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Labor Day is almost here and what better way to celebrate a well-earned holiday than joining car shoppers who will be storming the dealerships looking to trade-in or sell their used vehicles in exchange for a great Labor Day car sale.
Especially since we are near the end of the model years, and as such any 2024 cars purchased now will likely show reduced pricing with accelerated first-year depreciation.
Related article: Car Dealers Caught Overcharging Buyers
Good Car Deals on the Horizon
According to an updated Consumer Reports analysis, good car deals are ripe for the picking this holiday:
"Labor Day typically signals one of the biggest car-shopping weekends of the year as dealerships look to make way for the incoming next-year cars. But dealer lots are no longer overflowing, and consequently, major discounts are harder to come by now than in years past.
The measure of a good deal is always relative to the prices secured by other customers in your area. We combed through the latest nationwide transaction data to find those models selling for less than the sticker price or at least going at the sticker price.”
To help guide car shoppers towards cars their automotive experts deem as the “Best Labor Day Car Deals,” here is their selection with score rankings and deals currently offered by dealerships.
The Best Labor Day Car Deals for 2024
1. 2024 Buick Enclave: 8% Off
Price Range: $43,900 - $59,500
CR MPG: Overall 18 / City 12 / Hwy 26 mpg
#4 of 17 Luxury midsized SUVs 3-row
Recommended Model: 2024 Buick Enclave Premium AWD
MSRP: $53,200
Average spent under MSRP: $4,330
Average transaction price: $48,870
2. 2024 Ram 1500: 6% Off
Price Range: $39,420 - $96,340
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
#1 of 17 Full-sized pickup trucks
Recommended Model: 2024 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Big Horn 4x4 6’4" Box
MSRP: $48,435
Average spent under MSRP: $3,035
Average transaction price: $45,400
3. 2024 Volvo S60: 6% Off
Price Range: $42,450 - $58,550
CR MPG: Overall 26 / City 17 / Hwy 39 mpg
#6 of 13 Luxury compact cars
Recommended Model: 2024 Volvo S60 B5 AWD Plus Dark Theme
MSRP: $47,750
Average spent under MSRP: $2,638
Average transaction price: $45,112
4. Audi A3: 5% Off
Price Range: $35,800 - $47,400
CR MPG: Overall 31 / City 20 / Hwy 44 mpg
#1 of 7 Luxury entry-level cars
Recommended Model: 2024 Audi A3 Premium 40 TFSI Quattro
MSRP: $37,800
Average spent under MSRP: $2,029
Average transaction price: $35,771
5. Subaru Outback: 5% Off
Price Range: $28,895 - $42,795
CR MPG: Overall 24 / City 16 / Hwy 32 mpg
#1 of 17 Midsized SUVs
Recommended Model: 2024 Subaru Outback Limited XT AWD
MSRP: $40,195
Average spent under MSRP: $1,961
Average transaction price: $38,234
6. Subaru Legacy: 5% Off
Price Range: $24,895 - $38,195
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 19 / Hwy 39 mpg
#4 of 12 Midsized cars
Recommended Model: 2024 Subaru Legacy Premium AWD
MSRP: $27,195
Average spent under MSRP: $1,289
Average transaction price: $25,906
7. Subaru Ascent: 4% Off
Price Range: $34,395 - $48,695
CR MPG: Overall 22 / City 14 / Hwy 32 mpg
#8 of 19 Midsized SUVs 3-row
Recommended Model: 2024 Subaru Ascent Limited
MSRP: $42,095
Average spent under MSRP: $1,808
Average transaction price: $40,287
8. BMW 2 Series: 4% Off
Price Range: $38,400 - $63,200
CR MPG: Overall 31 / City 21 / Hwy 45 mpg
#4 of 24 Sports cars 4/5-seat
Recommended Model: 2024 BMW 230i Coupe
MSRP: $38,800
Average spent under MSRP: $1,579
Average transaction price: $37,221
9. Infiniti QX50: 4% Off
Price Range: $41,000 - $58,050
CR MPG: Overall 22 / City 15 / Hwy 29 mpg
#10 of 26 Luxury compact SUVs
Recommended Model: 2024 Infiniti QX50 Luxe AWD
MSRP: $46,300
Average spent under MSRP: $1,829
Average transaction price: $44,471
10. Toyota Crown: 4% Off
Price Range: $40,350 - $53,370
CR MPG: Overall 42 / City 33 / Hwy 49 mpg
#1 of 1 Large cars
Recommended Model: 2024 Toyota Crown Limited AWD
MSRP: $45,950
Average spent under MSRP: $1,750
Average transaction price: $44,200
CARS THAT DID NOT MAKE THE CUT
While the above list might appear to be missing a few models, it is only because of their pricing placing them outside CR’s criteria for this selection of good Labor Day Deals.
“The measure of a good deal is always relative to the prices secured by other customers in your area. We combed through the latest nationwide transaction data to find those models selling for less than the sticker price or at least going at the sticker price. We found quite a number, so we limited our final list to models selling for less than $50,000. This excluded the Acura MDX; BMW i4, iX, X5, and X7, and the Audi Q8 E-Tron—all selling for less than the MSRP,” stated CR automotive experts in their newsletter.
SMART COMPARISON SHOPPING WITH THESE PAST DEALS
For additional help in deciphering the car deals offered this weekend, it is a good idea to do a little research before heading to a dealership armed with a listing of which makes and models sold for what prices earlier this year as well as those new car models to avoid.
That said, here is our selection of linked articles that will help you build your research list to support your final buying decision:
- 2025 Toyota Camry Review by Toyota Mechanic Reveals the Good and the Bad
- Car Makers Got Bad Review Removed by Going After YouTube Sponsors
- "These Top Models from Honda, Subaru, Toyota, and Others Should Suit All budgets" - 56 Best Used SUVs, Sedans, and Small Cars of 2024
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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