10 Best End of the Year Family Car Deals

2016 Buick LaCrosse

Auto sales have been sizzling for most of 2016, and automakers are looking to close out what could be a record-setting selling season with their best end-of-the-year family-car deals. These aren’t limited to just 2015 models, either, although customers should be aware that plenty of restrictions do apply, and that details will vary based on location. That being said, people who want to put a new family sedan in the driveway during the holidays do have much to celebrate, starting with the 10 top choices to follow.

1) 2015 Chevrolet Impala

The best end-of-the-year family car deals are often on vehicles that are also transitioning between model years, and such is the case with Chevy’s full-size sedan. Thus, with the 2016 Chevrolet Impala now arriving in dealerships, the Bowtie brand has included the 2015 version as part of its Holiday Bonus Tag promotion—complete with a $2,500 total cash allowance on select in-stock units. That would lower the MSRP of the entry Impala to $24,560, but because dealers should be motivated to move out those 2015 Impalas for the new selling season, shoppers should have some extra leverage in the negotiation process. Meanwhile, the car offers key Chevy highlights such as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, MyLink infotainment, heated and ventilated front seats, and a full range of driver-assistance measures. The Impala additionally stands out as the only car in its segment to provide a powertrain capable of running on compressed natural gas (CNG).

2) 2016 Ford Fusion

The inclusion of the 2016 Ford Fusion on our list is part of a noticeable trend for the industry in which automakers try to boost the volume of their bestsellers with some of the best end-of-the-year family car deals. For the Fusion, for example, folks can choose from two financing deals, both beginning with a $1,000 Ford Credit Retail “Holiday” Bonus; from there, buyers can opt to either add on an extra $1,500 in Retail Customer Cash or secure 0 percent APR financing for up to 60 months. And the Blue Oval also has another present for Fusion purchasers that will come in handy around the holidays: a new-for-2016 SE Cold Weather Package that combines heated cloth seats, all-weather floor mats and the Power Code Remote Start system for pre-warming the car on cold winter days. Also heating up the Fusion for 2016 is a simplified control interface for SYNC technology and traditional switchgear.

3) 2016 Chrysler 300

The Chrysler brand’s Year End Blockbuster sales event also boasts two of the best end-of-the-year family car deals, for the 2016 Chrysler 300. Customers looking to purchase outright can see cash allowances of $2,500 for the 2015 Chrysler 300 in Limited, S or Anniversary Edition trims, as well as a $3,500 cash allowance on the upscale 300C and 300C Platinum variants. Alternatively, Chrysler furnishes 0 percent financing across the 300 portfolio, for up to 48 months, and that can be bundled with a cash allowance of up to $1,000. It makes for a significant discount on the 300’s MSRP of $32,015, while also providing a full-size, rear-wheel drive ownership experience that’s been enhanced for 2016 with features like the SafetyTec Plus Group. With that package, the 300 supplies full-speed forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, lane-departure and lane-keep technology, and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-path detection.

4) 2016 Toyota Camry

Now, you might not think the No. 1 car in the country needs any help moving the metal, but the 2016 Toyota Camry does tout one of the best end-of-the-year family car deals. More specifically, Camry customers can get $1,500 cash back right off the top of the car’s MSRP of $23,070, lowering the price of entry to $21,570 but still covering a comprehensive roster of standard features. For instance, even the entry Camry enjoys the Entune Multimedia Bundle with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, six audio speakers, a USB 2.0 port for iPod compatibility, voice recognition, and Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming. Delivering a further digital advantage is the Camry’s available wireless charging system, and that’s merely the tip of Toyota’s technology iceberg. In terms of financing deals, this year’s Toyotathon also touts a 0 percent APR for 60 months for the Camry, backed by $1,000 cash.

Photo by Toyota Media

5) 2015 Nissan Altima

The 2016 Nissan Altima receives a fairly major mid-cycle refreshing that includes the brand’s latest style cues and the launch of a sportier SR edition, and that’s good news for shoppers, yet so is the fact that the brand is bringing out some of the best end-of-the-year family car deals on remaining 2015 examples of its already-popular midsize sedan. In a best-case scenario, for buyers of the 2015 Nissan Altima Special Edition, the company can stack up $3,775 in total savings. But there’s also a 0 percent financing program for up to 72 months, bolstered by up to $1,000 cash back. Of course, customers can’t really go wrong in either situation, since they’ll be enjoying a highly rated midsize sedan with EPA grades of up to 38 mpg highway, a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA and Top Safety Pick recognition from the IIHS.

