Best new car deals for the summer

Jul 30, 2010 10:45 AM

The dog days of summer can be a great time to get a good deal on a new vehicle. Dealerships are making room for the next model year, and they are looking to move metal with attractive discounts and incentives. If you’re in the market for a new car, take a look at the deals available, as there may be one for you. Just note that not all deals are as good as they may appear, and a smart shopper needs to look at the pricing, discounts, and the quality of the car itself. Know that even a great deal on a bad car is not a deal at all.

When buying in the summer, remember that your 2010 new ride will likely be perceived as a year old in just weeks as the 2011s roll out. Of course, short-term depreciation will be much less of a concern if you tend to hold on to cars for more than five years or are a high-mileage driver.

The ones listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals, meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed at least adequately if included in government or insurance-industry safety tests.

In reviewing the many deals currently offered, these models stood out for offering savings nationwide of 20 or 25 percent below MSRP. Other trims on the vehicles listed below may also present good deals.

Make & model	Expires	MSRP	Invoice price	Customer rebate	Dealer incentive	Bottom Line Price	Potential savings below MSRP
2011 Chevrolet HHR LT	9/7/2010	$19,720	$18,931	Yes	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT	9/7/2010	22,715	21,579	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2010 Kia Optima EX AT	8/4/2010	20,995	19,620	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2010 Nissan Armada Titanium 4X4	8/17/2010	45,240	41,180	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2010 Nissan Titan SE 4X4 Crew Cab LWB	8/25/2010	34,070	30,847	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2010 Porsche Cayenne S	8/27/2010	60,700	54,450	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2010 Suzuki SX4 sedan	8/31/2010	16,549	15,887	Yes	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+

The full pricing information is available to online subscribers through the model overview pages. Consumer Reports also has a "Build & Buy" service that lets you configure a new vehicle online via the model overview pages and then get guaranteed, competitive price quotes from up to three dealers in your area who have agreed to meet certain guidelines of conduct. Available to online subscribers, the service is completely free and you are under no obligation to buy.

See all current Best Deals, or use our New Car Selector to create your own list of vehicles by sorting and filtering by the factors that matter most to you.

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