New Car Rebates and Incentives - May 19, 2011

Midway through May there are still a number of hot rebates and incentives available on new cars, new trucks and new crossover SUVS. This week's list is headed up by the 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara compact sport-utility vehicle, which is being offered with the choice of either $1,250 cash back or zero percent financing. Next is the 2011 Nissan Cube, a quirky compact crossover that is available with $500 in factory cash rebates or 0.0% financing. The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse compact coupe and convertible can be had with a low zero percent finance rate or $1,000 in cash back, while the 2011 Lincoln MKT full-size luxury crossover provides a hefty $3,000 in cash savings or the choice of 0.0% financing. Finally, the 2011 Kia Sorento compact crossover SUV makes an enticing offer of $1,000 cash back or 0.9% purchase financing.

There is still plenty of time left this month to take advantage of these new vehicle deals, and if you are in the market for one of these automobiles it makes sense to move quickly to secure the best possible price and financing terms before June arrives and a new slate of bargains are released onto the market.

The 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara offers compact SUV buyers on a budget a capable family vehicle. Offering five passenger seating as well as 69 cubic feet of storage space with the second row of accommodations folded forward, the Suzuki Grand Vitara can also be had with luxury options such as heated leather seats and a sunroof.

A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is the only motor available with the 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Capable of generating 166 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, this unit returns fuel mileage of 19 miles per gallon around and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. Unlike many compact sport-utility vehicles, the Grand Vitara offers a traditional rear-wheel drive layout that can be upgraded to a four-wheel drive system that comes with low-range capability for more aggressive off-roading. Transmission choices for the SUV include a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic.

The 2011 Nissan Cube goes beyond 'cute-ute' and adds the descriptor 'quirky' to the long list of adjectives that can be used to describe this compact crossover vehicle. Resembling a rounded rectangle and offering unique asymmetrical wrap-around rear glass for improved visibility, the Nissan Cube's design stands out from the pack. The vehicle also offers two rows of seating for as many as five passengers, the ability to swallow 50 cubic feet of gear and optional Krome Edition, which provides a number of unique styling touches and features that distinguish it from the base model.

All versions of the 2011 Nissan Cube are motivated by a 1.8-liter engine that squeezes 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque from its four-cylinders. Buyers can choose between either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously-variable automatic, depending upon which trim level is ordered. Fuel mileage for the Cube checks in at a thrifty 27 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 29 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse offers sporty compact car shoppers the choice between a slickly-styled coupe and an open air convertible, with the latter being one of the few affordable drop tops currently on the market. The Mitsubishi Eclipse coupe can also be ordered with a substantial amount of high performance equipment installed underneath its attractive metal skin, including upgraded sway bars and larger brakes.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse starts out with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that is good for 162 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Matched with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, this engine provides fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Stepping up to the Eclipse GT lands drivers a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that boosts output to 265 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Also included with the GT is a five-speed automatic transmission and fuel economy that is rated at 16 miles per gallon around town and 24 miles per gallon during highway cruising.

The 2011 Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover vehicle that counts unusually bold styling as one of its strong points in a traditionally conservative segment. Also working in the Lincoln MKT's favor are three rows of seating that can accommodate up to seven passengers, 76 cubic feet of total cargo space behind the two forward positions (with the rear rows folded down) and an impressive number of high tech features and options. These include the SYNC vehicle interface, a hard drive navigation and audio system and safety equipment like Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert and the MyKey system which offers parental controls over vehicle speed and stereo volume level.

The 2011 Lincoln MKT is initially outfitted with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine that puts out 268 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque on its way to offering fuel economy figures of 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway. The MKT with EcoBoost introduces a 3.7-liter, twin-turbo engine that generates an impressive 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage for the EcoBoost motor remains strong, showing as 16 miles per gallon city and 21 miles per gallon highway. Each drivetrain benefits from a six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is optional with the 3.7-liter engine and standard with the turbocharged unit.

The 2011 Kia Sorento is an all-new design that offers a more comfortable ride from a fresh unibody platform that abandons the truck-like characteristics of the 2010 edition of the compact SUV. The spacious Kia Sorento provides three rows of seating that can handle as many as seven passengers, and it also features 72.5 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear accommodations out of the picture.

The 2011 Kia Sorento provides a 175 horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder as its base engine. Also capable of generating 169 lb-ft of torque, this motor returns fuel mileage of 21 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 29 miles per gallon on the highway. Also available is a 3.5-liter V-6 that churns out 276 horses and 248 lb-ft of twist. Fuel mileage for the larger engine drops only 1 mile per gallon in city driving and 2 miles per gallon on the highway in comparison to the four-cylinder. Base Sorento models can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, while the V-6 is auto-only and comes with the availability of all-wheel drive.