IntelliChoice.com Names Top Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Programs for 2007

SAN DIEGO, CA (November 10, 2006) - IntelliChoice.com, the leading provider of cost of ownership and value analysis and part of PRIMEDIA's Automotive Digital Group, today announced the winners of the eighth annual ranking of certified pre-owned (CPO) manufacturer sponsored programs. Ending Jaguar's five-year reign, Cadillac was selected as the best Luxury program and Volkswagen was recognized for the third straight year for best Non-Luxury program. The winners are being honored today at the 2006 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in San Diego, California

"Certified Pre-Owned programs have secured their place alongside new and used vehicle sales as a vital part of the ultra-competitive auto market," said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. "As the only consumer automotive site that evaluates and ranks all CPO programs, we can say with certainty that CPO vehicles will only play a larger role for consumers, dealers and automakers."

"Right now it's all about available inventory," Bell continued. "Leasing lost some of its popularity three to four years ago, and the impact can be seen in the quantity of CPO vehicles on the market today. However, interest rates have climbed this year, and along with it, consumer interest in leasing, which will drive stronger CPO inventory in the years to come." Bell added that this year's criteria for the CPO awards differ from last year's, primarily to accommodate consumer demand for comprehensive warranty programs and strong vehicle value.

IntelliChoice.com estimates that 1.65 million CPO vehicles will be sold in 2006, equating to approximately 4 percent of this year's total expected automotive sales, and up almost 4 percent from the CPO results of 2004. All major automakers now have a CPO program and IntelliChoice.com investigates and analyzes 30 different manufacturer programs.

IntelliChoice.com's Best Certified Pre-Owned Awards are presented in the Luxury and Non-Luxury classes. The top five rated programs in each class for 2007 are:

In addition to Cadillac and Volkswagen, other notable performances include Volvo, which stayed in the top five for the second year by coming in at number two for best overall program in the Luxury class, as well as the addition of Lexus. In the Non-Luxury class, Honda beat out Mazda for second place, and Scion joined the list for the first time.

When looking at performance in various judging areas, Cadillac, Hummer and Saab tied for top honors with the Best Warranty accolade in the Luxury class, while Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes and Volvo tied for number one in the Best Inspection category. In the Non-Luxury class, Volkswagen ranked first with the Best Warranty and Suzuki took the Best Inspection honor.

IntelliChoice.com initiated a certified pre-owned awards program eight years ago to address the significant growth of the CPO offering and consumer demand for comprehensive analysis. Programs are rated on a set of criteria that consumers identify as having the most value, such as extended manufacturer warranties, title verification, certification inspection process and roadside assistance in addition to special financing and return exchange policies. This year's criteria were extended to also include program/dealer compliance and brand value.

The most important considerations cited by consumers when shopping for a certified pre-owned vehicle are the warranties and inspections offered by the manufacturers. To ensure consumers receive the most complete information, new methodology was used to assess the Best Warranty program this year. IntelliChoice.com also explored how age and mileage of a vehicle affected the total warranty benefits as well as beyond the new car warranty.

Following is IntelliChoice.com's complete ranking of automakers' CPO program:

Part of PRIMEDIA, the country's leading targeted media company, IntelliChoice.com is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice.com is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and car-buying tools. Through IntelliChoice.com consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and online buying services.