These Are the 15 Most Negotiable New Cars on Dealers Lots Right Now. Get ‘Em While You Can
When dealers have lots of inventory they like to talk deals.
There’s a lot of confusion swirling around car buying these days: Are there good deals on new cars? Is used the way to go? Are tariffs impacting prices?
But the fact is that there are more than 2.5 million new cars on dealers lots right now; that’s an average 150 new cars per dealer. Sales were strong in March and April, but May and June sales slowed. That means that dealers with inventory might be feeling anxious and more willing to negotiate.
The balance between supply and demand can make for a great opportunity: if there is more supply and less demand, prices tend to be more negotiable. That’s what we looked at in assessing which models buyers should target for a better deal: The models that are most plentiful right now.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Want to Negotiate For a New Car? What You Need to Know
Tariffs have been a dark cloud hanging over the new car market, but thunder hasn’t struck quite yet. Between cars that made it onto US shores before the tariffs kicked in to car makers holding prices steady, generally prices are flat compared to pre-tariff pricing. That’s good news, but what else should you consider?
In general, more popular a models are less negotiable, so if you have your heart set on a particular model, shop around. It’s fair game to email dealers hundreds of miles away and ask for their best price then ask your local dealer to match it. It’s also fine to drive hundreds of miles to make the purchase then take it to your local dealer for service, repairs or recalls.
Be sure to do your homework before shopping for a new car, and if the one you want just isn’t in the cards, look at the alternatives; there are lots of good options. But this is a good place to start: The car models with the most inventory, listed in order of inventory level, on dealers lots this July.
Read: 7 Things You Should Always Buy From a Car Dealer
The Sporty, Modern Hyundai Tucson
We love the Hyundai Tucson compact SUV for all the great tech that Hyundai delivers. While it’s not the least expensive 5 passenger SUV on the road, it delivers a lot more for the price, from a flat multimedia screen that spans the dash to the floating center console that opens up the space between the front seats for a handbag or other items. The exterior is sharp and modern with front grid lights on the front and a rear light bar. Priced from $28,705
Read: Never Buy These Things From a Car Dealer—Or Pay For Them When You Purchase a Car
The Redesigned Chevrolet Equinox is Sharper and Smarter
The Chevy Equinox is one of our favorite redesigns of the year: the 2025 model is larger, has more features and conveniences, a large multimedia screen and some beautiful style choices. Taking design cues from the Chevy Tahoe, it has a more SUV-like appearance outside and more space inside, yet it’s still compact and easy to manage. We love this for small families or solo drivers who need an affordable SUV than can go the distance with on demand AWD, the option of all terrain tires and roof rails. Priced from $28,600
Read: Ever Wonder How Car Dealers Make Money?
The Ever-Popular Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a crowd pleaser and for good reason: this 5-passenger compact SUV is comfortable, reliable and fun to drive. Honda gave it a thorough makeover a few years ago and upgraded the hybrid powertrain so it’s more efficient. And just last month Honda added a Trailsport edition to the lineup for a little more style and adventure. Priced from $30,920
Get the Ford Escape While You Can
This will be the last year (for now) of the Ford Escape compact SUV, so we meant it when we say get it while you can. This is a great SUV not just for all it delivers in a very affordable package, but you can dress it up or down as much as you like; feel the need for posh surrounds? Escape delivers. Need a basic SUV? Escape can do that too. There are also hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure gas versions so you can pick your power source. Priced from $20,495 and Ford is extending employee pricing to everyone (for now).
Decisions, Decisions: Toyota RAV4
One of the things we love about the Toyota RAV4 is all the iterations: 13 trims, 13 color combinations, 3 power trains—gas, hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric—and within all that, lots of options. But the biggest choice may be to buy it now or wait until the end of the year and get the newest 2026 model that promises a sharp new look, more power and all hybrid or plug-in hybrid performance. The 2025 model starts at $29,550.
The Always Elegant Hyundai Elantra
This compact sedan is a hidden gem in the car world: The Hyundai Elantra is filled with technology and great features that, were it an SUV, would cost a lot more. While other carmakers have abandoned the sedan market, Hyundai decided to remain and deliver more for the money, something the brand does quite well. We love all the trims on the Elantra, so you can go basic, hybrid or sporty in the Elantra N—which has an available stick shift version! The basic model starts at $22,125.
The Kia Sportage: Which One To Buy?
