Car Brands That Are Making Buying a Car Worth Your While During the Pandemic
The coronavirus crisis forced automakers to get crafty with incentives like low financing rates and deferred payment options, but most of those virus-specific deals are long gone. In fact, now that the last of the lingering holiday/new year sales have evaporated, most automakers aren’t even associating their current specials and offers with the pandemic–but that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had.
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Here’s a look at what every major automaker is doing to tempt new buyers and keep existing customers coming back as the winter draws to a close with the virus still raging. As always, read the small print. Restrictions often apply, many offers are available only through participating dealers or in certain regions, and most deals are only good for well-qualified buyers who get loans through the automaker’s financing arm.
Check out the reasons why now might be a good time to buy a car.
Last updated: May 3, 2021
Acura
Although it’s unclear if Acura is extending its 90-day payment deferral program for certain new vehicles financed through Acura, it is offering nonspecific “help for financial hardship.”
For repeat customers, the automaker’s Loyalty Purchase Assistance Cash program gives up to $1,500 toward the lease or purchase of a new vehicle. There are also several upgrade opportunities, and qualified customers interested in a certified previously owned MDX or TLX can get special annual percentage rates.
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Audi
Audi’s coronavirus response includes the Audi at Your Door program, which lets buyers shop at home before a local dealer delivers a car to test drive. You can get a virtual appraisal on your trade-in, purchase a vehicle online and have it delivered to your door. Then, you can have your vehicle picked up for service and dropped off afterward.
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BMW
BMW’s limited-time offerings include the choice between financing as low as zero percent or up to $7,500 in credit across most of its current series of vehicles. The automaker is also extending some warranty and maintenance plans and, like Audi, is expanding its online and virtual offerings to include pickup and drop-off options for both purchase and service.
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Buick
Buick launched an enhanced cleaning program that includes the sanitization of all vehicles to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards before delivery and after service. The company has also beefed up its online ordering capabilities to make remote car buying easier, complete with dealer-to-door delivery. Also, Buick is currently offering cash, financing, and lease deals across its Encore, Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave model lineups.
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Cadillac
Cadillac, too, developed a comprehensive cleaning program called Cadillac Clean, which sanitizes vehicles to CDC standards. Many dealers offer Cadillac Certified Service Concierge, which involves pickup and drop-off for vehicle servicing. The company is offering a first responder discount and military discount and has expanded its virtual offerings to include online shopping, purchasing, and vehicle delivery.
Chevrolet
Chevy has a CDC-based cleaning regimen of its own and is offering up to $1,000 in bonus earnings for qualified GM cardholders. It’s currently offering cash, financing, and lease deals across its entire lineup of trucks, vans, cars, and SUVs. It also has a limited-time discount for first responders and “those committed to helping our communities.” Chevy, too, is offering online purchasing with vehicle delivery.
Chrysler
Chrysler has made it easy for car buyers to go through the entire process from start to finish online at home. Its financing arm, Chrysler Capital, is offering financial relief to many customers on a case-by-case basis. Although the automaker’s Drive Forward initiative has expired, those in the market for a minivan can still take advantage of both special pricing and financing offers on most 2020 Pacifica models.
Dodge
Dodge is known for its muscle cars, so the automaker came up with a special incentive program called the Power Dollars Cash Allowance Program, which incentivized higher horsepower. That awesome program appears to have expired, but Dodge is still offering financing and/or cash deals on 2020 and 2021 model year Chargers, Challengers, Durangos, Journeys, and Grand Caravans. It also has special offerings for military and first responders.
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Ford
Ford’s best deals right now have not to do with the pandemic, but with President’s Day. The automaker is offering good deals for cash and financing, as well as lease deals, on some of the most popular models in many regions of the country for the mid-February holiday. Ford also offers special incentives for military, first responders, students, and for mobility modification for people with special needs.
GMC
GMC is offering varied incentives and discounts for four trucks: Canyon, Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500 Heavy Duty, and Sierra 3500 Heavy Duty. If you’re in the market for a crossover or SUV, the Acadia, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL currently come with special offers, likewise for Savana passenger and cargo vans.
Genesis
Genesis is offering special incentives and rebates on 2021 models including the Genesis GV80 crossover, G80 Luxury, and G70 Luxury. 2020 models with incentives and rebate offers include the G80 Luxury, G70 Luxury, and G90 Luxury. The company also instituted concierge and valet services that offer pickup and drop-off for service, test drives, and purchases.
Honda
Honda has started promoting the Zero Percent Event, which, as the name implies, lets the best-qualified buyers get into select Hondas with a 0 percent APR financing deal. There are also lease offers across a wide range of models, and special programs for recent graduates and military personnel.
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Hyundai
Hyundai is promoting its Big Deal event, which is taking place now and into the near future in select regions across the country. The event includes thousands of dollars in available cash back and/or low- or no-interest financing. There are also special year-round incentives for military personnel, first responders, and recent college grads.
