New-Car Incentives - List of Best From Forbes

Washington DC February 4, 2010; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to Forbes, when selling cars, incentives can be beneficial to consumers, a little extra cash can make all the difference.

A $26,320 Nissan has a $4,000 cash rebate that is 15.2 percent off its MSRP.

Even with its Assurance program attached to all of its new-car sales, Hyundai has competitive rebates as well. To find the best deals in February, Forbes used customized data provided by Edmunds.com, an automotive research Web site.

Analysis included all 2010 vehicles sold in the U.S., calculating cash rebates as a percentage of base retail prices. Vehicles with the highest percentages in each segment made the list. Financing did not factor into the equation, since most automakers offer it to buyers as an either/or option with cash rebates.

Forbes’ list evaluates customer incentives – they include cash-back rebates, low-interest financing, or other perks offered directly to buyers.

Dealer incentives, on the other hand, are factory-to-dealer cash deals that the salesmen are not obligated to pass on to consumers.

Among the overall top 10 on Forbes’ list, three are midsize cars, and three are mid-size SUVs. Click here to view the entire list.Click here for in-depth analysis from Forbes on the best incentives during the month of February.