Buying a New Car with Double-Digit Discount Deals for July 4th

As America prepares to commemorate its independence, car shoppers may be looking to celebrate the deep discounts available on new cars. As with other patriotic holidays, the weekend preceding July 4th can often be a great time to buy, and your local airwaves will likely be awash in red, white, and blue marketing. To help you look past the Uncle Sam impersonators and drumbeat of offers, Consumer Reports has assembled the best deals on recommended cars.

In doing this analysis, we found savings available across the automotive spectrum, spanning 13 categories, with many good models carrying double-digit discounts. To ensure these picks are good cars, as with all our Best New Car Deals, each meets 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.

Each vehicle that made the cut offers at least a 9-percent discount off the retail price in national incentives. Many featured cars may also carry regional incentives, enabling further savings for informed negotiators.

When buying in the summer, it is important to know that a 2012 model will soon be considered a one-year old car, despite being relatively fresh off the showroom floor. This means the car will take an initial (admittedly painful) depreciation hit. However, the equity impact will balance out over time, should you hold on to the car for several years, and especially if you log more than 12,000 miles a year.

Several of the listings in this chart are on models that are about to be replaced or updated, such as the Ford Fusion and Toyota Corolla. One interesting example of this is the Ford Mustang, listed here with discounts on both the 2012 and 2013 model. In that case, most buyers should look to the freshened 2013, as the added cost will be offset by retained value. (See what else is coming down the road in our New Car Preview.)

If you're focused on saving at the pump, be sure to see our "Best deals on fuel-efficient cars for July 4th."

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 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.

—Jeff Bartlett