New Car Rebates and Incentives - April 26, 2011

We are in the final week of April, which means that there is still time left to take advantage of the latest crop of rebates and incentives being offered on new cars and trucks by a number of different automakers. First up this week is the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d crossover vehicle, which is available with a $3,500 Eco Credit direct from BMW. For those seeking a larger sport-utility vehicle, the 2011 Nissan Armada offers the choice of either $3,500 cash back or 1.9% financing. The sole sedan on our list for the end of April is the 2011 Dodge Avenger, which can be had with a $1,500 cash back rebate or zero percent financing on certain trim levels. The Avenger is followed by two more sport-utility vehicle offers: the 2011 Ford Explorer ($500 cash back or 2.9% financing) and the 2011 Toyota Highlander ($500 cash back or 1.9% financing).

Each of these offers lasts until May 2, 2011, which leaves just under a week to take advantage of them until the next batch of rebates and incentives rolls into dealerships across the country.

The 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d is designed to appeal to SUV shoppers who crave a more sedan-like ride and a responsive, sporty driving experience without sacrificing interior room or practicality. The BMW X5 xDrive35d offers five passenger seating as standard, with the option to add a third row and increase total capacity to seven. Total interior cargo volume tops out at 75 cubic feet with those seats folded forward. The X5 xDrive35d also comes with the luxury equipment that BMW is famous for, including a panoramic sunroof, imitation leather seats, dual automatic climate control and adaptive HID headlights.

The 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d offers a drivetrain that mixes solid power with better than average fuel economy, thanks to the use of a 3.0-liter, turbocharged diesel engine. This unit derives 265 horses and 425 lb-ft of torque from its six cylinders while returning fuel mileage of 19 miles per gallon around town and 26 miles per gallon on the highway. A six-speed automatic transmission is included free of charge, as is all-wheel drive.

The 2011 Nissan Armada is a full-size sport-utility vehicle that lives up to its name, thanks to its imposing dimensions and definite street presence. The Nissan Armada is sold in an eight passenger configuration, and its interior space can also be used to haul as much as 97.1 cubic feet of gear. The SUV is also capable of towing up to 9,100 lbs, which is very competitive for its class.

The 2011 Nissan Armada features a single engine option, a 5.6-liter V-8 that churns out 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. This motor is matched to a five-speed automatic transmission, and buyers can select between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive editions of the SUV. Fuel mileage for the Armada tops out at 13 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2011 Dodge Avenger is a mid-size sedan that has been refreshed for the current model year in order to provide a greater degree of interior refinement as well as exterior styling that smoothes out some of the 2010 edition's awkwardness. The Dodge Avenger Heat and Lux trims represent two of the better equipped versions of the car, with the Lux throwing in items such as leather seats.

Under the hood, the 2011 Dodge Avenger Lux starts out with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder motor that generates 173 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage for this engine is rated at 20 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. Optional on the Lux and standard on the Heat is an all-new, 3.6-liter V-6 engine that has been tuned to provide 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, with fuel mileage that is very close to that of the four-cylinder offering (19 miles per gallon city and 29 miles per gallon highway). A six-speed automatic transmission is included with both engines.

The 2011 Ford Explorer has been completely redesigned, moving away from its truck-based roots and embracing a unibody crossover platform that is lighter and smoother than that of the vehicle it replaces. The Ford Explorer maintains its seating for seven passengers, and there is enough room underneath its roof to haul as much as 80 cubic feet of luggage with the rear rows folded down.

The 2011 Ford Explorer also benefits from a new engine, a 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. The front-wheel drive version of the Explorer returns fuel mileage of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 miles per gallon during highway cruising, and four-wheel drive with Terrain Management is also available for those who frequently encounter inclement weather conditions. All versions of the Explorer come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the crossover can tow up to 5,000 lbs.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander is the largest crossover built by the Japanese brand, and it comes with three rows of seating that are capable of accommodating as many as seven passengers. The Toyota Highlander's generous interior can also swallow up to 95.4 cubic feet of cargo with the second and third rows folded forward, and despite its size it manages to provide drivers with reasonably nimble maneuverability.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander can be packaged with either four-cylinder or V-6 power. The entry-level, 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine provides 187 horses and 186 lb-ft of torque, and it features a six-speed automatic transmission that sends that output to the front wheels. Fuel mileage for this engine shows as 20 miles per gallon around town and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. More grunt can be found in the available 3.5-liter V-6, which offers up 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque while dropping fuel mileage only slightly to 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. Transmission choice remains the same, but the V-6 gains the option of all-wheel drive.