How will you be celebrating your Fourth of July holiday? With a picnic and fireworks, or maybe by buying a new car? As your resource for researching new car pricing, OpenRoad Lending is working to help new-car shoppers find a great buy on their perfect vehicle. In this Steals on Wheels we’re sharing the best prices available on the most popular cars purchased around the Fourth of July last year, so we can help you find the best deal on your next new car if you’re shopping around the holiday.

This edition’s featured vehicles represent the ten most popular vehicles purchased between June 27 and July 19, 2012 — and you can see the deals you could get today. The variety of vehicles is nearly evenly distributed between American and import brands, with six vehicles from domestic manufacturers and four from Japanese manufacturers. This year these ten vehicles offer potential savings ranging from 3.4 percent to a generous 11.4 percent across the gamut of body styles, including cars, trucks, and sport/utility vehicles. With discounts like these, new car shoppers may be able to find additional savings of up to $4,055 on these popular vehicles — which carry Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) as low as $19,035 and up to $45,520.

Year Make Model Trim Segment	MSRP / Market Average*	Est. Monthly Payment**	$ Savings / % Savings	City / Hwy / Comb MPG
2013 Nissan Altima Sedan 2.5 S Midsize Car	$23,070 / $21,697	$312	$1,373 / 6.0%	27 / 38 / 32.1
2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab, Standard Box 2WD LT Large Truck	$30,140 / $27,458	$395	$2,682 / 8.9%	15 / 21 / 17.8
2013 Chevrolet Cruze LS Automatic Small Car	$19,035 / $17,359	$250	$1,676 / 8.8%	22 / 35 / 27.6
2013 Ford F-150 Regular Cab 4X2 8′ Box XL Large Truck	$25,250 / $22,393	$322	$2,857 / 11.3%	17 / 23 / 19.8
2013 Toyota Camry LE 4-Cyl Midsize Car	$23,475 / $21,557	$310	$1,918 / 8.2%	25 / 35 / 28.7
2013 Chevrolet Equinox AWD LS Midsize SUV	$26,835 / $24,861	$357	$1,974 / 7.4%	20 / 29 / 24.1
2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT Midsize Car	$25,700 / $22,779	$327	$2,921 / 11.4%	22 / 34 /  273
2013 Honda Accord Sedan EX-L Automatic Midsize Car	$28,785 / $27,114	$390	$1,671 / 5.8%	27 / 36 / 31.3
2013 Ram 1500 Laramie, Crew Cab, 4X4, Short Bed Large Truck	$45,520 / $41,465	$596	$4,055 / 8.9%	14 / 20 / 16.8
2013 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD Midsize SUV	$29,625 / $28,623	$411	$1,002 / 3.4%	22 / 30 / 25.8
†Most popular vehicles sold between June 27 and July 10, 2012. *Market Average is estimated based on the national average of recent vehicle transactions, including destination and delivery charges after incentives that are subject to change, but does not include tax, title, licensing, documentation or processing fees, other state and governmental charges and/or fees, or any other charges or fees allowed by law. **Estimated monthly payments are based on a 3% APR for 60 months with 20% down on the current market average price, and excludes sales tax and other fees and charges that may vary by region or state. Actual APR may be subject to credit approval and other factors. These examples are for information purposes only, and are not an offer to lend. See your dealer/lender for details, including actual available offers.

 

The most popular car on the list of July Fourth favorites is the Nissan Altima with a national market average of $21,697; that’s 6.0 percent — or up to $1,373 — less than the $23,070 MSRP of Nissan’s midsize car. The Altima also boasts the best fuel economy of the vehicles on this list at 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 32.1 mpg combined, as well as an affordable average monthly payment of $312 after 20% down.

The most affordable car on this edition of popular patriotic choices is the Chevrolet Cruze, boasting a national market average of $17,359; that’s a potential savings of 8.8 percent — or up to $1,676 — less than the already inexpensive $19,035 MSRP of Chevrolet’s popular small sedan. Put 20 percent down, and monthly payments are a wallet-friendly $250 per month for 60 months at a 3 percent annual percentage rate.

If your Fourth of July car search has you looking for a pickup truck, you can take your choice between the Chevrolet Silverado, the Ford F-150, or the Ram 1500. Ford’s F-150 carries the best potential discount of the pickups on this list with a possible discount of 11.3 percent, or $2,921, off its $25,250 MSRP, while the Ram 1500 in premium Laramie trim offers the highest potential cash savings of as much as $4,055 off its premium $45,520 MSRP.

If your new car needs have you shopping for something with more space for people and/or cargo, popular five-passenger SUVs sold around the July Fourth holiday include the Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V crossover utility vehicles. The Equinox is the less expensive of the two, with a possible monthly payment around $357 after 20 percent down, but the slightly more expensive CR-V has marginally better fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25.8 mpg combined.

Our last edition of “Steals on Wheels” focused on great deals available on pickup trucks, but just because the time period has passed doesn’t mean great deals on those trucks are no longer available: keep shopping for your favorite pickup trucks, as some of these deals may still be available at a Certified Dealership near you.

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