Factory warranties come with every new car by default, though coverage varies depending on the manufacturer. The best new car warranties are provided by Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi, Kia and Jaguar, all of which offer 5 years/60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage.
Each of these companies — with the exception of Jaguar — also offer 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. However, Hyundai provides the most generous set of benefits and perks, securing its rank as No. 1 in our list of the best new car warranties.
But no factory warranty lasts forever, which is why we recommend shopping for a quote from Endurance, our choice for the best extended warranty provider:
Endurance offers coverage for up to 8 years and unlimited miles, but it only offers long-term plans.
- Our top pick for auto warranty
- Mileage covered: Unlimited
- Longest term: Up to 8 years
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days
- Coverage options: 6 plans
- Discounts: First-time applicant discount
Pros
- Six coverage plans
- Mechanical breakdown and maintenance benefits
- First-time application discount
Cons
- No unlimited or month-to-month plans
- Elite benefits only free for the first year
- Three of its six plans aren’t listed on its website
Which brand offers the best new car warranty coverage?
According to our research, Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi, Kia and Jaguar feature the longest factory warranty plans. You’ll get at least a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, or bumper-to-bumper warranty, with each of these brands.
It’s more common to find four years or up to 50,000 miles of limited warranty coverage with a new vehicle. Some automakers only offer three years of factory coverage. These five brands are the best because they offer coverage for longer than average at five years.
Similarly, powertrain warranties are commonly offered for up to five years or 60,000 miles, whereas the best brands offer powertrain coverage for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
The table below shows our picks for best new car warranty based on coverage length:
| Factory Warranty Provider | New Vehicle Limited Warranty | Powertrain Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Genesis | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Mitsubishi | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Kia | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Jaguar | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
1. Hyundai
Hyundai’s self-proclaimed “America’s Best Warranty” has a basis. Along with generous bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, Hyundai offers the following protections:
- 8-year/80,000-mile federal emissions and performance warranty
- 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
- 1-year/12,000-mile replacement parts and accessories limited warranty
Read more: Hyundai warranty review
2. Genesis
As Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis has the same robust factory warranty coverage. New Genesis vehicles come with a new vehicle limited warranty that lasts for five years and 60,000 miles. Along with this and a 10-year powertrain warranty, Genesis owners receive the following:
- 10-year/100,000-year electrical vehicle system warranty
- 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-corrosion warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
- 5-year/60,000-mile federal emissions and performance warranty
- 1-year/12,000-mile replacement parts and accessories limited warranty
Read more: Genesis warranty review
3. Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi joins Hyundai and Genesis in offering new car buyers five years and 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. You also get the same robust 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty when you purchase a new Mitsubishi.
The automaker provides the following additional protections with its new vehicles:
- 7-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
- 5-year/60,000-mile restraint system warranty
- 1-year/12,000-mile adjustments warranty
Read more: Mitsubishi warranty review
4. Kia
New Kia vehicles also come with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Kia can’t match the above brands when it comes to roadside assistance, but you still get extra peace of mind in the event of a breakdown.
New Kias feature these other warranties:
- 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance
Read more: Kia warranty review
5. Jaguar
Jaguar has some of the best factory warranty coverage in the luxury class. Jaguar’s new vehicle limited warranty is the same as the other brands on this list, but its powertrain is shorter at 5 years/60,000 miles.
The brand refers to its new vehicle warranty package as Jaguar EliteCare, and it includes the following coverages:
- 8-year/100,000-mile electric battery warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance
- 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance
- 4-year/50,000-mile paint and corrosion warranty
- 1-year/unlimited-mile parts and accessories warranty
Read more: Jaguar warranty review
New car warranty comparison
As mentioned before, the average new vehicle basic warranty from a manufacturer either lasts for three or four years with the highest mileage limit hitting 50,000 miles. Here’s a quick look at how factory warranties from other popular automakers compare to our top five:
| Automaker | New Vehicle Warranty | Powertrain Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Acura | 4 years/50,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Audi | 4 years/50,000 miles | None |
| BMW | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Cadillac | 4 years/50,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Chevrolet | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Ford | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Honda | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Infiniti | 4 years/60,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Jeep | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Lexus | 4 years/50,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Lincoln | 4 years/50,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Mazda | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Nissan | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Toyota | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Volkswagen | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
What does a new car warranty cover?
