11 brands offer best savings on recommended cars; Ford most prominent with 10 models included

YONKERS, NY — Memorial Day is a time for Americans to commemorate the sacrifices made by men and women to protect our freedoms and values.  And traditionally, the holiday is associated with discounted car sales. To assist car buyers, the Auto Price Services team at Consumer Reports has researched and compiled the best deals on American-made cars for the holiday weekend.

Many people think of the Detroit Three – General Motors, Ford and Chrysler – when discussing American-made cars, but reflecting the global nature of the auto industry, the reality is that most manufacturers build cars in the United States.  Conversely, many models from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are imported from other countries.

As is the case with Consumer Reports’ Best New Car Deals, to make this list, a vehicle must meet CR’s stringent requirements to be recommended. Specifically, the vehicle must have performed well in CR's tests, have average or better reliability, and, if crash-tested, provide good overall safety. Vehicles also must not have tipped up in the government rollover test.  Also factored into the overall analysis were customer rebates and hidden dealer incentives.  The 40 cars included on the best American-made cars list meet CR’s recommended criteria and offer the greatest discounts.

Of the six Nissan models included, the 2009 Nissan Titan SE 4X4 Crew Cab, with its recommended rating and a potential savings of 25% below MSRP, is overall the best American-made deal.  The 2009 Ford Focus SES Sedan and SES Coupe are the second and third best deals, respectively.

Among the 11 different brands featured in the top 40, five brands, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Chevrolet and GMC, are owned by American manufacturers.  In total, 16 models manufactured by Detroit are featured on the list.  The most prominently featured brand on the list is Ford, with 10 models listed as best deals – or 25 percent of the list.

Regardless of the model that catches your eye from this list, buying these models will help keep America working and put you behind the wheel of a good car.

To view the entire list in detail, get pricing information and learn more about the vehicles’ ratings, consumers can visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

With more than 7 million print and online subscribers, Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Web site; the magazine’s auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars. To become a subscriber, consumers can call 1-800-234-1645.  Information and articles from the magazine can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org.