What Are the Best April Car Deals for Shoppers Who Need to Buy Amid the Coronavirus?

Cars.com illustration by Paul Dolan

By Patrick Masterson

April 9, 2020

How things change. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, automakers since early March have had to shift from potential manufacturing plant closures and supply chain disruptions to indefinite hiatuses for both. Dealers have had to pivot in many places from on-the-lot selling to online transactions thanks to shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders. And shoppers have to navigate these changes, too — but the good news is that April incentives may be easier to come by than in years past. With sales down almost uniformly across brands, dealers may be more eager than usual to cut a deal.

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So, which cars are worth a closer look? If you’re on a tight budget and just need wheels to get from A to B, check out our list of recommended cheap new and used cars first. But if it’s simply a serious discount you seek, scroll on for more.

Buick Encore

2020 Buick Encore | Manufacturer image

Is There Any Special Financing Offered?

Yes. Buick parent company GM’s financial arm is offering deferred payments of up to 120 days for new-vehicle buyers. It’s also offering loan terms as low as 0% for up to 84 months for buyers with the best credit. (Note that those with lesser credit could pay higher rates but still get the payment deferral.) The offers extend through April 30.

How Much Cash Can I Save?

As much as 18% depending on the selected trim level. Now through April 30, Buick is offering $4,500 off all of the Encore’s trims except the base 1SV, which is standard practice for the brand.

Didn’t I Read This Just Came Out?

Not quite, though your confusion is understandable (and thank you for reading). The model you’re thinking of is the 2020 Encore GX in-betweener, which slots into Buick’s SUV lineup above its smaller, subcompact Encore sibling and below the mid-size Envision. Though GM production facilities are down indefinitely as of this writing, you should still be able to find both Encores near you.

Kia Optima

2020 Kia Optima | Manufacturer image

Is There Any Special Financing Offered?

Yes. Kia’s take on financing is an offer for creditworthy shoppers of up to 120 days’ deferral of their first payment, plus 0% APR for up to 75 months.

How Much Cash Can I Save?

Anywhere from 10-16%, trim level depending. Now through April 30, Kia is offering $3,500 off its base LX trim as well as the mid-level Special Edition, plus $4,000 off the rest of the Optima lineup.

What About the Hybrids?

As far as financing goes, the 120 days’ deferral applies to the Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-In Hybrid as well as the regular old gas variant. As for cash back, though no deals currently exist for the PHEV, you can get up to $4,000 off all trims of the Optima Hybrid, which is a sizable 13% off at minimum.

Nissan Murano

2020 Nissan Murano | Manufacturer image

Is There Any Special Financing Offered?

Yes. Now through May 4, the automaker is offering deferred payments for up to 90 days as well as 0% financing for up to 60 months on the 2020 Murano for qualified shoppers.

How Much Cash Can I Save?

Anywhere from 7% to as much as 15% off, trim depending. Now through May 4, Nissan is offering $3,000 off most trims of the Murano and up to $6,000 off for the higher-end SL and Platinum trims in particular. There are additional savings if you choose to finance through Nissan.

But Why Would I Buy One?

Despite the fact that ProPilot Assist still isn’t available for 2020, Nissan’s lower-tier suite of safety technology, called Safety Shield 360, comes standard on SV, SL and Platinum trims. That gives you automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights and rear automatic braking. Couple that with an interior that punches above its weight for the class and you have a formidable option.

Editor’s Choice: Chevrolet Bolt EV

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV | Manufacturer image

Is There Any Special Financing Offered?

Yes. Like Buick, Chevrolet benefits from GM Financial’s generosity in offering deferred payments of up to 120 days for new-vehicle buyers. Loan terms for the Bolt EV are a little more restrictive, however, with 0% for up to only 72 months for creditworthy buyers. Both offers extend through April 30.

How Much Cash Can I Save?

Anywhere from 19-23% depending on your trim level. In a rare bright spot for the brand that had nothing to do with trucks, Chevrolet’s electric hatchback increased year-over-year sales through March by some 36%. Even so, the Bow-Tie brand is continuing to push the Bolt EV, and now through April 30, it’s offering $8,500 off a car we recommend for more than just the money you can save.

Wait, Isn’t This Also Eligible for a Federal Tax Credit?

Not anymore. Because Chevrolet long ago hit the federally mandated 200,000-car sales limit for EV tax credits, the Bolt EV’s free cash from the feds fully ended on March 31. Still, the current discount is a full grand more than the maximum federal credit you’d have gotten at its peak, so it’s worth your time to take a look.

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The Returnees

How We Look for Deals

To look for April deals during the coronavirus pandemic, we looked at factory cash discounts and low-interest-rate financing offers that are especially high for the price of the car. After all, $3,000 is a lot more on a Ford Escape than a Ford Expedition.

Incentives data come from automakers’ websites. Remember, our numbers are current as of publication for the markets we survey (generally Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and New York). They reflect advertised customer discounts, not unadvertised factory-to-dealer cash. Discount financing typically requires qualifying credit, too, and incentives may vary by region and trim level; automakers may also change them later in the month. In sum: Your discounts may vary, so check with your local dealer for specifics.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Patrick Masterson is Chief Copy Editor at Cars.com. He joined the automotive industry in 2016 as a lifelong car enthusiast and has achieved the rare feat of applying his journalism and media arts degrees as a writer, fact-checker, proofreader and editor his entire professional career. He lives by an in-house version of the AP stylebook and knows where semicolons can go. Email Patrick Masterson