These 10 models are selling well below their sticker price, according to CR’s exclusive analysis of car deals
Most cars are available with discounts throughout the year. Sure, holiday sales and marketing can attract and motivate shoppers, but the reality is that prices have tended to be fairly consistent month to month. Until now. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, new-car prices are better than usual.
We recently published the best nationwide incentives on Consumer Reports-recommended models: the Best New-Car Deals and Best New SUVs Deals. Those forward-looking pieces show where the best deals on good cars and SUVs can be found.
For the analysis presented here, we looked back at recent transaction data to find where people are finding significant savings off the sticker price.
This underscores the importance of knowing how much room is available for negotiation and what others have paid, information that’s available on our vehicle model pages. There are many vehicles where extra savings are available, but people are leaving money on the table.
As the market goes through changes, it is worth noting that most vehicles highlighted here were on the list last month, but many reflect maller savings.
Most months there are a few models that are given an extra push with incentives tied to supply and/or a coming redesign. Automakers and dealerships need to make room for new vehicles. Now we’re seeing that some consumers are getting sizable discounts on a broad range of models, with many luxury models showing the greatest savings. Volvo stands out as showing significant savings across many models. There are Alfa Romeo, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz models seeing discounted transactions prices as well.
Transaction prices remain aggressive for many model, so this can be a great time to buy. But the amount you’ll save will vary greatly by model. It may seem surprising, but there are many vehicles that are selling for close to the MSRP. Supply and demand still has sway even during these strange times.
For this list, we focused on what people paid, and we didn’t limit the selections to models that meet the stringent criteria to be CR-recommended. We identified 10 models that are selling for well below their sticker price, spanning sedans to SUVs. You might be able to negotiate an even lower price as some dealerships clamor for business. But bear in mind that there’s a limit to how low prices can go.
The other maxim to keep in mind is that deals can vary not only by vehicle but also by geographic region. Being armed with the latest information on pricing, rebates, and transaction prices can help net a good deal.
The 2020 models below are listed in descending order of savings off the MSRP by percentage. The savings that other buyers have recently experienced on these vehicles are 11 to 14percent off the original price.
Just beyond this cut-off are a number of popular models being sold at 10 percent off, including Acura MDX, Ford F-150, Honda Accord, Mini Cooper, and Subaru Legacy.
Pricing details on these versions and other trims are available on our model pages, along with complete road tests, reliability, owner satisfaction, and other key information. T8Auto members can log in to see the car ratings.
Even though these deals are good, with almost every one significantly less than last month’s transaction price, it’s wise to buy when the time is right for you. Dealerships will be happy to sell you a car anytime. (If you want to buy now, read about the T8Auto Build & Buy service and its new Buy From Home program below.)
See all current Best New-Car Deals or use our dynamic ratings chart to create your own list of vehicles by sorting and filtering by the factors that matter most to you.
Shop CR’s Car Buying Service From Home
The Consumer Reports Build & Buy Car Buying Service is evolving to factor in the challenges of shopping during the pandemic. The core service engages a nationwide network of over 16,000 dealers to provide upfront pricing information and a certificate to receive guaranteed savings off MSRP. A growing number of dealerships are enrolled in the Buy From Home program, which lets consumers complete the buying process without going to a dealership.
Participating dealerships will take you through the paperwork remotely and deliver a sanitized vehicle right to your home, all at a fair price. When using the Build & Buy Car Buying Service, accessed through the car model pages, you’ll find Buy From Home participants denoted by a special banner highlighting “Buy From Home: Have your vehicle delivered to you and complete your paperwork at home.”
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 14% Off
2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price Range: $41,400 – $80,500
Volvo XC90: 14% Off
2020 Volvo XC90
Price Range: $48,350 – $73,800
Volvo S60: 14% Off
2020 Volvo S60
Price Range: $36,050 – $64,800
Volvo V60 Cross Country: 14% Off
2020 Volvo V60
Price Range: $39,650 – $67,300
Toyota Camry: 13% Off
2020 Toyota Camry
Price Range: $24,425 – $35,130
Acura TLX: 12% Off
2020 Acura TLX
Price Range: $33,000 – $48,950
Volvo XC60: 12% Off
2020 Volvo XC60
Price Range: $40,150 – $69,500
Mercedes-Benz GLA: 11% Off
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price Range: $34,250 – $36,250
Mitsubishi Outlander: 11% Off
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander
Price Range: $24,895 – $41,695
Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 11% Off
2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Price Range: $54,050 – $111,750
Tips for Buying a New Car
There are a lot of things to consider when buying a new car. On the “Consumer 101” TV show, Consumer Reports expert Kelly Funkhouser explains to host Jack Rico what to look for before taking a test drive.