These Are The Hottest Overstock Memorial Day Pandemic New-Car Deals

Current circumstances have set about seismic shifts in the new-car business, including the proliferation of full-electronic transactions and contact-free home test drives and delivery. But one thing remains constant: Leftover vehicles from a prior model year are costing dealerships money and they’ll do most everything in their bargaining powers to get rid of them.

Though cars and trucks from the 2019 model year essentially suffer an extra year’s depreciation, if you can garner a deep discount and intend to keep the vehicle for the long haul it shouldn’t be much of a concern. As it is, dealers should be more flexible on price with sales having slowed, especially over the Memorial Day weekend, which is typically one of the better times of the year to shop for a car. For their part, automakers are slapping some rich incentives on the hoods of leftover 2019 vehicles to help dealerships move the metal.

These involve generous cash-back deals and 0.0% financing on 2019 vehicles, with some offers combining both. Many brands are allowing buyers to defer payments for 90-120 days to help them get through a period of financial uncertainty. Financing deals, we should note, are typically limited to those having top credit ratings and are only available on loans made through an automaker’s captive finance division.

The best deals can almost certainly be had on last year’s models with the highest excess unsold stock. “A surplus of vehicles from the 2019 model year might remain on dealer lots because a car’s popularity is declining, because car buyers want to wait for an upcoming redesign, or because dealers simply have too much inventory,” explains Phong Ly, CEO of the online automotive search engine iSeeCars.com. “Automakers might also have a higher proportion of 2019 vehicles because production has been interrupted for 2020 vehicles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

According to iSeeCars.com’s analysis of over 1 million new vehicles listed for sale as of May 8, 2020, the 2019 vehicle that can be found in the greatest numbers at dealerships is the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, with an average of 66 percent of original inventory remaining unsold. (The industry average is 10.8 percent of 2019 models lingering on lots.) “The 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan is not available in 13 states due to emissions regulations, so dealers in those states are only selling new vehicles from the 2019 model year,” says Ly. To help dealers shed their excess stock, Dodge is offering rebates as rich as $4,250, or up to $1,000 cash back along with a zero percent financing plan. 

We’re featuring below the list of 20 vehicles from the 2019 model year that are clogging dealers’ inventories at the highest rates, and the estimated percentage of leftover stock that remains unsold, as compiled by iSeeCars.com. 

We’re also noting any automakers’ incentives that are currently in effect. Note that the rebate and financing deals generally expire on June 1, and may vary by region. Be sure to check with local dealers or the manufacturers’ websites with your Zip Code entered for specifics where you live. And be sure to apply cash rebates and other deals to the transaction only after you’ve obtained the dealership’s best price.

Leftover 2019 New Vehicles With The Highest Dealer Inventory And Best Deals

1. Dodge Grand Caravan: 66.3% of inventory estimated to remain. Deal: Up to $4,250 cash back, or up to $1,000 cash and 0.0% financing for 36 months, or 0.9% financing for 84 months plus 120 days deferred payments.
2. Chrysler 300: 50.9%. Deal: Up to $6,250 cash back, or up to $1,750 cash back and 0.0% financing for 36 months, plus 90 days deferred payments.
3. Dodge Journey 45.8%. Deal: Up to $4,000 cash back, or up to $2,500 cash and 0.0% financing for 36 months, or 0.9% financing for 84 months plus 120 days deferred payments.
4. Nissan Titan: 43.7%. Deal: Up to $7,750 cash back, or up to $4,750 cash and 0.0% financing for 84 months.
5. Ford Ranger: 41.9%. Deal: $1,250 cash back, or 0.0% financing for 84 months with 90 days deferred payments and first three months paid. 
6. Audi Q7: 40.6%. Deal: 0.0% financing for 72 months with no down payment required and 90 days deferred payments.
7. Ram Pickup 1500 Classic: 39.4%. Deal: Up to $8,750 cash back, or up to $4,750 cash and 0.0% financing for 60 months, or 0.9% financing for 84 months and 90 days deferred payments.
8. Volkswagen Atlas: 37.1%. Deal: 0.0% financing for 72 months and 120 days deferred payments.
9. Alfa Romeo Giulia: 32.8%. Deal: 0.0% financing for 72 months and 90 days deferred payments.
10. Chevrolet Impala: 31.8%. Deal: $2,000 cash back, or 0.0% financing for 84 months, or 120 days deferred payments.
11. Dodge Challenger: 30.2%. Deal: $4,550 -$9,970 cash back (based on horsepower), or up to $1,500 cash and 0.0% financing for 36 months (except SRT).
12. Nissan Sentra: 27.1%. Deal: Up to $2,000 cash back plus 0.0% financing for 60 months with no down payment required and 90 days deferred payments.
13. Volkswagen Golf GTI: 27.1%. Deal: 0.0% financing for 72 months and 120 days deferred payments.
14. Ford Mustang: 23.1%. Deal: Up to $3.000 cash back, or 0.0% financing for 84 months with 90 days deferred payments and first three months paid. 
15. Mitsubishi Outlander: 22.7%. Deal: $3,750 cash back, or $1,000 cash and 0.0% financing for 48 months with 90 days deferred payments.
16. Honda Civic Coupe: 22.7%. Deal: 0.9% financing for 60 months, and $1,000 cash back to current owners of any 2009 or newer Honda models.
17. Nissan Kicks: 22.5%. Deal: Up to $2,250 cash back, or 0.0% financing for 36 months with no down payment required and 90 days deferred payments.
18. Dodge Charger: 21.6%. Deal: $4,420 -$7,070 cash back (based on horsepower), or up to $1,500 cash and 0.0% financing for 36 months (except SRT).
19. Honda Passport: 21.2%. Deal: 0.9% financing for 60 months, and $1,000 cash back to current owners of any 2009 or newer Honda models.
20. Nissan Maxima: 20.5%. No deals listed.

You can read iSeeCars.com’s full report, with excess 2019 inventory broken down by vehicle types and other related data, here.