If you’ve got a television in your house or spend any time on the internet, they’re nearly impossible to avoid: Christmas-themed commercials, some still using the big, red ribbon, touting impressive deals on new vehicles just in time for the holidays.
During the last decade or so, December has become a huge sales month for automakers, which have offered up great deals looking to create a big sales number for the end of each year. And it’s been a successful strategy.
Fortunately, 2020 isn’t any different and there are plenty of offers out there for potential buyers to weed through before heading a dealership – or a computer screen, which is becoming more common these days – ready to make a deal.
(Car sales holding on through surging, analysts note.)
According to Cars.com, some automakers are offering buyers as much as 19% off certain vehicles. The site also found that among those who went to its website, 85% are planning to buy a new vehicle in the next six months and 51% expecting to buy something in the next 30 days or so.
“For the many car shoppers looking to buy in the coming weeks, affordability has never been more important,” said Kelsey Mays, Cars.com assistant managing editor. “On Cars.com, 72% of shoppers are looking for a vehicle under $20,000, and end-of-year deals can help shoppers narrow their search and find an affordable vehicle to meet their needs.”
The site has put together a list of its “Best End-of-Year Car Deals for 2020, hoping to make the selection process a little easier for potential buyers and there are some pleasant surprises on the list, starting with the 2020 Ford F-150 XLT. Looking to roll out the 2021 model, Ford is offering up to $7,000 in cash discounts, although in some parts of the country that rises to $12,000 off the crew-cab XLT model.
(Time to rev up Christmas with automotive enthusiast gift ideas.)
If you have good credit, you can get 5.9% financing for 84 months or 60 months at 0% financing. This can get you in a truck for a low as $29,500 and amount to savings as large as 19 percent. Here are some of the other deals, with Ford leading the way:
- 2020 Ford Edge: Discounts vary by region and trim level, but they range from $3,500 to $4,500. A trade-in bonus of $2,000 is available, but you can add $500 if selecting an Edge that’s been sitting around for a while. Again, depending upon where you live and your credit score, 3.9% financing for 84 months or 0% for as long as 72 months are available. Ultimately, savings range from 6 to 11%.
- 2020 Ford EcoSport: The first of two Ford’s being phased out can be had with as much as $6,750 off depending upon the trim level and where you live. Most regions are offering 8.9% financing for 84 months or even 0% for 72 months. Savings range from 15-25% with prices coming in at $18-$21K.
- 2020 Ford Fusion: No more sedans for the automaker means deals can be had on the Fusion. Cash off ranges from $2,500 to $4,500 depending upon the trim level and region as well as an additional $2,000 for a trade in. Other discounts can be applied to the company’s hybrid models. Savings range from 7-19 percent.
Big savings can be found on other brands as well, including the 2020 GMC Terrain (14-17%), 2020 Chevrolet Trax (16-18%), 2020 Nissan Murano (10-15%) and the 2021 Hyundai Kona (3-13%), depending upon the region and trim level of the vehicle.
(Auto-themed book an ideal last-minute gift for the car fan on your list.)
“When it comes to car shopping, we always recommend consumers do their research on Cars.com to see available pricing on several examples of the car they are buying and then negotiate for the fairest price possible,” Mays added. “Shoppers should pay attention to the final, out-the-door price of the car, not just the monthly payment, to ensure they are getting the best deal in the long run.”