Coronavirus Car Deals: 3 2020 VW Models (and 3 Last-Chance Cars) Worth Interest at 0%

Volkswagen is responding to the virus pandemic with a wave of cut-rate financing across its lineup: 0% for 72 months with no down payment and the first payment deferred for 180 days. While finding hand sanitizer might be more top of mind these days, you might be one those folks caught short and needing a new car. Maybe you were already in the market, have the clock ticking on a lease, need a reliable ride to keep a job or had your current vehicle break at the worst possible time. If, so VW has a deal for you.

But not all VWs are created equal. Here are three 2020s we think are particularly worth your interest at 0%. We’ve also noted three departing VWs for which you have a last shot at 0%,

Related: Coronavirus Car Care: We Had to Get Our Hyundai Palisade Fixed During Shelter-in-Place

As always, you might have to navigate hurdles to qualify for the lowest rate, but you should push back for a comparable deal even so, as it’s a buyer’s market. And for social distancing, many more dealers can do the deal online and deliver the car to you. VW’s financing deal is good on all new 2020 and 2019 Volkswagens through April 30.

Dealer listings on Cars.com show supplies of 2019 versions of these vehicles that are mostly the same as the 2020s, but with one significant difference: The 2019s have  more generous warranty coverage at six years or 72,000 miles. VW’s 2020 models are down to four years or 50,000 miles, though two years’ free maintenance now accompanies that.

1. 2020 Atlas

If you need a family SUV with lots of room and three rows of seats, the Atlas is an excellent choice — and the financing only sweetens the deal. VW’s largest SUV is comfortable, quiet and capable, with near-minivan levels comfort, space and utility. It seats up to seven, with adult-size room even in the third row. In its debut year, the Atlas was Cars.com’s Best of 2018 vehicle and winner of our Three-Row SUV Challenge. It also was our 2020 Family Car of the Year and finished a close third in our follow-up three-row Challenge in 2020, behind only the all-new Hyundai Palisade and related Kia Telluride. A refreshed 2021 model is on the way, but it’s only minimally different. The main change is increased availability for the 235-horsepower, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which becomes available on all trim levels and with all-wheel drive. If you wanted the Atlas’ uplevel engine, a 276-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, there’s no need to wait. 

2. 2020 Tiguan

The Tiguan stands out for all-around excellence in a compact SUV: It has a roomy, quiet cabin with ample cargo room and sophisticated media and safety tech. It offers a well-matched powertrain and sportier driving manners than most rivals. Unlike most compact SUVs, the Tiguan also has a small third row that’s standard with front-wheel drive and optional with all-wheel drive. Its strengths made it the clear winner in Cars.com’s 2019 Compact SUV Challenge as well as in an earlier 2017 Challenge — its debut year as a fully redesigned model. The 2020 model year brought more standard safety tech for the base (S) trim level.

3. Jetta GLI

While the seventh-generation 2020 Golf GTI is a great hot hatch and would-be solid choice for 0%, we’ve already seen the eighth-generation redesign in Europe, and no deal would alleviate buyer’s remorse. In the meantime, however, the Jetta GLI that VW calls a “sedanified” GTI is available for about the same sticker price with the same horsepower and torque specs, optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard sport suspension. And the GLI offers those in a sports sedan with more comfort, excellent tech, a bigger backseat and a large trunk. You can read our comparison test between the GLI sedan and GTI hatch here.

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And 3 Last-Chance VWs

In addition to these current models, three VW models with niche appeal could have close-out pricing in addition to the financing deal. The venerable Beetle ended its run with the 2019 model, but if you’re a fan, there still are coupes and convertibles (both endangered species in themselves) listed on Cars.com. There aren’t many of the dressed-up Final Edition, but you easily can find the other trim levels. The very competent Golf SportWagen and its cladded Alltrack version also now are ghosts, but you still have a chance to own one of the very few small wagons offered anywhere — you’ll find quite a few still haunting dealer lots. 

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