When shopping for a used vehicle, Nissan’s Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program is one way to find a low-mileage, late-model vehicle. Along with affordable prices, you also are getting a car, truck, or SUV that’s been inspected and backed by a factory warranty. Here’s a look at three of the most popular CPO cars Nissan has to offer: the Sentra, Altima, and Rogue.
Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price – CPO: $15,059 (as of early 2021)
Sticker price when new: $19,845
Given that we recommended it when new and still stand by it, the 2018 Nissan Sentra SV trim is a good choice due to its standard CVT, which actually improves fuel economy over the 6-speed manual that comes standard in the base S trim. But be aware that the top SL model has a fair purchase price of $16,058 and includes an upgraded Bose premium audio system as well as the NissanConnect remote access system. With the turbocharged engine option, you’re looking at about $17,045, which is still a great good deal for an extra 60-plus horsepower and 29 mpg. Dealers also sell non-CPO Sentras but considering you’re only paying $400 more typically for a CPO and it comes with a strong warranty, it’s a good bargain.
See the Certified Nissan Sentra models for sale near you.
A compact sedan that’s surprisingly spacious and with several different trim levels as well as an available turbocharged 4-cylinder upgrade engine, the 2018 Nissan Sentra is a solid choice with lots of safety features and pleasant amenities. The ride is comfortable, with excellent visibility, and it’s a good city car. The base engine is a bit underpowered when driving with a full complement of passengers or on a mountain road, but the turbo’s much quicker and more fun to drive. Bear in mind that the turbo only lasted another year, dropped during the 2020 redesign.
Given that it was above the base trim, the SV was the bargain model for 2018, so there should be a fair number available. The 2018 model year was a good one for the Sentra, with automatic emergency braking becoming standard on all models with the CVT and a rearview monitor and 5-inch color screen becoming standard as well.
While the base S comes standard with a 6-speed manual, it actually loses a couple of mpg compared with the CVT. The SV comes standard with the CVT and 16-inch alloy wheels, along with dual-zone climate control.
Kelley Blue Book Rating: 4.1
NHSTA Safety Rating: 4 Stars
| 2018 Nissan Sentra SV | |
| Most Common Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.8-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 130 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 128 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
| Transmission | Continuously variable |
| Fuel Economy | 32 mpg (29 city/37 hwy) |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo I4; 6-spd manual |
| Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 95.9 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 15.1 cubic feet |
Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price – CPO: $17,762 (as of early 2021)
Sticker price when new: $25,215
While the base 2018 Altima S is decently equipped, the SR adds some sporty features, including a sport suspension, paddle shifters, and the option of a Special Edition package. Slightly less is the SV, which, while also above the base model, goes a different direction, with dual-zone climate control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It’s also eligible for the Technology package, with an upgraded infotainment system, heated seats, and a moonroof.
See the Certified Nissan Altima models for sale near you.
Despite its classification as a midsize, the 2018 Nissan Altima is surprisingly roomy, with more interior space than some cars classified as full-size. It’s also Nissan’s best-selling sedan. In 2018, Nissan simplified the lineup while still offering both a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6, which was not only rare in a midsize sedan but discontinued the following year. Safety features were also beefed up for 2018, with automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning becoming standard on all trims. It’s worth noting that unlike some of its competition, the Altima is not offered either as a hybrid or with all-wheel drive.
There’s nothing wrong with the base S trim 2018 Altima, as it comes standard with push-button ignition, keyless entry, and Bluetooth. The audio system is a simple AM/FM/CD setup with an aux input but no USB port. Our choice, however, is the SR trim, or alternatively the SV, both a step above the base. The SR is the more sporty of the two, with 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, and a sport suspension, plus an optional Special Edition.
However, if you’re looking for more sportiness, the top 3.5 SL is really the way to go, with a CPO price just under $20,000. That’s a lot of car, including a 270-horsepower V6 that earns a very respectable 32 mpg highway as well as being the only 2018 Altima offering Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, and its CPO price is just over half of what it cost new.
As the sporty variant of the 4-cylinder Altima, the SR improves handling with a sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels, an integrated spoiler, and paddle shifters for the CVT. The SR model also was offered as a Special Edition, which added synthetic leather, heated seats, and a more advanced infotainment package.
Kelley Blue Book Rating: 4.0
NHSTA Safety Rating: 5 Stars
| 2018 Nissan Altima SR | |
| Most Common Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.5-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 179 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 177 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | Continuously variable |
| Fuel Economy | 30 mpg (26 city/37 hwy) |
| Also Available | 3.5-liter V6 |
| Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 101.9 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 15.4 cubic feet |
Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price = CPO: $19,356 (as of early 2021)
Sticker price when new: $28,415
As the first Rogue trim to offer the available hybrid, the SV also adds some luxe features for less than $2,000 above the base S model. With plenty available on dealer lots, you will be able to choose exactly the one you want. The top SL trim has a CPO price of $22,399 ($23,000 for the hybrid) and adds leather seating, a Bose audio system, and an Around View monitor, among other things.
See the Certified Nissan Rogue models for sale year you.
Nissan’s best-selling model, the 2018 Nissan Rogue, is comfortable and fuel-efficient and is one of the only compact SUVs offered as a hybrid. Front-wheel drive is the default setting, with all-wheel drive optional. Standard is a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. To our eyes, the 2018 Rogue is a perfect size, right for city driving but still offering plenty of space for passengers and 70 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Not to mention that Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front seats are some of the most comfortable around. Even better, for 2018, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard across all trim levels, and Nissan’s semi-autonomous ProPilot assist function was first offered. Also, 2018 lost the tiny third-row option, with the Rogue returning to a 2-row/5-passenger configuration.
The base model 2018 Rogue is the S, with Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, a rearview camera, and a handy cargo storage system. Safety features include blind-spot warning and rear-cross-traffic alert. The S is only available with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. For this reason, we recommend the next up SV trim, with a CPO price of $19,356 with the 2.5-liter engine or $21,350 for the hybrid. The hybrid offers not only a slight bump in horsepower but 33 mpg combined.
Some of the features that make the SV appeal to us, besides the option of having a hybrid powertrain, are a power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats and outside mirrors, dual-zone climate control, roof rails, and a 6-speaker audio system.
Kelley Blue Book Rating: 4.3
NHSTA Safety Rating: 4 Stars
| 2018 Nissan Rogue | |
| Most Common Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.5-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 170 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 175 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | Continuously variable |
| Fuel Economy | 29 mpg (26 city/33 hwy) |
| Also Available | 2.0-liter I4 hybrid |
| Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 105.8 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 70.0 cubic feet |
Many of these 2018 Nissans have features that were either later dropped (such as the V6 in the Altima) or new that year. With prices significantly lower than 2021 models, it’s worth considering a CPO Nissan. Nissan will not consider a car for its CPO program if it has more than 80,000 miles, and it also must include a fully documented service history and a clear Carfax report. Then it undergoes a 167-point quality inspection, and Nissan adds a year of complimentary maintenance as well as an additional 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
