As this being written, new COVID-19-related restrictions are threatening an already-weakened economy. While a complete lockdown of the country is unlikely, various areas are facing business closures. In the face of a very difficult year, the American auto industry has shown remarkable resilience, largely because the American consumer has shown remarkable resilience, and right now car companies are doing all they can to end 2020 on a high note. That means that the year-end promotions, deals, and incentives are lush. The following is a roundup of what many of the major brands are offering in terms of incentives and deals as we near January 1, 2021. The deals detailed are representative of those being offered nationwide, but you should be aware that incentives are often regional, so check with your dealer to confirm what you might qualify for.
Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles
Fiat-Chrysler — which builds and markets Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Ram Trucks, and of course — Fiat and Chrysler vehicles, is hoping for strong end of the year results with its Big Finish 2020 that features Employee Pricing for All. While the carmaker is currently offering zero-percent financing for up to 72 months for some models, the emphasis seems to be on big discounts from the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). That is the key message of Employee Pricing for All. As an example, on 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited models the Employee Price for All is $5,370 below MSRP and the incentive also includes 0% financing for 60 months and $750 Chrysler Capital bonus cash. At Jeep, the new Gladiator mid-size pickup is also the subject of a compelling Employee Pricing for All promotion. It includes a discount of up to $5,100 off MSRP plus no monthly payments for 90 days. Other FCA brands have similar offers.
Ford
Ford is charging into December with its Built for the Holidays sales event that includes a wide variety of lease, finance, and discount promotions. As you might expect, the majority of the most generous deals are on 2020 models, not the new 2021s. For example, 2020 Ford F-150 pickup trucks are being offered with 0% financing for 60 months plus $2,000 in trade assistance and no payments for 90 days. An all-new 2021 Ford F-150 model is currently arriving in showrooms, and Ford wants to clear its path. At the same time, both the 2020 Ford Escape compact SUV and 2020 Ford Explorer mid-size SUV have 0% financing for 72 months plus $2,000 in trade assist cash to help seal the deal. The rear-drive 2020 Ford Ranger XL SuperCrew STX with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine can be leased for $199 per month for 36 months with $2,999 due at signing. Many of the deals require financing through Ford Credit.
General Motors
General Motors' overarching theme for December is Employee Pricing for Everyone, and if that sounds a lot like FCA's Employee Pricing for All, well, if the idea is a good one, many will adopt it. The maker of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles is offering well-qualified customers a variety of deals, but the most generous savings seem to be associated with the Employee Pricing strategy. It entails significant discounts off MSRP on a wide swath of models, many of them 2020s. For example, a 2020 Chevrolet Suburban Premier full-size SUV with four-wheel-drive is available with a $7,080 "Employee Discount for Everyone" plus a $3,250 cash allowance, resulting in a net price that is $10,330 below MSRP. Similarly, a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier with four-wheel-drive has a $6,870 "Employee Discount for Everyone" plus a $1,500 cash allowance, so the net price is $8,370 below MSRP. A 2020 Buick Enclave AWD Avenir has a $4,615 Employee Pricing discount plus a $3,750 purchase allowance resulting in $8,365 below MSRP. Cadillac is approaching things a bit differently. In its Season's Best Sales Event, a wide variety of its models are being offered with 0% financing for up to 72 months.
Honda
Honda is calling its December sales event Happy Honda Days, and it includes a long menu of lease, finance, and cash-back offers with promotions on virtually every vehicle it sells. The headline deals are 0.9% financing offers on 2021 Pilot mid-size SUV, 2020 HR-V subcompact SUV, and 2020 Accord mid-size sedan. Lease deals on the 2020 CR-V compact SUV, 2020 HR-V subcompact SUV, and 2020 Civic sedan feature $0 due at lease signing, a $0 first-month payment, a $0 initial payment, and a $0 security deposit. The Civic sedan's monthly lease payment is just $240 for the 35 months, and the SUVs' monthly payments are commensurately low. Honda is offering "Loyalty Purchase Assistance Cash" on a variety of models including $1,000 on a 2020 Passport SUV and $1,000 on the 2020 Odyssey minivan. For those seeking a 2021 model, Honda is offering $1,000 toward the lease or purchase of a new 2021 Pilot.
