Credit problems, layoffs, bailouts, bankruptcy. The litany of problems in the auto industry made the past year excruciating. The flip side is that car buyers -- the brave consumers who ventured into showrooms -- benefited from unprecedented price cuts on 2009 models. Incentives hit an all-time high, averaging $3,165 per vehicle in March, according to Edmunds.com.
All good things come to an end. Carmakers slashed production, and the popular “cash for clunkers” subsidies from the government obliterated inventory and sent prices higher. That robbed end-of-summer bargain hunters of enticing deals and dampened sales for the rest of 2009.
But with the arrival of the new model year, the still-bruised automakers are rolling out some surprising values. Some popular family cars and SUVs sport all-new designs, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Elantra, Lexus RX 350 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In some cases, carmakers have dropped prices and added more standard features.
Luxury for less. The ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury sedan isn’t just new inside and out, it’s also about $5,000 cheaper than the 2009 model (it now starts at $49,475, including the destination charge).
And Mercedes has added amenities to the sleek new model. The base version comes with Agility Control, a suspension system that provides two modes -- a standard, softer mode and a shock-damping setting for hilly or twisty roads. Fuel economy is better, too, at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway.
Mercedes has added three more standard airbags (for a total of nine). Also standard on the E-Class is Attention Assist, which provides audible warnings when it senses driver fatigue.