10 Best New Car Leftovers for 2017

2016 VW Golf GTI Hero Bridge ・ Photo by Volkswagen

These ten best new car leftovers are perfectly good 2016 models that haven’t yet found a home. As well as providing an opportunity to get a great car at a bearable price, it means buyers might also be able to upgrade to a higher trim level without blowing the budget. Some internet sleuthing is required. Several dealers we checked didn’t advertise anything other than the MSRP, but others had already taken a few thousand off. So if that’s the starting point, then a little more haggling could snag a real bargain. The more time spent negotiating works to a buyer’s advantage because dealers will soon be wanting to make room for 2018 models. But don't forget: a 2016 model will still come with a new-car warranty.

2016 Audi A8

Don’t worry, not all our choices will be expensive luxury sedans. The Audi A8 is a good example, however. First, no one is going say an Audi looks old-fashioned, even if it was designed several years ago. The A8 also comes with a lot of tech (although not the most up to date, admittedly). And it’s hardly surprising to see a few languishing on showroom floors because it’s always the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that is the perennial best seller in this conservative segment. As the last model year of the outgoing generation (a new wave debuts for 2018), this A8 has space and class — plus a little of the maverick factor — all for the approximate price of something smaller.

Photo by Audi

2016 BMW 535i

One of the great things about the later model years of a generation is that any bugs have been ironed out. Not that there were many gripes with this generation of 5-Series to begin with. Some people thought earlier models were sportier and that the 5-Series had moved a little too far over to the “comfort” end of the spectrum. The sportiness is there, the car just needs a little more pushing to access it. That’s easily done with the 535i version. It’s at this level where the car receives a turbocharged inline-6 engine for a healthy 300 hp yet still achieves an average of 24 mpg. The 5-Series is a truly excellent all-rounder.

Photo by BMW

2016 Honda Accord

With virtually everyone clamoring for crossovers, it might be assumed that the age of the sedan is behind us. But companies are still making them and naturally want to sell them. There’s no point playing hardball for a sweeter deal on the CR-V, then, but that Accord in the far corner of the lot comes with Honda’s exemplary build quality and reliability. It’s also spacious, practical, reasonable to run and possesses refined road manners. Accords have been top sellers for years because of these very attributes. As far as equipment is concerned, the 2016 version is pretty much the same as the 2017. So the earlier model, if it can be acquired at a discount, could be more attractive.

Photo by Honda

2016 Jeep Wrangler

A Wrangler is a Wrangler and has remained essentially unchanged for years, so choosing a 2016 model over a 2017 won’t mean losing out on anything of great importance. Yet a buyer will end up with not just some so-so all-wheel-driver but a landmark of an off-roader, around which communities and lifestyles are formed. One year old, two years old… it doesn’t matter. They will both take their occupants further into the wilderness than almost any other vehicle. Going for the basic Sport trim leaves a bigger budget for aftermarket options, or perhaps the well-equipped Rubicon is now within reach. The same 285-hp V6 engine powers every version. Wranglers usually enjoy strong resale values as well.

Photo by Jeep

2016 Mazda Mazda3

The Mazda3 is undoubtedly one of the best compact cars around. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, Mazda vehicles don’t always get the love from the motoring public they so richly deserve. Admittedly, the 2017 version has some updates, but a 2016 model still handles superbly, rides comfortably, uses gasoline more efficiently than anything else in its class, and has an interior that seems more premium than mainstream. The Grand Touring trim even has leather upholstery. Available as a hatchback or sedan and with a 2.0-liter or 2.3-liter engine, the Mazda3 is a car we would never hesitate to recommend.

Photo by Mazda

2016 Mini Cooper Clubman

The perception of MINI cars is that they’re great fun, but a bit small and therefore impractical, and somewhat on the pricey side. Buying a 2016 Clubman, the wagon-like Mini variant eliminates those last two complaints and leaves the buyer laughing all the way to the bank at the other end of that twisting road. Purists tend to favor rear-wheel drive, but cars with front-wheel drive can also deliver their own kind of excitement. This Mini is a prime example. The 2016 model year was when a new generation of Clubman came out, so it’s still fresh one year on. For more fun, look at a Cooper S with an 189-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.

Photo by MINI

2016 Nissan 370Z

OK, this is a bit frivolous and sports machines are niche products, but the 2016 Nissan 370Z is still well-made, distinctive-looking, reliable and athletic. Current demand for the 370Z isn’t as high as it was when the car first came out in 2009. No doubt most people who really wanted it have pulled the trigger by now. One justifiable gripe was that the cabin leaned more toward the raucous than the refined. But in 2016, Nissan added Active Noise Control. The high-revving 2.7-liter V6 makes an energetic 332 hp, or the Nismo model brings 350 hp. During our research, we also found a few convertible examples. Buy a 370Z and let it be a symbol of resistance to the crossover culture.

Photo by Nissan

2016 Subaru Impreza

An all-new generation of the Impreza debuted for 2017, but even as the last model of the outgoing generation, the 2016 Impreza offers some advanced driver aids such as forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and headlights that move with the steering. The greatest asset of this compact hatchback/sedan, though, is the old-school aid of all-wheel drive, which is standard. That makes it one of the most affordable all-wheel-drive vehicles around, especially since it’s a cheaper 2016 model. Few people will agonize over the difference between getting home safely on a winter’s night or having the newest touchscreen for the infotainment system.

Photo by Subaru

2016 Toyota Camry

This ever-popular, always-comfortable mainstream midsize sedan was updated for 2015 and a new generation is imminent for 2018. Sandwiched between these two model years are the 2016 and 2017 versions. While the 2017 Camry has a few more equipment items and an upgraded audio system in the upper trim levels, that may not be enough to push the 2016 car out of the picture. With leftovers, there’s often the chance that color selections won’t be as comprehensive as the current model year, but there’s usually something a buyer can live with for a few years. In light of a Camry being a rational choice, then looking into a less expensive 2016 model makes even more sense.

Photo by Toyota

2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Sure, there are some 2016 Tiguan compact crossovers still around, with a new generation coming for 2018. But despite being a crossover, the Tiguan isn’t the best buy from the Volkswagen stable. The Golf GTI, however, is wonderful. Apart from being the most spacious of the compact hatchback class (52.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded), the GTI also enjoys high-quality cabin materials, a sophisticated ride, tenacious grip and traction, 210 hp (or 220 hp if the car comes with the Performance package), and availability of the DSG (automated manual) transmission. The GTI is more than enough car for most people. This was also the final year for the 2-door version.

Photo by Volkswagen