Hyundai
Hyundai has gone big in terms of promotions as the year 2020 comes to a close. It is offering an exceptionally compelling deal on many of its remaining 2020 vehicles in dealers' stock. The offer includes 0% financing for 72 months, which is a better incentive than is available for many brands, but Hyundai's offer also includes no payments for 90 days, and the brand will make your first two months' payment for you up to a total $1,000. The 2020 Tucson compact SUV, 2020 Santa Fe mid-size SUV, and 2020 Sonata mid-size sedan qualify for the offer. Beyond that Hyundai is featuring a laundry list of incentives — discounts, special financing, and leases — on virtually all of its 2020 and 2021 models. In conjunction with Hyundai's high vehicle quality and long vehicle warranty, the deals are especially enticing. To qualify most vehicles must be purchased from dealers' stock by January 4, 2021.
Kia
Kia Motors America is offering virtually any kind of incentive you could imagine — cash, financing, and special leases among them. The richest deals are offered on 2020 model-year vehicles, but there are incentives on some 2021 models as well. Kia is offering up to $5,500 in cash on some 2020 models. Among the Kia nameplates with substantial cash deals are the Cadenza large sedan, 2020 Sorento mid-size SUV, 2020 and 2021 Sportage compact SUV, and 2021 Sedona minivan. If you are looking for 0% financing, Kia has it for you with lengthy loan terms. For example, the 2020 Stinger, 2020 Cadenza, and 2020 K900 sedans all can be purchased using 0% financing for terms as high as 75 months. Similar financing offers — 0% for 75 months — also apply to 2020 Sportage and Sorento SUVs. Additional offers are available regionally, so check with a local Kia dealer to see what is offered in your area.
Nissan
Nissan is calling its year-end sales event the Nissan Year End Sales Event. While you might not respect the originality of the title, we think you will respect the enticing deals that are part of it, including 0.9% financing for 36 months and up to $500 on the newly redesigned and very well-reviewed 2021 Nissan Rogue compact sport-utility. The 2020 Kicks subcompact SUV has a 0.0% financing deal for up to months with $500 in cash back. In the market for a compact sedan? The new 2020 Sentra can be purchased using 0% financing with a 60-month term, or it can be leased for $149 per month for 36 months with $3,549 due at signing. Beyond that, Nissan is offering a variety of special deals and incentives, typically on a regional basis, for a wide swath of its cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Subaru
Subaru's December event is called Share the Love, and it relies heavily on special financing deals. As an example, 0% financing for up to 63 months is being offered on 2020 and 2021 Legacy mid-size sedan, 2020 and 2021 Ascent three-row sport-utility vehicle, 2020 and 2021 Outback crossover, 2020 Forester SUV, and 2020 Impreza compact sedan. An especially good deal is a lease on a new 2020 Impreza for $235 per month for 36 months with $0 due at lease signing. Multiple offers that deliver similar savings are available virtually across the entire Subaru lineup. Because some incentives are regional, check with your local Subaru dealer to see what is available in your area.
Toyota
Toyotathon is the title of Toyota's December sales push. The promotion includes special lease, financing, and cash deals on nearly the entire Toyota lineup. One particularly good deal is 0% financing for 60 months on the 2021 Toyota Corolla compact sedan, one of the most popular cars in the world. 2020 RAV4 and Highlander SUVs also have 0% financing available for 60 months, while 2021 models have 1.9% financing for 60 months. Even more compelling is 1.9% financing for 60 months on the all-new 2021 Sienna minivan that features a hybrid powertrain. The 2021 RAV4 Hybrid, which is not to be confused with the 2021 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid, can be leased for $299 per month for 39 months with $1,999 due at lease initiation. Because many incentives are regional, check with Toyota's website or with your local dealer to determine what incentives are available in your area.
