New Car Rebates and Incentives: May 3, 2012

May is here and so are a number of sales events that push through what some consider to be the first official month of summer.  This week our list of rebates and incentives leads off with the 2012 Hyundai Sonata mid-size sedan, which can be had with zero percent financing plus $500 in cash back.  Next up is the 2012 Buick Regal mid-size premium sedan and its choice of either 1.9% financing or $1,000 in cash rebates, followed by the 2012 Dodge Challenger mid-size coupe and its similar play of 0.0% financing or an available $1,000 cash back offer.  The 2012 Toyota Corolla compact sedan features 0.9% financing or $500 factory cash back, while the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse compact coupe and convertible each feature the option of zero percent financing or $1,000 in cash back,

Stay tuned next week as we come back once again with a fresh roundup of the hottest new car and new truck bargains available as automakers continue to ramp up their summer sales pitches.

2012 Hyundai Sonata

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata is an attractively styled and intriguingly priced entry into the mid-size family sedan segment.  The Hyundai Sonata continues the Korean brand's policy of offering a generous amount of standard equipment and one of the industry's longest warranties, and interior fit and finish for the automobile puts it at the front of the four-door pack.

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata starts out with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that generates up to 200 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque on its way to a fuel mileage rating of 24-mpg city and 35-mpg highway.  The Sonata is also available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that ups the performance ante with 274 horse and 269 lb-ft of torque.  Fuel economy for the latter checks in at 22-mpg around town and 34-mpg highway, and transmission choices for the sedan include a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic.

There is a financing incentive of 0.0% interest plus $500 cash back on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata available until 05/31/2012.

2012 Buick Regal

The 2012 Buick Regal is a mid-size automobile that presents itself as an alternative for premium sports sedan shoppers.  The Buick Regal can be ordered in GS trim, which introduces equipment such as Brembo brakes, aggressively bolstered front seats, a stiff suspension system and special tuning for the vehicle's stability control system in order to enhance overall handling and acceleration.

The 2012 Buick Regal's base motor is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder unit that delivers 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque.  It's also possible to order the Regal with an eAssist version of this same powertrain that introduces a battery-powered electric motor in order to improve fuel economy from 19-mpg city/31-mpg highway to 25-mpg city and 36-mpg highway.  Output is unaffected by the shift to the eAssist setup.  Both the Buick Regal Turbo and the Regal GS benefit from the installation of a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that churns out either 220 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque (Turbo trim) or 270 horses and 295 lb-ft of twist (GS trim).  Fuel economy is strongest for the Turbo, showing as 20-mpg city and 32-mpg highway.  The 2.4-liter Regal is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission while turbocharged editions gain the option of a six-speed manual.

There is a financing incentive of 1.9% interest or $1,000 cash back on the 2012 Buick Regal available until 07/02/2012.

2012 Dodge Challenger

The 2012 Dodge Challenger is the Mopar entry into the retro muscle car derby.  The Dodge Challenger coupe is a little bit bigger than many of its two-door competitors, but it manages to leverage its larger platform to provide substantial road presence as well as one of the most generous interiors in terms of passenger room in its segment.

The 2012 Dodge Challenger is initially offered with a 305 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine.  Also capable of generating 268 lb-ft of torque, this mill is paired exclusively with a five-speed automatic transmission and returns gas mileage of 18-mpg in city driving and 27-mpg on the highway.  The Challenger R/T lights up the rear tires with ease thanks to the inclusion of a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that is good for 376 horsepower and 410 b-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels by way of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.  Fuel economy for the R/T checks in at 16-mpg around town and 25-mpg highway.

There is a financing incentive of 0.0% interest or $1,500 cash back on the 2012 Dodge Challenger available until 05/31/2012.

2012 Toyota Corolla

The 2012 Toyota Corolla is the very definition of basic, affordable transportation.  The Toyota Corolla compact sedan is a reliable and frugal choice for buyers looking for a commuter car that doesn't necessarily tug at the heart strings but definitely delivers when it comes to providing a reasonable level of comfort and convenience for its price point.

The Toyota Corolla features a single engine option - a 132 horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder motor that can also be counted on to produce 128 lb-ft of torque.  Fuel economy for this unit is listed at 27-mpg in stop and go driving and 34-mpg on the highway when ordered with its standard five-speed manual transmission.  A four-speed automatic is also offered with the Corolla.

There is a financing incentive of 0.9% interest or $500 cash back on the 2012 Toyota Corolla available until 06/04/2012.

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse is a sporty compact car that can be ordered in both coupe and convertible (Spyder) body styles.  The Mitsubishi Eclipse also features the availability of the GT trim level, which includes a suspension system that has been tuned for additional road holding, up-sized brakes and a full range of premium gear including HID headlights and heated leather seats.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse provides both four and six-cylinder powertrain choices for potential buyers.  The entry-level 2.4-liter motor offers up 162 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque (along with fuel economy figures of 20-mpg city and 28-mpg highway), while the 3.6-liter V-6 boosts output to 265 ponies and 262 lb-ft of twist.  Fuel mileage for the larger motor drops to 17-mpg city and 25-mpg highway, and while the base Eclipse is shifted by either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission the V-6 can only be had with a five-speed autobox.

There is a financing incentive of 0.0% interest or $1.000 cash back on the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse available until 05/31/2012.