10 best year-end new-car deals

Shopping is nothing short of a recreational sport this time of the year. While many of us are busy ferreting out the best deals on tablet computers and  talking Furby dolls, experts advise that this is also the best time of the year to garner the deepest discounts on a new car or truck.
Unfortunately, as with other types of year-end clearance sales, shoppers may not have a particularly rich inventory from which to choose, especially among model-year 2012 closeouts. Those that linger in inventory may still be sitting on the lot for good reasons. You may find models available in only the least-desirable colors, or equipped with odd option combinations.
What’s more, don’t expect dealers to ignore the laws of supply and demand just because the end of the year is at hand. Shoppers can expect unpopular and overstocked models to be offered with the deepest discounts, while the hottest-selling rides may still command at or close to sticker price. And as is the case the other days of the year, hard-nosed hagglers will still get the best deals.
We’ve compiled a list of the 10 most-lucrative manufacturers’ year-end sales incentives in the accompanying slideshow, including customer cash and dealer cash-back rebates and cut-rate financing deals. Incentives may vary by region and by trim level within a given model line, and some may require dealer participation. Depending on the deal and the cost of the vehicle, many buyers will find taking the discounted financing (if their credit rating is sufficient to qualify) will save more money over the long term than taking a nominal cash rebate. On the other hand, some buyers might need the rebate money to boost their down payment in order to qualify for a loan in the first place.
Car buying experts agree that shoppers visiting showrooms on New Year’s Eve will likely obtain the best deals of the month, with the next-best days to go car shopping being December 27-30 and especially Christmas Eve, when relatively few patrons tend to come walking through a dealership’s door.
Astute shoppers may even get the dealership to throw in one of those oversized bows often seen atop new cars in automakers’ holiday sale commercials, just for good measure.


Acura MDX

Deal: 2012 models up to $3,000 cash plus $1,000 owner loyalty; 2013 models up to $1500 cash plus $1,000 owner loyalty. It’s hard to find fault with this amenable midsize crossover SUV that can seat up to eight passengers, especially with generous year-end incentives and deep discounts likely up for grabs.

BMW Hybrids
Deal: Up to $3,500 cash on 2013 ActiveHybrid 3, $4,500 on 2012/2012 ActiveHybrid 5, $3,500 on 2013 ActiveHybrid 740 and $7,500 on 2012 ActiveHybrid 750 or 3.29 percent financing to 72 months on select models plus $750 owner loyalty bonus.It’s year-end discount madness on the full range of eco-friendly gas/electric hybrid-powered BMWs. The ActiveHybrid 3 is the best bet here, with lively driving dynamics and at 25/33 mpg city/highway, the best fuel economy of the bunch, with the larger and costlier ActiveHybrid 5 a close second at 23/30 mpg.

Cadillac SRX

Deal: 2012 models up to $4,000 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 60 months, 3.9 to 72 months. The compact SRX luxury crossover SUV gets several revisions for 2013, but the outgoing model (pictured) is still worthy, especially with an additional $4,000 on top of the dealer’s markup to whittle down in the closing room.
 
Chrysler 300
Deal: 2012 models up to $4,000 cash or 3.24 percent financing to 72 months; 2013 models up to $1,500 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 72 months. The V6-powered versions of Chrysler’s stately full-size near-luxury sedan will see the biggest rebates and discounts, and they’ll save buyers an estimated additional $500 a year in fuel expense over the V8-powered 300C.


Ford Flex
Deal: 2012 models up to 3,000 cash; 2013 models up to 1,000 cash. This attractively boxy seven-passenger crossover is ideal for large families and it’s far easier to drive and more economical than a full-size SUV, with many novel features offered.

Jeep Grand Cherokee
Deal: 2012 SRT8 version up to $4,500 cash or 3.24 percent financing to 72 months; other 2012 Grand Cherokee models up to $1,500 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 36 months, 1.9 to 60 months, 3.9 to 72 months; 2013 models (except SRT8) up to $1,500 cash or 1.9 percent financing to 36 months, 2.9 to 48 months, 3.9 to 60 months, 5.9 to 72 months. Jeep dealers are eager to move last year’s version of the sporty SRT8 Grand Cherokee, which is a guilty pleasure with its truly quick 6.4-liter 470-horsepower V8 engine. The rest of the line isn’t too shabby, either.

Land Rover Range Rover
Deal: 2012 models up to $5,000 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 36 months, 1.9 to 48 months, 2.9 to 60 months. The venerable Range Rover gets a major makeover for 2013, but if you can settle for not being the first one in your cul-de-sac to have the latest version, slashing $5,000 off the top on the outgoing model is a good place to start negotiating at the dealership.

Nissan Leaf
Deal: 2012 models up to $9,775 cash and $1,000 owner loyalty bonus. That’s a hefty discount on this compact all-electric vehicle, provided its inherent range limitations (about 75 miles on a charge, often less) are copasetic with the length of your daily commute.
Ram 1500
Deal: 2012 models up to $3,750 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 60 months, 1.9 to 72 months; 2013 models up to $1,500 cash or 2.9 percent financing to 36 months, 3.9 to 48 months, 4.9 to 60 months, 6.9 to 72 months. While the 2013 version of the full-size Ram 1500 (pictured) comes with many improvements, including a more powerful and efficient base V6 engine, the outgoing version may be a better deal with the added discount if you’re choosing the 5.7-liter V8, which carries over.

Volkswagen Touareg
Deal: 2012 models (Executive, Lux, Sport versions) up to $5,750 cash or 0.0 percent financing to 72 months. Depending on one's perspective, this midsize crossover SUV tends to either be overpriced compared to much of the mainstream competition, or a deal compared to the model with which it shares platforms, the Porsche Cayenne. Expect the line’s higher trim levels, mentioned above, to garner the top deals before New Year’s Day.