The first certified pre-owned program is still the best.

That’s the conclusion of U.S. News & World Report, which named Lexus — the brand that introduced CPO in 1996 — as the Best Certified Pre-Owned Program in its 2025 Best Vehicle Brand and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program awards.

The magazine evaluated 38 brands to select the top names in four key segments of the automotive market: cars, SUVs, trucks and luxury vehicles, as well as the CPO program that offers consumers the most benefits.

Lexus took the CPO honor for the eighth consecutive year because of its extensive warranty coverage and range of premium program benefits, U.S. News said in a news release.

“With warranty coverage for unlimited miles over six years, and competitive benefits like a service loaner and complimentary maintenance, L/Certified by Lexus continues to be a standout among certified pre-owned programs,” senior automotive correspondent John Vincent said.

The magazine said it determined the winner based after analyzing at a range of distinct CPO program coverages and benefits, including warranty coverage duration, trip interruption reimbursement, roadside assistance perks and more.

Two of the brand winners extended streaks of their own, with RAM earning Best Truck Brand for the sixth year in a row while Honda claimed its fourth straight Best Car Brand title.

U.S. News said Honda posted high scores across the board for each of its models, most notably the Civic Type R, while RAM was boosted by the strength of its RAM 1500 and 2500 models.

Hyundai was cited for the “exceptional quality” of its Palisade, Tucson and Tucson Hybrid in taking the Best SUV Brand, and the Best Luxury Brand award went to Porsche, led by the Boxster and Cayman.

The brand winners were chosen by an average of the overall scores of all the brand’s products in each award class. The vehicle scores were derived from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings, which take into account a range of data points, including safety ratings and reliability data, as well as the consensus of the automotive media.

“A key consideration for consumers during the car-buying process is the strength of an automaker’s brand and how it’s reflected in the quality of the cars in its lineup,” Vincent said. “Those in the market for a car, SUV, truck or luxury vehicle can look to this year’s Best Vehicle Brand winners as a helpful starting point on their car buying journey, as these brands have an excellent combination of performance, interior quality, safety and reliability among vehicles in their respective categories.”

Click for more information about the 2025 Best Vehicle Brand awards and the Best CPO Programs.