Home >  News  > Cars
Top Product Ratings:  Tires  |  Sedans  |  SUVs  |  Small Cars  |  GPS
Cars
The best new car deals for Labor Day weekend
Aug 31, 2012 9:00 AM

In the market for a new car? The long Labor Day weekend can be a great time to get a deal on a leftover 2012 model. The airwaves will be overflowing with promotions, appealing to your heartstrings and wallet. I can be tempting to chase the too-good-to-be-true deals, losing sight of choosing the best car. Not to worry: Consumer Reports experts have cut through the clutter, highlighting good deals on recommended cars.

All the models highlighted below offer at least 15 percent off MSRP, aka the sticker price. Of course, dealers may be interested in negotiating further to clear these models and make room for the 2013s. Before negotiating for any new car, shoppers should check our detailed pricing for local deals, rebates, and hidden direct-to-dealer incentives. (Learn more about car pricing.)

Of course, all the models featured here will soon be freshened or updated. In fact, the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima have all be thoroughly redesigned, making the decision tougher than usual: stick with the current, proven models with known (and better than average) reliability, or hold out for the pricier, flashier new models? That's your call.

The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals, meaning they offer 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 well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated.

See our full list of deals on 2012 models.

Make & model Expires MSRP Invoice price Customer rebate Dealer incentive Bottom line price
Potential savings below MSRP
2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 9/4/12 44,240 41,213 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford Expedition EL 10/1/12 44,145 41,250 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford F-150 4WD SuperCrew XLT 10/1/12 38,790 35,280 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford Flex SEL AWD 10/1/12 34,775 32,530 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid
 10/1/12 29,570 27,232 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford Mustang GT Premium 10/1/12 34,505
 31,854 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Ford Mustang V6 Premium
 10/1/12 27,105 25,194 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Honda Accord sedan I4 Auto LX Premium
 9/4/12 24,070 22,099 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Honda Crosstour 4WD EX-L 9/4/12 35,370 32,409 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Infiniti G37 Journey
9/4/12 37,795 35,082 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Infiniti G37x AWD 9/4/12 39,395 36,560 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Infiniti M37
 9/4/12 48,595 45,058 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Kia Forte sedan Auto EX
 9/4/12 18,350
 17,510 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Kia Forte hatchback EX
 9/4/12 18,850 17,990 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Kia Forte Koup man. EX
 9/4/12 17,950 17,130 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Lexus RX 350
 9/4/12 41,350 38,721 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Mazda6
 9/4/12 22,275 21,081 No Yes Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Altima Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SR 9/4/12 26,350 24,477 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Altima Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 S 9/4/12 23,490 22,070 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Frontier 4WD Crew Cab SV 9/4/12 28,715 26,960 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Murano AWD SL 9/4/12 39,655 36,583 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Sentra CVT 2.0 SL 9/4/12 20,540 19,208 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+
2012 Nissan Titan 4WD Crew Cab SV 9/4/12 37,045 33,631 Yes No Get the Bottom Line Price
15%+

Online subscribers are eligible for hassle-free shopping and low prices through the Consumer Reports Build & Buy program. Unlike traditional car buying, there is no pressure or obligation to purchase. Participating dealers are held to high standards of competitive pricing and customer service. Simply click the "Build & Buy This Car" button that appears on the vehicle's model overview page to access the program.

See all current Best Deals. Complete pricing, road tests, and ratings for these models, and many more, can be readily accessed via our simple A-to-Z directory.

Check out the cars coming down the road in our New Car Preview.

—Jeff Bartlett

More About: Cars | Chevrolet | Ford | Honda | Infiniti | Lexus | Mazda | Nissan | All Cars News

Post a comment

Comments:

0
Expand All
Collapse All