Top Brands Dropping Prices for Unsold SUVs and Crossovers

It’s no surprise that dealerships have had a rough year. Per The Washington Post, U.S. auto sales fell by 35% in the second quarter of 2020. Significant amount of unsold inventory are simply collecting dust on dealership lots.

Now, dealers have to clear spaces for new models and they offer once-in-a-lifetime incentives. Modern SUV’s features are extremely similar, but not the prices. Knowing that, smart buyers can save 30% or more by comparing offers from different brands — and that’s easy to do online.

The easiest way to find the best offer is — well, just follow the ads. Why? Simple: the most desperate brands throw enormous amounts of money into online advertising. People are staying in their homes and shopping on the internet, so dealerships offer the hottest deals for those shoppers.

We’ve caught some of those deals to make the search easier for our readers. Check them out below, but make sure to compare their offers carefully to get the best one.

Jeep

Jeep’s Big Finish 2020 event kicked off with an “Employee Pricing for All" campaign, with additional incentives available for certain consumers (including members of the military and people with disabilities). Online shoppers may be able to find other programs as well by checking the ads from small dealerships looking to clear inventory.

The Jeep brand is known for feature-heavy vehicles with towing and offroading capabilities, but the company’s product line has expanded considerably into the SUV market in recent years. In fact, many Jeep models are basically identical to newer SUVs from Nissan and other brands, right down to their towing capacity (all three brands have utility models capable of hauling over 7,000 pounds).

The full Jeep line includes some of those classic “rugged" models, along with budget-friendly and luxury models. Don’t make any assumptions about the Jeep product line — their SUVs certainly deserve a look, though drivers will want to compare carefully.

Nissan

In recent years, Nissan has heavily marketed its vehicles' state-of-the-art safety features, but other SUV brands have quickly caught up. Nearly every newer SUV features something similar to Nissan’s “Safety Shield 360,” which warns drivers about objects in their blind spots. Chevy and Jeep (and most other major brands) offer blind spot monitoring, lane assistance, and other technology to keep drivers safe.

Nissan’s SUV line has budget, luxury, and utility options, and consumers should note that most 2021 models will be basically identical to the 2020 models. Like other brands, Nissan is offering its best deals through local incentive and cashback programs. Buyers can benefit from 0.0% APR offers, and generous leasing incentives may provide an alternative for consumers looking for a quick upgrade.

Chevrolet

As with the other brands we’ve covered, individual Chevrolet dealerships tend to offer the best deals. Some dealerships may pair the national discount programs with other incentives to try to clear their lots for the new year. To end the year, Chevy is offering generous cash allowances and an employee discount campaign that cuts MSRP by over $10,000 for some models.

Chevrolet’s extensive line of 2020 SUVs offers advanced safety features, forward-thinking interior designs, and various navigation options that are...well, more or less comparable with those of Nissan and Jeep.

Other SUVs and crossovers also deserve a look.

While some brands focus most of their ads towards certain consumers (Jeep, for instance, markets its vehicles for offroad use), each company offers great options for every shopper. That’s exactly why comparison shopping is so important.

Jeep, Chevrolet, and Nissan offer some eye-catching incentives, but other brands are offering bargains to savvy buyers. Kia, Subaru, and Volkswagen have excellent SUVs and crossovers with rock-bottom pricing on 2020 models, and we’re just scratching the surface. To really take advantage of the market, drivers need to compare at least three or four models and understand the differences (or, more often, the lack of differences).

The pandemic-related overstocks have affected the entire industry. SUVs have become incredibly popular with drivers over the last decade, so they’re the most likely to be overstocked. Of course, that won’t last forever — but smart shoppers can find excellent prices in the months before the 2021 models hit the lots.

Online tools let buyers take more control.

When browsing online, buyers should pay close attention to ads that specifically mention Black Friday or Christmas offers. Dealers have strong incentive programs in place for end-of-year buyers, but those programs aren’t always listed on dealership websites — online ads often reveal the best deals.

Since many consumers have avoided going to the car lot during the pandemic, brands are putting their best sales pitches online. Put simply, the market condition has never been better for buyers who are willing to do the research.