6) 2016 Hyundai Sonata

Keeping up with the competition in the crowded midsize sedan segment requires constant innovation, with many automakers now upgrading their entries on an annual basis. Consider the 2016 Hyundai Sonata: It debuted as an all-new generation during the 2015 selling season, yet the brand continued to fine-tune the car’s features for this one, deploying automatic emergency braking, Android Auto smartphone integration, a heated “D-cut” sport-style steering wheel and more, depending on the trim level. Moreover, for an added boost to Sonata sales, Hyundai is helping out with its share of the best end-of-the-year family car deals. In the mix, money-wise, is up to $1,500 in year-end bonus cash, and that can be increased by $500 in Retail Bonus Cash, a $500 “Valued Owner” incentive, and a 90-day deferred-payment program—or 0.9 percent financing for up to 5 years. Needless to say, discounts on the 2015 Sonata extend even higher.

7) 2016 Kia Forte

Because some families fit just fine inside a compact, the best end-of-the-year family car deals also include programs for the 2016 Kia Forte. Kia’s cash-back offer is particularly practical, since the $1,000 discount is applied to a vehicle with an MSRP of $15,990. On the other hand, there’s also something to be said for the Forte’s financing initiatives, like the Holidays on Us effort in which owners pay a 0 percent APR for up to 66 months, while the automaker makes the first two payments. Kia then distinguishes itself from its rivals with a über cool incentive in conjunction with the Uber drive-share service, putting an extra $500 in the pot for active driver partners. It’s also worth noting that the same offers are available for the 2016 Kia Forte5 that showcases the added versatility—and cargo capacity—of a five-door hatchback body style.

Photo by Kia

8) 2016 Subaru Legacy

Subaru is proof positive that the best end-of-the-year family car deals don’t have to benefit vehicle buyers personally. Some, such as Subaru’s Share the Love campaign, can spread the spirit of the season to customers’ favorite charities. Indeed, for every new Subaru sold or leased between now and Jan. 2, 2016, the automaker will donate $250 to either one of four deserving national organizations—the ASPCA, Make-a-Wish, Meals on Wheels America or the National Park Foundation—or a local charity as chosen by a neighborhood Subaru dealer. The brand also has a bit of a break on financing for its family-friendly 2016 Subaru Legacy, thanks to a 1.49 percent APR that’s available for all trims. As for the Legacy, it leverages Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive and available EyeSight driver-assistance technologies, along with new-for-2016 StarLink telematics services and EPA grades of up to 36 mpg.

Photo by Subaru Media

9) 2016 Mazda Mazda6

Although most of the vehicles mentioned here do offer holiday leasing programs, the Zoom-zoom brand steps up and stands apart from the rest with its best end-of-the-year family car deals. After all, the 2016 Mazda Mazda6 can be leased for $0 down, with the same amount required for the security deposit and the first month’s payment; in fact, the customer has to pay nothing at signing at all. Zero comes up as a hero for purchasers, too, who can qualify for a 0 percent APR. True, buyers can find bigger discounts elsewhere, but what they won’t find are the signature driving dynamics of the Mazda6, nor its unique package of Skyactiv powertrain technologies and sophisticated safety measures. Shoppers also should remember that the Mazda6 was updated for the 2016 model year with extensive design changes inside and out, with its freshened cockpit earning recognition as one of the top 10 interiors of the year from WardsAuto.

10) 2016 Buick LaCrosse

Buick provides the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to the best end-of-the-year family car deals, serving up a $6,000 allowance on select in-stock 2016 Buick LaCrosse models. Further, this is another situation where an all-new next-gen model already has been introduced, and though the 2017 LaCrosse is a few months from launching, dealers certainly won’t want the 2016 units lurking around too long—and since the car’s MSRP falls to $25,065 post-discount, that shouldn’t be a problem. And yes, the 2016 LaCrosse does feature GM’s standard mobile Wi-Fi technology and 4G LTE connectivity, as well as available premium comforts such as the Ultra Luxury Interior Package. More than living up to its name, this opulent cabin theme furnishes full semi-aniline leather seating, in a distinctive Sangria and Ebony color scheme that’s set off by real wood accents in Tamo Ash.

Photo by Buick