Not long ago Kia rolled out the new Kia Sportage, redesigned with a modernized new look, a new interior, new technology and an overall look that feels very mini-Telluride. And if it feels like the Kia Sportage just got a makeover, you’re not wrong; the last redesign was rolled out in 2023. But since then, Kia has upgraded the look of all its models and the Sportage needs to fall in line. If you’re really all about the deal, the 2025 model could be the one to get as the company phases out the old model, which is also a great SUV. If you’re all about the hottest new thing, the 2026 models recently, and quietly, rolled into showrooms. The 2025 model is priced from $27,390.
Hyundai Santa Fe Offers 3 Rows of Posh Adventure
The Hyundai Santa Fe was one of the hottest new car introductions of the year in 2024 so we’re actually a little surprised to see this on the list of plentiful cars. But it’s your good luck; the Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned to deliver tons of cargo and passenger space, 3 rows of comfort and in the Calligraphy edition, an interior that feels way more expensive than it is. We prefer the gas-powered option because it delivers more power than the hybrid, but for drivers who carry a lighter load, it may make sense The Hyundai Santa Fe is priced from $34,300.
The Redesigned Ford Explorer Is Better Than Ever
The Ford Explorer is the OG 3-row SUV, one of the first on the market and credited with changing how families drive, moving them away from station wagons and minivans and into SUV life. For 2025 its even better with a new, more functional interior, seating for 6 or 7, AWD that can take on all sorts of adventures and an ST trim that’ll add even more fun to the drive, a day at Ford Performance Driving School included. The Explorer starts at $40,050.
The Mazda CX-5 Never Loses Its Shine
Shhhh. We heard that Mazda is coming out with a redesigned Mazda CX-5, and that little fact alone makes this a run-don’t-walk to get your own before the new model is out. Dealers will want to clear out the current model year to make room for the newer CX-5 and that spells D.E.A.L. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this always popular, completely gorgeous and fun to drive compact SUV. Just try to get it in Soul Crystal Red, the most beautiful paint color on the car market (and that’s not just my opinion). Priced from $28,770.
You Can’t Go Wrong in a Toyota Camry
Toyota loves to put its design and engineering clout into this stalwart, the Toyota Camry sedan, the only other sedan on our list. The Camry got a makeover last year with a new hybrid powertrain and a peppy drive experience that takes its cues from NASCAR. We love the updated interior, the Hey Toyota voice assistance and the roomy rear seat that makes this car a good one for small families and fur babies. The Toyota Camry is priced from $28,700.
Get Your Adventure on in the Ford Bronco Sport
This one might surprise you: the Ford Bronco Sport is in many ways as capable or more capable than its namesake larger sibling the Ford Bronco. How do I know? I drove it up rocks, overhills and took it Baja driving in the desert. And it rocked. Plus, it’s a bit quieter and more comfortable for daily street driving, school pickups and grocery store runs. Ford offers many iterations including a 3-cylinder and a 4-cylinder model so you can pick your power and level of excitement. Priced from $30,995.
Subaru Crosstrek Delivers all the Subaru Love For Less
When people talk about Subaru love, this is often the model they mean: It’s cute, its capable and its fun. AWD is standard on all Subies, as is a great cabin, a large multimedia screen and a nicely sized cargo space. The Subaru Crosstrek doesn’t have rear seat air vents so it’s a better fit for singles, first time drivers and those rear seat passengers who are happier to just put the window down. Priced from $26,560
The Ideal Carpool Car: Hyundai Palisade
We love the Hyundai Palisade for what it does for us all year long: shuttles the kids to and fro, hauls the groceries, handles the hockey sticks and then, lets us relax in a lovely cabin. As 3-row SUVs go the Palisade is comfy and capable and Hyundai has added lots of clever features for passengers and driver. A redesigned model with a new interior and a sharp, modern look will be about at the end of the year, so we’ll likely see dealers trying to clear out the 2025 model to make room for 2026. And it’s your good luck. Priced from $37,200.
Could it Be Time For a Kia Sorento?
Over the last couple of years Kia gave the Sorento some nice updates: it has the modern look of Kia’s ‘star map lighting’, a more Telluride-like look; 3 rows of seating and modern technology. And then, you can start to really customize your drive: Hybrid? Yup. Plug-in hybrid? That too. Off-road ready? Got it. Plush luxury? Yes, please. All of those things at once? Of course! We love the Sorento’s versatility and beautiful cabin, but we also love that its a hidden gem in the 3-row SUV world. Just ask anyone who’sspent time in one and you’ll get a great story. Priced from $31,990.
You might notice that no trucks made our list. That’s because we focused on cars here; if you’re in the market for a pickup truck there are lots and lots of them on dealers lots too, from the Ford F-150 to the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma and more. There are plenty of choices of both cars and trucks. Happy shopping!
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