Infiniti
Infiniti is currently advertising its Owner Celebration Event, which gives up to $2,000 to returning lessees as part of its Lease Loyalty offer. There are also several incentives and rebates for vehicles including the QX50, QX60, and QX80.
Jaguar
Jaguar has launched its aptly named Impeccable Timing Sales Event, which includes offers on several model lines. Among those offered with lease, finance, or cash incentives are the F-Pace, E-Pace, I-Pace, F-Type, XE, and XF.
Jeep
It appears that Jeep’s popular Employee Pricing for All incentive program has expired, but it’s advertising a President’s Day sales event in its place. The Wrangler, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade, and Gladiator are among the most popular models with sweet financing, lease, and cash offers.
Kia
Both existing and future Kia owners can take advantage of the company’s Accelerate the Good program, which includes online shopping and car purchasing with dealer-to-door delivery upon purchase. Some customers who finance through Kia Motors are eligible for 0% APR for 72 months and $1,500 in Trade Assist Cash.
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Land Rover
Land Rover’s Own the Adventure Sales Event runs through March 31. It offers a variety of incentives that vary by model on the top picks of the Land Rover series, including the Discovery, Discovery Sport, Evoque, Velar, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover.
Lexus
Lexus’ early COVID deals have long expired, but you can still shop and order online and some dealers will deliver a vehicle to you. Lexus is running a range of advertised specials on select vehicles that vary by location. They’re not directly related to pandemic relief, but they cover virtually all the top models and include financing, lease, and cash-back incentives.
Lincoln
Lincoln has introduced enhanced cleaning measures and expanded its pickup and delivery services for buyers. You can take a virtual tour of any car online and then receive an email with offers and deals specific to your location. There are special discounts for first responders and medical workers, and Lincoln is currently offering 0 percent APR for 72 months plus $1,000 bonus cash on 2020 MKZ and MKZ hybrid models.
Mazda
None of Mazda’s current offers have anything to do with COVID, but there are plenty of deals to be had. Right now, Mazda is offering $500 in President’s Day cash and military appreciation cash, and $750 in lease-to-lease loyalty rewards, $750 for the standard Mazda loyalty program, and $750 in Mazda Conquest Bonus Cash.
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Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Event runs through March 1 and includes excellent financing offers on a variety of gently used models. There are offers on select new models across virtually the entire Mercedes lineup, too, including for lease or cash and financing to purchase.
Mini
Mini is currently advertising deals on some of its most popular models, including the Clubman, Hardtop 2 Door, Hardtop 4 Door, Countryman, and Convertible. Each comes with lease deals, financing deals, cash back, or a combination of the three.
Nissan
Like so many automakers, Nissan issues rebates, discounts, and other money-saving deals on a regional basis. Currently in the West, for example, you can get into a 2020 Versa for less than $15,000 with 0 percent financing—and that’s just one of many similar deals available on other Nissan sedans, as well as SUVs, trucks, and vans.
Porsche
So far in 2021, Porsche’s best offers have been in the leasing department. Aside from excellent loyalty programs for return lessees and attractive lease-to-own programs, Porsche is offering incentives on new leases, as well. Select Taycans, Macans, Carreras, Panameras, Cayennes, and Boxsters are all currently being offered sith lease specials.
Ram
Those in the market for a Ram vehicle should check out the Ram President’s Day Event. Aside from excellent offers on specialized chassis cabs, 0 percent APR financing and cash deals are available on 2020 and 2021 models for popular trucks like the 1500, 1500 Classic, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500.
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Subaru
Subaru expanded alternative service programs like pickup, drop-off, and even mobile service offerings. The automaker has also instituted expanded cleaning and sanitization measures. In terms of financial incentives, qualified buyers can get 0% APR financing for 63 months on select models for a limited time.
Tesla
Unlike many automakers, Tesla never announced a low- or no-interest financing deal or offers for deferred payments. It did, however, create what it’s calling the Best Rate Guarantee. Tesla will match a verified loan rate from a third-party lender that’s lower than the rate offered by Tesla’s financing arm.
Toyota
It’s a great time to get into a Toyota. The Japanese automaker is currently offering deals across its entire lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Offers include incentives like 0 percent financing and up to thousands of dollars in cash back.
Volkswagen
Like Toyota, VW is offering discounts and deals across its entire line—and in the German automaker’s case, offers are available for a wide range of both 2020 and 2021 models. No- or low-interest financing, cash back, and lease deals are available on the Jetta, Arteon, Golf, Golf GTI Passat, Tiguan, and Atlas.
Volvo
Volvo now offers home delivery for new purchases and leases and a personal shopping assistant walks online buyers through the shopping and purchasing process. The automaker is currently running a President’s Day special with deals across virtually all model lines.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Car Brands That Are Making Buying a Car Worth Your While During the Pandemic