With Memorial Day sales promotions at the end of the month leading to the beginning of summer travel season, May is a great month to be shopping for a new car, regardless of whether you are seeking to lease or buy. As one of the best new-car sales weekends of the year, Memorial Day weekend promises lots plenty full of inventory, and salespeople ready to make plenty of deals — but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until Memorial Day weekend to get your car! If you shop ahead of time, you’ll catch the sales team before they get busy, and before the lots get crowded – but you can still get these deals.

If you’re shopping for a new car in May, consider the following ten manufacturer lease, finance, and cash incentives: perhaps these opportunities for savings will help you decide between a lower monthly lease payment and lower upfront and financing costs to get you into your next new car for the summer travel season. May incentives are built into our car buying program at the OpenRoad Lending Auto Buying Service.

If you aren’t sure whether you want to lease or buy your next new car, consider this: Car-leasing deals usually offer the new-car shopper a choice between a low down payment or low monthly payment for a nice short term to help keep out-of-pocket automotive expenses minimal. On the other hand, promotional finance deals can take the form of thousands of dollars in cash back (that can help increase your down payment) or APR financing rates as low as 0%.

Because some of these incentives may also be contingent upon purchasing through a Certified Dealer, and other special incentives and leasing programs may be subject to change by region, please be sure to confirm these offers with your dealer at the time of purchase.

Interested in financing instead of leasing? Look no further the OpenRoad Lending’s online application that lets you apply from the comfort of your own home. Once approved, download all of your paperwork, including your OpenRoad eCheck that can be used at any franchised dealership within your state. Getting a low rate car loan is just that easy.

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Top Lease Deals on New Cars – May 2013

 

2013 Chevrolet Cruze
$149/month for 36 months with $2,469 down
12,000 miles/year
Expires: 7/1/13

The Chevy Cruze is not fancy or expensive, but it’s a likeable little compact sedan that provides everything a buyer wants in its affordable segment. The Chevrolet Cruze offers peppy driving quality, comfortable interior with room for five, safety, and connectivity, all while sharing the attractive design cues found in its larger sibling, the Malibu. Standard is a 138-horsepower Ecotec 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine promising 25 mpg city / 36 mpg highway / 29 combined (with manual transmission) or 22 mpg city / 35 mpg highway / 27 combined (automatic).

 

2013 Buick Enclave
$349/month for 24 months with $3,309 down
10,000 miles/year
Expires: 7/1/13

The eight passenger Buick Enclave SUV provides ample interior and cargo space for family-friendly functionality, with premium interior cabin and well-equipped standard features making it a solid consideration for those who want to drive comfortably with a family aboard, yet don’t necessarily want to drive a minivan. Enclave is offered in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, can tow up to 4,500 pounds and is powered by a fuel-efficient 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine that produces 288 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Enclave features a standard rear vision camera system and available Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Enclave also boasts 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and a maximum of 115.2 cubic feet of cargo space available behind the front row of seats, providing ample room for passengers and their gear.

 

2014 Subaru Forester
$239/month for 36 months with $1,939 down
12,000 miles/year
Expires: 6/3/13

The completely redesigned five-passenger 2014 Subaru Forester carries nearly the same footprint as the outgoing model, but boasts expanded room, comfort, and utility and is powered by a choice of the new high-performance 250-horsepower/2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged boxer engine also found in the BRZ or a 170-horsepower/2.5-liter naturally aspirated boxer engine that, when mated to the continuously variable transmission (CVT), is expected to achieve all-wheel-drive fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 27 mpg combined. Inside, maximum rear cargo area room with the 60/40 split rear seatbacks lowered is 74.7 cubic feet, which Subaru says is among the best in class.

 

2013 BMW 3-Series
$299/month for 36 months with $3,774 down
10,000 miles/year
Expires: 5/31/13

BMW’s 3 series sedan delivers plenty of rear-wheel-drive performance thanks to a 240-horsepower/2.0-liter four-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises to deliver you from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.  Meanwhile BMW’s spirited sixth-generation 3 Series sedan also boasts fuel efficiency of up to 24 city, 36 highway miles per gallon.

