included is a daily reimbursement for a rental car and a Trip Interruption allowance for meals, lodging, and transportation in the event your breakdown occurs when you are more than 100 miles from your home. And just for fun, you’ll get a complimentary trial of SiriusXM. Who doesn’t like free stuff?
What Did I Miss? A Few Brief Highlights From the 2020 Model Year
Now that you’re familiar with what makes a Certified Pre-Owned Nissan a wise investment let’s turn our attention to some of the very cool things you may have missed during the 2020 model year. Nissan offered some significant updates and refreshes to several models in 2020, making it an ideal year for shopping for your next vehicle. Bear in mind that a CPO Nissan can be up to 6 model years old, so you are not limited to shopping the 2020 model year. However, given the events that have unfolded over the past years, this might be a good place to start. New decade, new vehicle, new opportunities, after all.
The Nissan Kicks, for example, received some serious updates in its standard offerings. The Kicks is one of the new models to the lineup, having made its debut in 2018. Though it’s technically a subcompact SUV and the smallest SUV in Nissan’s lineup, experts have applauded its large and versatile interior; in fact, it was rated #6 in the Best Subcompact SUVs of 2020 by Kelley Blue Book. With up to 53 cubic feet of cargo space, up to 36 miles per gallon fuel consumption on the highway, and standard Safety Shield 360 package of driver assistance features, the 2020 Kicks provides an excellent value for anyone looking for a compact-yet-roomy, efficient vehicle with which they can explore urban areas or cruise the freeways.
More of a sedan person? The Nissan Versa was completely restyled inside and out for 2020, earning it the nickname “Junior Altima” for its sleek new appearance. The interior is cozy, with supportive seats that provide drivers with a comfortable place to spend rush hour.
The base S trim is one of the few modern sedans offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, though an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission is also available. In fact, with the CVT, the Versa is rated for up to 32 miles per gallon fuel consumption on city streets and 40 miles per gallon on the highway, making it an incredibly efficient option for drivers who hit the road often.
Also restyled for the new decade, the 2020 Titan earned #5 in KBB’s Best Pickup Trucks of 2020. Nissan’s mighty pickup truck received a significant makeover from the wheels up. Even the 5.6L V8 engine was re-tuned to produce 400 horsepower, increasing the Titan’s towing maximum to 9,370 pounds. A new 9-speed automatic transmission and a suite of standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, have taken the Titan to the next level in work-ready pickup trucks. Two cab versions are offered, along with seating for up to six passengers. The seating has been upgraded to be all-day supportive, and the creature comforts have been extended to include helpful tech, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
Ready to Start Shopping the Certified Pre-Owned Nissan Sales Lot?
If the “Roaring 20s” aren’t shaping up the way you intended, you’re not alone. However, you’re not too late to take advantage of some of the spectacular 2020 re-debuts made by some of Nissan’s top-notch vehicles. Thanks to the Certified Pre-Owned program, vehicles that were poised to take on the market in 2020 have another chance. Fully inspected, low mileage, newer vehicles with an existing warranty may seem like magical unicorns in the search for the perfect used vehicle; however, Nissan’s Certified Pre-Owned program makes it easier than ever to find these vehicles at a competitive price.
If you didn’t act on the impressive deals on the 2020 Kicks, Versa, or Titan the first time, there is still plenty of hope. Your missed connection is simply delayed gratification. The time has come for you to take a look at the CPO sales listings to reconnect with the Nissan of your dreams.
