Improving Fuel Efficiency, Engine Performance, Car Leases and Finance Deals

FUEL ECONOMY TUNE UP Each month, manufacturers typically offer an assortment of promotional deals in the form of cash back (that can help increase your down payment) or low financing rates — some as low as 0% and 0.9% for a defined term. Meanwhile, particular leasing deals typically offer a choice between a low down payment or low monthly payment for a nice short term to keep your out-of-pocket automotive expenses minimal. If you’re in the market to buy a new car this month, we suggest you shop the current manufacturer lease and finance incentives to see if a particular offer makes sense for you. A wide array of both luxury and mainstream automotive brands are offering exceptional lease and finance deals as well as a few impressive cash-back offers during the month of September as automakers attempt to move 2012 inventory off the lots to make room for 2013 models. These lease and finance deals make September a great month to shop for a new car, so if you’re having a hard time choosing, perhaps these opportunities for savings will help you decide between a lower monthly lease payment or lower upfront and financing costs to get you into your next new car. Top Lease Deals on New Cars – September 2012 2012 Buick Enclave $299/month for 24 months with $3,509 down. 12,000 miles/year Expires 10/31/12 The 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. The two-ton Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds and comes with only one engine option, a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine that produces 288 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Another perk is the four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage. The Enclave is the best of the lease options available from Buick this month, so if you’re not interested in the eight-passenger Enclave, check with your Buick dealer to find additional excellent lease programs on other Buick vehicles. 2013 Hyundai Elantra $249/month for 36 months with $0 down 12,000 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 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 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed transmission that provides smooth performance along with fuel economy ratings of 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 34.2 mpg combined. Inside, the affordable Elantra offers 95.6 cubic feet of passenger space so your passengers can travel in comfort 2012 Volkswagen Jetta $159/month for 36 months with $1,999 down 12,000 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 The Volkswagen Jetta is powered by a 115-horsepower/2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission (six-speed auto is optional), and features 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. The 2012 Jetta is protected by Volkswagen’s no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program which covers the cost of all scheduled maintenance for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). 2013 Ford Escape $259/month for 24 months with $2,759 down 10,500 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 Redesigned for 2013, the new Ford Escape features a choice of fuel-efficient engines boasting highway fuel economy as high as 33 mpg and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Inside, the Ford Escape provides seating for five or cargo capacity of up to 67.8 cubic feet, plus storage in the wayback that holds another 34.3 cubic feet of stuff. And as useful as all that is, the available hands-free liftgate raises with a kick of your foot to make accessing the rear cargo area that much easier when your hands are full. If you’ve got a short commute and can keep below the mileage limits, the monthly payment makes it easy to escape in Ford’s popular crossover utility vehicle. 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S $219/month for 24 months with $2,399 down 12,000 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 Choose between the sporty Nissan Altima coupe or stylish Altima sedan 2.5S — both powered by a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder mated to an automatic transmission promising fuel economy of 27 mpg city / 38 mpg highway / or 31 mpg combined — for just $219 a month. If you crave even more spirit, choose the Altima 2.5S Coupe, which also offers a six-speed manual transmission. 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 Sport Sedan $359/month for 36 months with $4,153 down 10,000 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 If you’re searching for an uber-luxurious European lease experience, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz C250 sport sedan, which wraps four sport seats in a sleek sedan body style. Underhood, the C250 is driven by a 201-horsepower/1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed transmission and boasts fuel economy of 22 mpg city / 31 mpg highway / and 25 mpg combined. Beyond its sporty performance, the C250 features a standard all-glass Panorama roof that’s nearly twice the size of an ordinary sunroof: its front section tilts up or slides back at the touch of a button so all four passengers can enjoy the view, while its heat-rejecting tinted glass keeps the sun’s rays at bay. 2013 BMW X1 sDrive28i $399/month for 36 months with $3,474 down 10,000 miles/year Expires: 10/1/12 The 2013 BMW X1 sports activity vehicle is driven by BMW’s newest 240-horsepower/2.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed steptronic automatic transmission. Additional fuel saving technology includes auto start/stop and ECO PRO modes to move the subcompact five-seat SAV from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds while also boasting fuel economy of 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined. 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 0% APR for 48 months Expires: 10/31/12 It’s easy to see why so many people refer to the Chevy Cruze as a “Mini Malibu.” It’s not fancy or expensive, but it’s a likeable little compact sedan that provides everything a buyer wants in its affordable segment. Now Chevrolet’s best-selling car around the world, Cruze offers peppy driving quality, comfortable interior with room for five, and safety and connectivity, all while sharing the attractive design cues introduced with Chevrolet’s recent redesign of its larger sibling, the Malibu. Standard is a 138-horsepower Ecotec 1.8L 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). 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 0% APR for 60 months Expires: 10/31/12 The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado is versatile and offers a variety of three cab styles, three cargo bed lengths, five efficient powertrains, and convenient connective technology, allowing it to be configured to serve any driver’s needs. The Chevrolet Silverado comes standard with a 195-horsepower/4.3-liter, six-cylinder engine that promises fuel economy of 14 city, 19 highway, and 16.4 combined. 2012 Kia Optima 0.9% APR for 36 months plus $500 bonus Expires: 10/31/12 With a financing rate of 0.9 for 60 months, you may not get a better offer than the Kia Optima if you’re looking to ourchase a midsize sedan. Family sedan buyers don’t have to settle for bland styling either with the 2012 Kia Optima, which wears a distinctive and modern exterior design. The Optima also features comfortable ride quality, three engine choices; a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that can produce 200-horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city/34 mpg hwy, a turbocharged 2.0-liter that produces 274-horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 22/mpg city/34 mpg hwy and a hybrid that’s powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine paired with an electric motor and achieves an EPA-estimated 35 mpg city/40 mpg hwy. 2012 Nissan Versa Hatchback 0% APR for up to 36 months or $1,000 cash back Expires: 10/1/12 Nissan’s 2012 Versa Hatchback serves up a bigger engine and more power than its sibling sedan: The Hatchback comes standard with a 122-horsepower/1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a choice of six-speed manual transmission, four-speed automatic transmission or CVT transmission. The little Versa achieves an EPA estimated 26 mpg city/31 hwy (six-speed manual), 24 mpg city/34 hwy (four-speed automatic), 28 mpg city/34 hwy (CVT). 2012 Ford Fusion 0% financing for 60 months plus $1,750 bonus cash or $3,250 cash back Expires: 10/1/12 The 2012 Ford Fusion offers a great value on a midsize family sedan with a #1 ranking in US News’ Best Cars for the money in the midsize car category. The 2012 Ford Fusion is big on options, with five trim levels offering four engine choices, including a 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, for those seeking hybrid fuel efficiency. Fuel economy on the hybrid comes in at an EPA estimated 41 mpg city and 36 mpg hwy. The base Fusion comes standard with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 175 horsepower and 172 lb.-ft. of torque; two V-6 engines are also offered. 2013 Toyota Corolla 1.9% APR for up to 48 months Expires: 10/1/12 Toyota celebrates the statistic that more than 80% of Corollas sold in the last 20 years are still on the road. Add in Toyota’s complimentary maintenance system that covers scheduled factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance and that means buyers of the compact Corolla should be assured of trouble-free reliability. The Toyota Corolla is powered by a 132 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual, and promises fuel economy of 27 mpg city / 34 mpg highway / 30 mpg combined (manual), or 26 mpg city / 34 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined (automatic) IMPROVED FUEL EFFICIENCY