Autocarb

Best Deals on SUVs in October 2012

With the continuing rise of gas prices, SUV demand is taking a hit, which is getting auto companies, and especially Nissan according to recent findings, to pile on incentives and discounts (ranging from 10% to 18%) on SUV models late in the year.

Some of them are also being sold for cheap (relatively) due to a model not selling too well (the Murano CrossCabriolet) or simply the release of a new model, like the Pathfinder.

Dodge Durango

The Durango is being offered at a discount of 10.4% on its retail prices ($28,995 – $42,195), going down to around ($27,621 – $39,703). It is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive the new Durango includes a 290-hp 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 as standard and has an available 360-hp Hemi 5.7-liter V8 engine. Fuel Economy: 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway.

Honda Pilot

The 8-passenger Pilot is available in both front- and four-wheel drive configurations, each with a choice of four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. From a retail price of $29,420 – $41,170 it’ll go down by an average of 10.5% to $26,909 – $37,626. Fuel Economy: 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway.

Nissan Xterra

The Xterra, the most “outdoorsy” of the Nissan SUV cars, is coming at a retail price of $25,210 – $30,370, but will be available at an average discount of 11%, meaning they’ll be selling the invoice, offered in both rear-wheel (4×2) and four-wheel drive configurations, with a choice of three trim levels: X, S and PRO-4X (4×4 only), for $23,891 – $28,454. It uses up 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway.

Acura MDX

Retail prices are $43,280 – $52,905, offered at a 11.5% discount, meaning they’ll be going for $40,092 – $48,901. The MDX is powered by a 300-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and paddle shifters. It’s fuel consumption is 16 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway.

Nissan Rogue

Available in S or SV trim, with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, all Rogues are equipped with 2.5-liter, 170-hp, four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The retail price is $22,310 – $29,950, and following a discount of 12.7% will go for $21,266 – $27,906. It’s fuel economy is 23 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway.

Mazda CX-9

The CX-9 is available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in one of three models: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. It’s retail price: $29,725 – $35,125. After a 13.2% discount, $28,125 – $33,230. Not as cost-effective with its fuel, going 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.

Nissan Murano

A retail price of $29,960 – $40,560 gets a treatment of a 13.2% discount, cutting down to $27,601 – $37,349. The Murano can be had with either front-wheel, or all-wheel drive, and is available in S, SV, SL, or LE trim levels. It’s fuel consumption is 18 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway.

Nissan Pathfinder

The seven-passenger Pathfinder is available in four trim levels: S, SV, Silver and LE. All trims are powered by a 266-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission; a 310-hp 5.6-liter V8 is available on the 4×4 LE, and is coming in a 16.5% discount due to an all-new Pathfinder going on sale soon. The retail price drops from $29,290 – $43,970 to $27,444 – $40,714, but it’s the worst on the list when it comes to fuel economy: 15 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway.

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

Due to very slow sales, the CrossCabriolet, the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover convertible, is getting nearly an 18% reduction, taking it down from $44,500 to $36,500. It does 17 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway.