Best Cyber Monday Car Deals for 2017

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The airwaves and the internet are abuzz with holiday deals on the latest gizmos and gadgets, but if you're looking for truly colossal savings, check out some of the offers at your local car dealerships.

Consumer Reports' analysis shows that there are hundreds of cars with potential savings in the thousands. As you strategize how you'll spend time shopping for the holidays, consider the benefits of spending that time buying a car:

• You could save thousands of dollars on a new car.
• Although we focus on 2018 model-year deals, remaining 2017 models are heavily discounted, if you can still find them. Dealers may even sweeten the offer more to clear out their lots. See the list of 2017 offers at the bottom of this story.
• As the end of the month approaches, dealers are typically more willing to negotiate to meet their quotas.
• You’ll find plenty of parking and fewer crowds at the dealership than at the local mall.

Our analysts reviewed current incentives and studied nationwide transactions. There are some tremendous deals available on 2017 models, but because inventory has been reduced by the hurricanes in Florida and Texas, we focused on 2018 models that are readily available in all regions.

As we compared 2017 and 2018 deals, often the difference between the model years wasn't enough to offset the additional depreciation of a 2017 vehicle. Plus, there is always the potential to get more features, especially advanced safety systems, in the latest version. For these reasons, our focus here is primarily on 2018s.

Even among 2018s, we're seeing potential savings off MSRP (factoring all national discounts and negotiation room) of up to 19 percent.

To make sure these cars represent smart buys, we concentrated on models that meet Consumer Reports’ stringent recommendation criteria, meaning they scored well in our testing, have average or better reliability in our latest subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if they were evaluated.

All nationwide incentives are good until at least Nov. 30, with many scheduled till the end of the year. The vehicles are listed in order of percent of potential savings available off the sticker price. Similar discounts can be found on other versions in addition to those spotlighted.

Detailed pricing information is available on all current vehicles from their respective model pages, linked below.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra is relatively roomy, easy on fuel, and has intuitive controls. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder returned an excellent 33 mpg overall in our tests but delivers leisurely acceleration and buzzes unpleasantly as revs increase. The Eco version feels more responsive but comes at a $3,000 price premium. Although handling is secure, there isn't much driving excitement. The ride is mostly unobjectionable, but sharp bumps tend to come through noticeably. Road noise is elevated as well. Inside, the front seats in our tested SE are short on lumbar support, though the power seat in the Limited is better. Active safety features and a Sport version with a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder are available, and a GT hatchback is new for 2018.

See our complete Hyundai Elantra road test.

Toyota Avalon

Spacious, quick, and quiet, the Avalon is an old-school big sedan updated for modern times. Power comes from a lively 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6, which delivers punchy performance and a commendable 24 mpg overall. The four-cylinder hybrid version delivers an outstanding 36 mpg overall. Easy-to-use controls include a straightforward touch-screen infotainment system. Interior noise is subdued. Avalons from 2013-15 had an overly stiff ride, but Toyota improved that for 2016, without degrading the car's handling. Now the ride fits the car's mission of being a plush and comfortable cruiser. Advanced safety features including forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard. A redesign, based on the new Toyota Camry, is around the corner.

See our complete Toyota Avalon road test.

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Hyundai's five-passenger midsized SUV received a number of updates, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. It also improved from Marginal to Good in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. This roomy SUV has a comfortable ride and a quiet interior. Power comes from a responsive 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a smooth six-speed automatic. We got a decent 23 mpg overall with this drivetrain. A more powerful 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is also available. Handling is sound and secure but not exceptional. The well-finished cabin is packed with a lot of standard features, but rear visibility is so-so.

See our complete Hyundai Santa Fe Sport road test.

Ford F-150

Ford's big-selling pickup truck has an all-aluminum body, which saves about 700 pounds over the earlier steel version. Engine choices include a new 3.3-liter V6 engine, 2.7- and 3.5-liter turbo V6s, and a 5.0-liter V8. For 2018 the 2.7-liter and the 3.5-liter turbo V6s are teamed with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Both are quiet and effortless, lending themselves to towing. Fuel economy is palatable. In our tests the 2.7 got 17 mpg overall, 1 mpg better than the turbo 3.5. The 2.7 is also surprisingly quicker from 0 to 60 mph. The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 is updated as well, with more horsepower and torque. The cabin is very quiet but the ride is stiff. We recommend getting the optional Sync 3 infotainment system. The 2018 truck also gets pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control. Diesel and hybrid versions are on the horizon.

