10 Best Family Car Rebates and Incentives

The month of December has opened up with some great deals on brand new family cars. Japanese, domestic and Korean car companies have all decided to open the low interest rate financing and cash back rebate floodgates on several of their most popular models for the beginning of the winter season. With some careful shopping it is possible to save serious amounts of money of a family sedan thanks to the rebates and incentives that have been applied to a wide variety of different automobiles.

Let’s take a look at 10 of the best rebates and incentives currently available on family cars.

The 2010 Dodge Charger brings an aggressive snarl to the family car segment. The full-size sedan offers sizable interior room to match its uncommonly sporty styling and its comfortable seating for five is complemented by a 16 cubic foot trunk. Family car shoppers will want to target the affordable V-6 powered editions of the Dodge Charger, which include the base, 3.5 and Rallye trims. The former offers 178 horsepower and 21 miles per gallon in combined fuel mileage from a 2.7-liter six-cylinder unit, while the latter two squeeze 250 horses and 20 miles per gallon combined from a 3.5-liter V-6. Four and five-speed automatic transmissions handle the shifting duties, and all-wheel drive is available as an option.

The 2010 Dodge Charger can be had until 12/31/2010 with a cash back rebate of $4,000 or the choice of 0.0% financing with $1,000 cash back.

The 2011 Ford Fusion offers mid-size family sedan accommodations on a modern platform that balances forward-looking styling with an easy-to-manage platform size. The Ford Fusion manages to be big inside without taking up too much room in the driveway, and it comes in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder versions. The Ford Fusion S, SE and SEL each start out with a 175 horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that returns 25 miles per gallon in combined fuel mileage. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed auto can be ordered as an option. The SE and SEL editions of the Fusion can upgrade to a 3.0-liter V-6 that puts out 240 horsepower (23 miles per gallon combined) while the Sport trim provides a 3.5-liter V-6 that is good for 263 ponies and 21 miles per gallon combined. Each feature a six-speed automatic, and the SEL and Sport can also be had with available all-wheel drive.

The 2011 Ford Fusion is available with a cash back rebate of $2,000 or the option of 0.0% financing plus $1,500 cash to be applied towards the first three months of payments. This incentive expires on 1/03/2011.

The 2011 Chevrolet Impala LS is the least expensive version of Chevrolet’s full-size family car. This sedan offers equipment such as air conditioning, cruise control and keyless entry standard, along with power windows and door locks and the OnStar telematics system. Power is provided by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is capable of generating 211 horsepower while provided 23 miles per gallon as its combined fuel efficiency rating. A four-speed automatic transmission is the only available gearbox to be found on the Chevrolet Impala LS.

The base Chevrolet Impala LS trim is currently being offered with a cash back rebate of $3,000 or the choice of 0.0% percent financing. This incentive offer expires on 01/03/2011.

The 2010 Chrysler 300 is a full-size family car that mimics the premium looks of the Chrysler 300C near-luxury sedan. The less expensive six-cylinder trim levels available on the 300 – including the Touring, the Touring Plus and the Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series – offer good value, a large interior and above average exterior design for the segment. Engine choices include a 178 horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6 (good for 21 miles per gallon combined) as well as a 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 250 horses and 20 miles per gallon combined. A four-speed automatic transmission comes with rear-wheel drive Chrysler 300’s, while a five-speed auto is matched to versions of the sedan, which features optional all-wheel drive.

Family car shoppers can take advantage of a $3,000 cash back rebate on the 2010 Chrysler 300, or choose 0.0% financing plus $1,000 cash back until 12/31/2010.

The 2010 Mercury Milan offers a refreshed platform that helps it bring premium features and a high class driving experience to the family car segment. Standard equipment on the base Mercury Milan includes a full range of power accessories as well as cruise control, air conditioning and keyless entry, while the Premier trim adds leather seats, the SYNC vehicle interface and dual automatic climate control. The mid-size sedan starts out with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 175 horsepower and provides 25 miles per gallon in combined fuel mileage. A V-6 upgrade is available in the form of a 3.0-liter motor that is tuned to offer 240 horsepower and 22 miles per gallon combined. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are the gearboxes of choice with the Milan, and V-6 cars can be equipped with all-wheel drive.

The 2010 Mercury Milan is available with $3,000 cash back or a 0.0% financing incentive plus $1,000 cash back until 12/31/2010.

The 2011 Ford Taurus is a full-size family car that provides a level of sophistication and driving performance not often seen at its price point. Large inside and out, the Ford Taurus is boldly styled and stands out from the rest of the full-size sedan crowd. Family car buyers will be most interested in the SE, SEL and Limited Taurus trim levels, each of which is motivated by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that generates 263 horsepower and which can be counted on for 22 miles per gallon of combined fuel economy. All-wheel drive can be ordered on the SEL and Limited editions of the sedan, and a six-speed automatic transmission is the only available gearbox for the vehicle.

The 2011 Ford Taurus is offered with 0.0% financing plus $1,500 cash applicable towards the first three months of payments, or the choice of $1,500 total cash back until 01/03/2011.

The 2010 Hyundai Sonata, which represents the final model year before its recent design, is a bargain for price-conscious family sedan shoppers. This mid-size automobile comes with Hyundai’s industry-leading powertrain warranty, as well as a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is rated at 175 horsepower and 25 miles per gallon in combined fuel mileage. The SE and Limited can be had with a 3.3-liter V-6 that ups the power ante to 249 horses while lowering the combined fuel mileage by only three miles per gallon. A five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission can be sourced for the four-cylinder Sonata, while the V-6 is automatic-only.

The 2010 Hyundai Sonata can be had with a $2,500 cash back rebate or the choice of 3.9% financing until 01/03/2011.

The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu is a sleek mid-size family sedan that leaves the sedate styling of the older Malibu models in the dust. New for 2011 is the inclusion of a six-speed automatic transmission on all versions of the four-door automobile, helping to improve the Malibu’s fuel economy ratings. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is the base engine for the sedan (169 horsepower and 26 miles per gallon in combined driving), while a 3.6-liter V-6 can be ordered on the higher LT and LTZ trim levels. This larger engine is good for 252 horsepower and 20 miles per gallon combined.

The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu currently features a $2,000 cash back rebate or the choice of 00% financing, each of which expire on 01/03/2011.

The 2011 Toyota Camry is a perennial family sedan sales leader, and this mid-size four-door automobile does almost everything well. The interior is spacious, it offers conservative looks and its fuel mileage is near the top of the pack. This explains why the incentives applied to it by Toyota are somewhat lower that other vehicles on our list. The Toyota Camry comes in both four-cylinder (2.5-liters, 169 horsepower, six-speed automatic / six speed manual transmission, 26 miles per gallon combined) and V-6 (3.5-liters, 268 horsepower, six-speed auto, 23 miles per gallon combined) editions.

A cash back rebate of $1,250 or available 0.0% percent financing can be had on the 2011 Toyota Camry until 01/03/2011.

The 2011 Nissan Altima is a family sedan aimed at those drivers interested in a more sporting experience behind the wheel than is typically offered in this segment of the market. The mid-size four-door is notable for the availability of a sport suspension system and a well-tuned chassis, as well as for its comfortable interior room. The Nissan Altima is also available exclusively with a continuously variable automatic transmission, regardless of engine choice, which makes it unique on our list of vehicles. The base Altima comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is good for 175 horsepower and 27 miles per gallon combined, while the 3.5 ST models offer a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates a healthy 270 horsepower and returns combined fuel mileage of 23 miles per gallon.

The 2011 Nissan Altima is being offered with a $750 cash back rebate or the availability of 0.0% financing until 01/03/2011.