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U.S. News & World Report Identifies the 7 Best Cars to Buy Now


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WASHINGTON, May 19, 2017; U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled May's list of the Best Cars to Buy Now. With car sales on the decline in 2017, car companies have ramped up incentive packages to jump-start sales. Car shoppers are in strong negotiating positions and have the opportunity to save big this month.

May 2017: The Best Cars to Buy Now

Model

YOY Sales Decline

Average Negotiated Discount

U.S. News Best Car Rankings Score
(Out of 10)

Available Deal

Mazda3

19.1%

10%

8.7

0% financing for five years

Lexus ES

62.8%

7.2%

8.6

1.9% financing for six years

Cadillac ATS

24%

6%

8.5

0% financing for five years

Chevrolet Impala

35%

7%

8.9

0% financing for five years

Nissan Murano

18.3%

16%

8.5

0% financing for six years OR $3,500 cash back

Acura RDX

18.3%

7%

8.7

0.9% financing for three years

Honda Odyssey

30.85%

14%

8.7

0.9% financing for two years

"Car shoppers are in a stronger buying position now than they have been in the past nine years," says Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of the U.S. News Best Cars Rankings. "Oversupply and diminished demand are forcing dealers to negotiate and automakers to offer big incentives. The Best Cars to Buy Now highlights the cars that give buyers significant upfront savings and perform well in our rankings."

To be included on May's list of the Best Cars to Buy Now, a car has to fit three criteria: declining sales, strong manufacturer incentives and excellent scores in the U.S. News Best Cars Rankings. Each of the cars on the list has year-over-year sales declines of at least 18 percent, which is well over the 4.7 percent sales decline the industry as a whole saw in April.  Each of the Best Cars to Buy Now also takes advantage of rising incentive spending, with low interest rates and decent cash back offers. Industry-wide spending on incentives is now 10.5 percent of vehicle price, compared to incentive spending of 9.3 percent during the same period last year. Finally, all cars on the list have an overall score of at least 8.5 (out of 10) in the Best Car Rankings.

Deals listed are from manufacturers' sites using representative ZIP codes. Deals may vary depending on location, the buyer's credit, and other factors. Deals are valid through May 31, 2017. A full slideshow of May's Best Cars to Buy Now is available at https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/the-best-cars-buy-now.

About U.S. News Best Cars

Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. Each year, U.S. News publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Vehicle Brands, Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. U.S. News Best Cars had over 45 million unique visitors over the past year, with over 65 percent of visitors actively shopping for a car. Eighty percent of active shoppers reported that the U.S. News Best Cars site influenced their car purchasing decision.