Best New Car Deals for Memorial Day 2022

Big savings can still be found on select cars and SUVs

By Jeff S. Bartlett

With Todd Young

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the best times of the year to buy a new car, with deep discounts and low finance rates readily available.

Things are a bit different this year because of limited new car inventory caused by the pandemic and the global microchip shortage. There are still some great deals available now through the end of May, but you need to know where to look. That’s where we come in.

To identify standout deals, Consumer Reports’ analysts studied nationwide new-car incentives and discounts that represent savings below the sticker price.

To make sure the featured cars represent smart buys, we concentrated on models with a strong Overall Score, which factors in road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety. (Learn more about CR’s car ratings.)

The deals highlighted here are currently available and last until May 31.

Some models that have come up short in Consumer Reports’ testing are being advertised with tempting deals. That underscores the need for shoppers to do their research and not be swayed by the savings alone.

The cars listed below—all 2022 models—appear in descending order of the potential savings off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. To show specific pricing examples, we spotlighted specific, popular versions.

The potential savings span from 8 percent to 5 percent off the original MSRP—and this typically holds true across the model range. There will probably be regional deals that outshine these national offerings. They can be found through our Build & Buy Car Buying Service. We also added the average transaction price for each example, reflecting what others have recently paid. Ultimately, that is the number to beat with your negotiation. Securing a price between the bottom line and the average transaction is considered a win and a good deal.

Specific pricing details on these versions and other trim variations are available on our model pages, along with complete road tests, reliability, owner satisfaction, and other key information.

CR members will see the car ratings and discount pricing details below when logged in.

See all current Best New Car Deals or use our dynamic ratings chart to create your own list of vehicles by sorting and filtering by the factors that matter most to you.

CR's Build & Buy Car Buying Service

In addition to research and reviews, Consumer Reports offers members access to the Build & Buy Car Buying Service at no additional cost. Through this service, members can compare in-stock vehicles, see what others paid for the car they want, and customize their payments online. Once they find the vehicle they’re interested in, members can get up-front price offers online from local certified dealers. On top of national incentives, Consumer Reports members are eligible for additional incentive offers from select manufacturers through the Build & Buy Car Buying Service. Plus, members can get an instant trade-in value for their current vehicle to use toward their next car purchase.

Chevrolet Equinox: 8% Off

2022 Chevrolet Equinox

2022 Chevrolet Equinox LT With 1LT AWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $28,500
Potential savings off MSRP: $2,311
Bottom line price: $26,189
Average transaction price: $29,961

Chevrolet Blazer: 8% Off

2022 Chevrolet Blazer

2022 Chevrolet Blazer 2LT AWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $36,100
Potential savings off MSRP: $2,911
Bottom line price: $33,189
Average transaction price: $37,229

Nissan Murano: 7% Off

2022 Nissan Murano

2022 Nissan Murano AWD SL
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $42,410
Potential savings off MSRP: $3,106
Bottom line price: $39,304
Average transaction price: $44,228

Ram 1500: 7% Off

2022 Ram 1500

2022 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab 5’7" Box 4WD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $47,055
Potential savings off MSRP: $3,244
Bottom line price: $43,811
Average transaction price: $47,210

GMC Acadia: 7% Off

2022 GMC Acadia

2022 GMC Acadia Denali AWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $48,600
Potential savings off MSRP: $3,236
Bottom line price: $45,364
Average transaction price: $50,114

Chevrolet Traverse: 7% Off

2022 Chevrolet Traverse

2022 Chevrolet Traverse Premier AWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $49,200
Potential savings off MSRP: $3,263
Bottom line price: $45,937
Average transaction price: $51,676

Chrysler 300: 6% Off

2022 Chrysler 300

2022 Chrysler 300 Touring RWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $33,545
Potential savings off MSRP: $2,153
Bottom line price: $31,392
Average transaction price: $35,743

Cadillac XT5: 6% Off

2022 Cadillac XT5

2022 Cadillac XT5 Luxury AWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $45,995
Potential savings off MSRP: $2,800
Bottom line price: $43,195
Average transaction price: $47,639

Dodge Charger: 6% Off

2022 Dodge Charger

2022 Dodge Charger R/T RWD
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $40,500
Potential savings off MSRP: $2,294
Bottom line price: $38,206
Average transaction price: $41,475

Toyota Prius Prime: 5% Off

2022 Toyota Prius Prime

2022 Toyota Prius Prime Limited
Incentives expire: May 31, 2022
MSRP: $34,450
Potential savings off MSRP: $1,878
Bottom line price: $32,572
Average transaction price: $37,636

Tips for Buying a New Car

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a new car. On the “Consumer 101” TV show, Consumer Reports expert Kelly Funkhouser explains to host Jack Rico what to look for before taking a test drive.

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Best used cars for $25,000 and less
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