It's Time To Buy 2011s, But Incentives Are Hard To Find

Around this time every year, dealers are hard at work trying to sell the remaining cars on their lots as new-model-year vehicles start to roll in. This year is no different, and while some 2012s haven’t arrived yet, it’s still the best time to buy a 2011 … as long as you know what to look for. That’s where we come in.

We diligently report on even the slightest changes between model years as soon as possible. Sometimes this means a car will look the same but get an all-new engine and transmission like the upcoming 2012 Mazda3 sedan that’s expected to get 40 mpg highway. Other times, nothing significant has changed between model years, and then there are the all-new cars that have been redesigned from the ground up.

You’ll find the best deals in that second group of vehicles that go from 2011 to 2012 without much change. It’s been a challenge this year to find bargains because manufacturers are making more significant model-year changes and incentives for these older models just aren’t that alluring.

Here are some of the best deals we could find:

Limited Supplies Force VW to Cancel Backup Cameras on Some Models

Volkswagen will no longer offer a backup camera option on the 2012 Touareg, Tiguan and Passat CC sedan because of supply shortages caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, according to the New York Times.

The 2012 CC with Lux Plus, Lux Limited and 4motion Sedan VR6 Executive trims have standard backup cameras. The 2012 Tiguan has an available backup camera with its touch-screen navigation system. All 2012 Touareg models come equipped with the feature, according to Autoblog.com.

Some 2012 models already have a backup camera in them, according to VW, but the feature is no longer being installed in newly produced models. VW doesn’t know when the cameras will be available again.

Shortage Forces VW to Cancel Back-Up Cameras (New York Times, via Autoblog)

The Worst Hybrids for the Money

Every year, we determine which hybrids are the best for the money, based on body style. This year, we also take a look at the worst hybrids for the money.

What we mean by worst is this: hybrids that end up with a very low score after you divide the car’s combined EPA mileage estimate by its MSRP and multiply that number by 1,000. Our best finisher was the Honda Insight. Who was at the other end?

To be fair, many of the cars on this list are luxury cars, and you’re paying for that as much as you’re paying for the hybrid drivetrain. And some of these perform, percentage-wise, far better than their gas counterparts. (Take the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, for example.) And some shoppers, of course, want and/or need a large SUV but would like to make some kind of statement. Still, my 2003 Honda Pilot scores better (0.58) than all the cars on this list, and it’s not even a hybrid.

Here’s the bottom 10:

Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

The Volkswagen Touareg was redesigned for the 2011 model year and now includes more features and a hybrid option. While the Jetta and Passat are now more affordable and attainable to most car shoppers, the Touareg still has an aurora of near-luxury to it, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. Some of the model’s chief attributes include an extremely comfortable ride, a powerful baseline V-6 and an Audi-esque interior. So, how does the Touareg stack up against SUVs like the Lincoln MKX, Acura MDX and BMW X5? Continue reading to find out.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Review

Recall Alert: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

Volkswagen is recalling 256 2011 Touareg Hybrids over incorrect tire pressure labeling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The labels on the affected vehicles display the incorrect tire pressure information — it’s 2 pounds per square inch too low for the front tires and 1 psi too low for the rear tires. The incorrect info could cause an owner to improperly follow vehicle loading specifications and increase the risk of a crash.

The recall will begin on or before April 29. Dealers will install a new sticker that displays the correct tire pressure information, free of charge. For more information, owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Dodge Durango, 2011 VW Touareg, 2011 Audi A8

One big luxury sedan, two big SUVs, three editors and 30 minutes of podcast gold are waiting for you via the links below. Editors Mike Hanley, Kelsey Mays and senior editor David Thomas discuss three radically revised — in the case of the Dodge Durango, reintroduced — models that have recently come through the Cars.com offices.

Download via iTunes
Download MP3

Volkswagen Offers March Lease Deals

Like Honda, Volkswagen doesn’t typically offer big cash-back incentives to move cars off dealer lots; it instead relies on special lease rates. For March, the German automaker is offering attractive leasing and financing incentives on most of its lineup with its “Going, Going, Gone Event.”

Financing incentives include zero-percent financing for 72 months on vehicles like 2010 New Beetle and 2011 Routan minivan.

Newer vehicles like the redesigned 2011 Touareg (including hybrid and TDI diesel variants) also get attractive financing rates.

If you’re looking to get a deal on the fast-selling 2011 Jetta, the automaker is offering a $179 a month lease, though we’ve seen better rates from competitors like the Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla.

If you’re looking for a used Volkswagen, the company is also offering 1.99% APR financing on its entire certified pre-owned inventory for 48 months or 2.99% financing for 60 months.

The deals below are VW’s national deals. There are some regional and dealership incentives that might be more advantageous for people who are looking to finance or pay with cash rather than lease.

Most of the deals highlighted below expire at the end of March.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg, Touareg Hybrid: First Drive

There’s one thing that stands out about the redesigned VW Touareg: It’s upscale. Everything about it screams luxury SUV, from the standard LED running lights to the dazzling display in the gauge cluster to the materials on the doors. And yes, the price tag reflects all that. The base V-6 Touareg starts at $44,450, and it's $60,565 for the Touareg Hybrid, which only comes with all the bells and whistles.

I drove both the V-6 and the hybrid earlier this week around the northwestern Chicago suburbs and streets I commute on every day. Even the base V-6 shows how much different this Touareg’s road manners are from the outgoing model.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Priced at $60,565

While the redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Touareg has lost weight and reduced its fuel consumption, what it doesn’t lose is its luxury-like pricing.

The 2011 Touareg starts at $44,450 for the base 280-horsepower, V-6 gasoline engine, which is rated 16/23 mpg city/highway. The 225-hp, turbocharged V-6 diesel, rated 19/28 mpg, will start at $47,950, and the new supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 hybrid model, rated 20/25 mpg, will start at an eye-popping $60,565. All models are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive standard. None of the prices include an $820 destination fee. Overall, base prices on the naturally aspirated gas V-6 and diesel powertrains have increased by around $4,000 compared with last year’s model.

2011 VW Touareg Hybrid, Diesel Mileage Announced

While we got a good look at the redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Touareg last spring at the New York International Auto Show, the company has just announced the mileage for the SUV in advance of this week’s Paris Motor Show.

The 2011 VW Touareg Hybrid will get an estimated 25 mpg on the highway and can drive on purely electric power up to 30 mph. That may not seem like much, but this hybrid is packing a supercharged V-6 engine that when combined with the hybrid powerplant produces a whopping 380 horsepower and 428 pounds-feet of torque.