 

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
$309/month for 36 months, $2,499 down
12,000 miles/year
Expires: 6/3/13

The Jeep Grand Cherokee hits the sweet spot of premium on-road performance and legendary Jeep off-road capability while also offering such luxurious options as a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and premium wood and leather interior trim. The Laredo is powered by a 290-horsepower/3.6-liter V-6 engine mated to a five-speed transmission. Passenger entertainment is provided by uConnect; passenger safety is thanks to standard full-length side-curtain as well as driver and passenger seat-mounted pelvic and thorax airbags.

 

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Top Cash and Finance Deals on New Cars – May 2013

2013 Hyundai Elantra
0% financing for 60 months
Expires: 5/31/13

The Hyundai Elantra turns heads wherever it goes, thanks to its elegant styling and sporty profile. Under the hood, the Elantra is powered by a 145-horsepower/1.8-liter four-cylinder PZEV engine mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission that provides smooth performance along with fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. Inside, the affordable Elantra offers 95.6 cubic feet of passenger space so your passengers can travel in comfort

 

2013 Honda Accord
0.9% financing for 36 months
Expires: 7/8/13

With nearly 40 years of heritage behind it, the new-for-2013 Honda Accord midsize sedan has been completely redesigned to offer stylish looks, roomy comfort for five, fun-to-drive performance, and a spacious trunk that can hold up to 15.8 cubic feet of cargo. Powered by a 185-horsepower/2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission, the Honda Accord promises fuel economy rated at 27 city, 36 highway, and 30 combined miles per gallon. An APR of 0.9% for 36 months makes it even easier to put the new Accord in your garage this summer.

 

2013 Chevrolet Equinox
0% financing for 48 months or $1,000 consumer cash
Exp: 7/1/13

For 2013, the Chevrolet Equinox crossover offers a more powerful 301-horsepower/3.6-liter V-6 engine.  A new touch-screen-enhanced MyLink radio system adds stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smartphones, building on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability already offered in most Chevy vehicles and also integrates Internet radio stations such as Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio. Ideal for families and friends on the go, the popular Equinox seats five and thanks to its sliding second row, offers the most rear–seat legroom in its class. As for cargo, with the 60/40 split-back rear seat moved all the way forward, the cargo area offers 31.4 cubic feet of storage. Boasting 32 mpg highway, Chevrolet says its standard 182-horsepower/2.4-liter Equinox offers highway fuel economy that the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 can’t beat.

 

2013 Ford Explorer
0% financing for up to 60 months or $2,000 customer cash
Exp: 6/3/13

Completely reinvented for 2012, the 2013 Explorer is a full-size, three-row SUV boasting class leading fuel efficiency of 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway from Ford’s 240-horsepower/2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. (The standard 290-horsepower/3.5-liter V6 engine offers 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway in front-wheel drive, or 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.) Fuel economy is impressive, but its safety is even more so: In back, the world’s first second-row inflatable rear belts are available to protect second-row passengers by spreading impact forces across more than five times the area of conventional seat belts, reducing pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion. Customer cash of $2000 or 0% financing make the Explorer’s $29,100 base MSRP (not including delivery) even more affordable.

 

2013 Volkswagen Jetta
0.9% financing for 66 months
Exp: 5/31/13

The Volkswagen Jetta is powered by a 115-horsepower/2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. With the five-speed, the EPA fuel economy is estimated at 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Features include standard air conditioning, one-touch auto up/down power windows, power locks with keyless entry, and power heated exterior mirrors. Safety features include six airbags, and Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System which reacts instantly in the event of an accident by deploying airbags, unlocking the doors, turning off the fuel pump, and activating the car’s hazard lights. Already affordable with an entry MSRP starting at $16,720 (not including destination and delivery), a 0.9% APR makes the sporty Jetta that much more attractive.

 

Shopping for a New Car or Truck?

If you’re planning to go car shopping during May, why not put these 2013 models on your list while you do your research. Hopefully, these lease, finance, and cash incentives will help you narrow down your choices.

 

Be sure to do your research ahead of time at the OpenRoad Lending Auto Buying Service