Every headline may scream that new-car sales are slumping because of last month’s figures compared with the Cash for Clunkers-fueled August 2009 numbers. That slump is certainly real for mass sellers with low price tags and high mileage that got the highest government incentives in 2009, but sales for other more expensive models, luxury cars and thirstier trucks and SUVs saw gains in 2010.
The 2011 Subaru Outback competes with the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour, but it outsells both of them combined. The Outback accomplishes this by being affordable, reliable and fun to drive, according to Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. Still, there are a few quibbles related to the Outback’s “OK” interior and outdated navigation system. Is that enough to put off wagon fanatics? Watch the video to find out.
2011|Subaru|Outback
Check out Ask.cars.com to find out when a blind spot detection system will come out on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. At PickupTrucks.com, discover the top 10 best-selling models for August. Finally, go to MotherProof.com and read its review of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
Cash for Clunkers continues to cast a long shadow: Big automakers had what looks to be a bad month, but last year the popular government program dramatically boosted the sales of many models, including the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V and Honda Accord. So the dramatic declines experienced by those models is not all too surprising.
Year-to-date, five of the models in the top 10 are selling less than they sold year-to-date in 2009. Before August, only one model on this list – the Dodge Ram – was selling worse in 2010 compared with 2009.
Toyota (down 31.4%), Honda (down 30%), Nissan (down 27%) and GM (down 24.9%) saw the most dramatic declines. Of course, Japanese automakers were the biggest gainers during Cash for Clunkers; GM’s decline is partly due to the strong sales gains by Pontiac and Chevrolet in August 2009. Chrysler saw a 7% increase because very few of its cars sold well during Cash for Clunkers.
The best selling full-size trucks — Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram — performed well this month, and they were the only models on the list (besides the Hyundai Sonata) to post positive gains. Honda remains the automaker with the most cars on the list with three models, the same as last month.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan will get an EPA-estimated 26/36 mpg city/highway when fitted with the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed manual transmission. With a six-speed automatic, the rating drops to 22/35 mpg. The Cruze takes regular gas.
The Cruze's manual transmission rating is a little bit better than the rating of a comparable 2010 Honda Civic (26/34 mpg), but the automatic rating isn't as good as the Civic's (25/36 mpg). Meanwhile, the 2010 Toyota Corolla's manual-transmission rating of 26/35 mpg with its base engine is nearly identical to the Cruze's rating, but the Corolla's automatic-transmission rating of 26/34 mpg offers notably better city fuel economy.
Chevrolet also revealed that Cruze sedans with the optional turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder – which goes in LT and LTZ trim levels – will get 24/36 mpg with a six-speed automatic. The turbo four-cylinder will also be offered with a six-speed manual in what Chevrolet calls the Cruze Eco, but its official gas mileage estimates have yet to be released. The automaker will only say that this engine and transmission combination is expected to achieve a 40 mpg highway rating.
2011|Chevrolet|Cruze
As Labor Day weekend approaches, we wanted to give car shoppers one more rundown of this weekend’s incentives – this time for luxury makes. Many luxury shoppers choose to lease cars, so we're breaking down both the best lease deals and the best deals for financing a car purchase.
Some of the top lease deals can be found at Acura, Audi, Lexus and Lincoln dealerships. Acura has an event going on that is especially noteworthy, offering $0 due at signing and the first month’s lease payment free.
The best financing deals can be found at Cadillac, which is offering six-year loans at 0% interest on most of the remaining 2010 models.
Both loan interest rates and leasing deals often vary by region. Like our APR interactive map showed us earlier this week, the best financing deals are offered to Midwest and East Coast residents. Western states seem to have the most attractive lease deals.
In the listings below, we've given a range of prices when the deals vary by region; otherwise, the numbers reflect a nationwide offer. Most of the deals we've listed end on Labor Day or Tuesday.
U.S. car shoppers appear to be getting back on track with their car loans.
There has been a 19.7% drop in past due payments in the first half of this year, according to TransUnion, a credit bureau that tracks the national 60-day delinquency rate for auto loans. TransUnion defines delinquency as being past due on a car loan for more than 60 days.
Average auto debt rose to $12,643 from $12,501, a 1.13% increase. A rise in loan amounts is one reflection of lenders increased wiliness to lend. Auto originations increased by 18.7%, which is the largest increase in new loans since the recession began in 2007, TransUnion found.
These changes have a lot to do with the continuing strengthening of the U.S. economy, which expanded by 1.6% in the second quarter.
Year over year, late payments have dropped nationally by 27.4%, the largest decline since summer 2001, according to TransUnion.
It’s important to note that delinquency in auto financing is very low already, with only 0.53% of auto loans being 60 days behind. In comparison, the U.S. mortgage delinquency rate stood at 9.85% in the second quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Now in its second model year, the 2011 Lincoln MKT is still pretty much as good as it gets in the eyes of Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. Despite a somewhat compromised driving position for taller drivers, a third-row seat that’s usable only for children and an interior that doesn’t quite match its Acura or Buick competitors, David still sees how some, including himself, could love the MKT’s eccentricities. Continue reading to see if the MKT’s unconventional nature will work for you.
2011|Lincoln|MKT
At Ask.cars.com, a reader is looking for an SUV with amenities such as navigation and a sunroof for less than $35,000. Check out MotherProof.com to learn what Chief Mama Kristin Varela thinks about rear sliding doors. Finally, go to PickupTrucks.com and learn about the new Ram truck iPhone app.
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!