See our complete Ford F-150 road test.

Kia Optima

Kia's midsized sedan packs a lot of substance and value. It drives nicely, with a firm yet absorbent ride and responsive, secure handling. The mainstream 2.4-liter four-cylinder is pleasant and unobtrusive, and returned 28 mpg overall in our tests, and the uplevel 2.0-liter turbo four packs more punch. A 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is new. The EX trim features comfortable leather seats, automatic climate control, a roomy rear seat, and heating for the seats and steering wheel. The controls are very intuitive to use. Low-positioned dash vents are our only gripe. The latest version of Kia's UVO touch-screen infotainment system works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are also available. New for 2018, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on all models. However, forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are optional only on top trims.

See our complete Kia Optima road test.

Ram 1500

This is the most comfortable-riding full-sized pickup on the market, yet the Ram is plenty capable of grunt work. Its coil-spring rear suspension helps cushion the ride, and the spacious cab is luxury-car quiet. Our Big Horn Crew Cab, with its smooth 5.7-liter V8 engine, averaged 15 mpg. The base 3.6-liter V6 is no weakling, but it tows less. The torquey 3.0-liter diesel V6 version is expensive but delivers effortless thrust and returns a class-leading 20 mpg overall. Rear-seat room is generous, and the Uconnect 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system is easy to use.

See our complete Ram 1500 road test.

Hyundai Sonata

This competitive sedan was freshened for 2018, and retains its excellent rear-seat room, easy cabin access, and user-friendly controls. Handling is improved, but the ride has gotten firmer. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that is unchanged from when it returned a good 28 mpg overall in our tests. A stronger 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder mated to an eight-speed automatic is optional. The Eco uses a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder paired with a seven-speed automated manual. The rear seat is one of the roomiest in the class. Blind-spot warning is standard, while forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are optional. Plug-in and hybrid versions are available; the latter returned an impressive 39 mpg overall in our tests and makes for a very pleasant sedan.

See our complete Hyundai Sonata road test.

Ford Fusion

The Fusion is a delight to drive, with a comfortable ride and nimble handling reminiscent of a European sports sedan. All trim levels and powertrains feel solid and upscale, with a well-finished and quiet cabin. We found the optional leather seats to be more supportive than the cloth ones, but the rear seat is somewhat snug. The 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engines are powerful enough, but neither has competitive fuel economy. A new high-end version, the Sport, is equipped with all-wheel drive and a 325-hp, 2.7-liter V6. It is quick, comfortable, and quiet, but it costs more than $40,000. The Hybrid and Energi plug-in hybrid were updated with more-efficient electric motors. A rotary shift dial and Ford's improved Sync 3 infotainment system highlight the updates to the interior.

See our complete Ford Fusion road test.

Toyota Corolla

The Corolla delivers a comfortable ride and has a quiet, spacious interior for a compact sedan. Its handling is lackluster but still leaves drivers feeling very secure. A sportier S version has a tauter suspension with marginally better handling. The continuously variable transmission is fine when loafing around but can suffer from loud engine noise under higher revs. Fuel economy is excellent at 32 mpg overall and returns 43 mpg on the highway. Inside, padded and stitched surfaces contrast with a number of drab, hard-plastic bits. Upscale features include standard Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control, and a touch-screen radio with simple controls. The rear seat is one of the roomiest in the category. Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking is now standard.

See our complete Toyota Corolla road test.

Toyota Tundra

Despite a recent freshening that updated the exterior and interior, including improved controls, the Tundra feels outclassed by newer and more refined competitors. It offers a standard two-door regular cab and two sizes of crew cabs. You can choose between a very powerful 5.7-liter V8 and a 4.6-liter V8. The six-speed automatic is very smooth and responsive. Handling is secure, but the ride with the TRD package is way too stiff. The cabin is very roomy, but it's a long reach to some controls. Towing performance is extremely capable. The damped rear tailgate is easy to raise and lower. Updates for 2018 include standard forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

See our complete Toyota Tundra road test.

Below are the standout deals on CR-recommended 2017 models.

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