New warranties from the car manufacturer feature both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. You also typically get some type of protection for the body panels (anti-perforation), paint, emissions and manufacturer-installed accessories.
Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage
Bumper-to-bumper coverage is the heart of a new car warranty, as it provides comprehensive coverage for all vehicle systems. As long as your car is under this manufacturer’s warranty coverage, you can rest assured that any workmanship flaws or defective parts will be repaired or replaced free of charge by the dealership.
Powertrain warranty coverage
A powertrain warranty protects your car’s engine, transmission and drive axles. This type of warranty essentially covers the components that make your vehicle move. You may see some slight differences in powertrain warranty coverage from one manufacturer to another.
What isn’t covered by a new car warranty?
A new car warranty is intended to protect buyers against production and workmanship flaws in a vehicle. Virtually any other type of damage to your vehicle won’t be covered by your new vehicle limited warranty.
Here are a few specific new car warranty exclusions:
- Damage from accidents
- Damage from environmental causes (including tree sap, bird droppings and road hazards such as salt or stones)
- Damage from misuse (including driving over curbs, overloading and racing)
- Damage from vehicle alterations (including body, chassis, software programming and braking system)
- Tires (typically warrantied by independent tire manufacturers)
- Wear-and-tear components like brake pads, wiper blades or spark plugs
New car warranty guides by automaker
To learn more about your vehicle’s factory warranty, read one of our guides in the dropdown below.
Should you buy an extended warranty for a new car?
There’s no need to purchase an extended auto warranty while your car is still under factory warranty coverage. However, many automakers offer new car warranties that only last three or four years. If you plan to keep your vehicle much longer than that, an extended warranty is definitely worth it.
Most dealerships require you to buy a manufacturer’s extended warranty either at the time of vehicle purchase or before your new vehicle warranty is up. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase an extended warranty from a third-party provider, such as Endurance or Carchex.
A good plan from one of the best extended warranty companies will protect you against high car repair costs years down the road and is typically cheaper than a manufacturer’s extended warranty. Third-party warranty providers also give you the choice of using your own mechanic rather than going to the dealership.
Final take: The best new car warranties come from Hyundai, Genesis and Mitsubishi
The best new car warranties come from Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi and Kia. These car brands provide longer bumper-to-bumper and powertrain protection than any other names in the automotive industry, at five years or 60,000 miles and 10 years or 100,000 miles. Jaguar is also one of the best brands with the same bumper-to-bumper coverage as the others but with a shorter powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
Go Back to Top
When you purchase a new car, it’s covered by a new car warranty, with the best car warranty plans providing 5 years/60,000 miles of comprehensive coverage. Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are backed by separate CPO warranties that lengthen factory warranty coverage. When those warranties expire, you may consider purchasing an extended car warranty from your…
The best extended car warranties are sold by Endurance, Autopom, Carchex, CarShield and Omega Auto Care. Each of these companies rank highly across our review categories, though there are some differences between each brand. For example, Endurance is our choice for the best coverage plans, whereas Autopom is the best for customer service. Before you…
We assigned Endurance a score of 4.5 out of 5 and named it the best extended warranty company based on its six coverage options, market standing and high degree of trustworthiness. Endurance shines in key areas, including market standing, coverage, costs, trustworthiness and customer experience. The company makes it easy to compare its primary plans…
Carchex ranks No. 3 in our list of the best extended car warranty companies based on its market standing, coverage and trustworthiness, earning a total of 4.2 out of 5 stars. The third-party warranty broker offers multiple coverage options with high mileage limits, making it a solid choice for drivers of used vehicles. In our…