Consumer Reports : Best deals on fuel-efficient cars for July 4th

Jun 26, 2012 With the approach of the July 4th holiday, car dealers are advertising deep discounts to clear inventory in anticipation of the arriving 2013. To help shoppers find independence from pain at the pump, our price analysts have assembled a list of the best deals on the most fuel-efficient cars.

For this round-up, we focused strictly on those vehicles that delivered 24 mpg overall in our tests, or better. (We also have tools and lists to help you find the best by car type.)

To ensure these picks are good cars, as with all our Best New Car Deals, each meets Consumer Reports' criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated.

And to be a good deal, they must offer national incentives of at least a 5 percent discount off the retail price. Many may also carry regional incentives.

From this list, the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima stand out with deep 15-percent discounts on high-scoring cars. While all have performed quite well in Consumer Reports tests, keep in mind that each will soon be replaced by a redesigned sedan -, which may explain why the dealers are looking to move them.

Make & model	Expires	MSRP ($)	Invoice price ($)	Customer rebate	Dealer incentive	Bottom line price	Potential savings below MSRP	CR's overall fuel economy
2012 Toyota Corolla (auto)	7/9/12	18,670	17,330	No	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	32
2012 Toyota Corolla	7/9/12	16,890	16,003	No	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	32
2012 Mazda3 i Touring	7/9/12	19,495	18,683	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	30
2012 Kia Forte	7/9/12	18,350	17,510	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	28
2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata	7/2/12	27,895	26,412	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	28
2012 Mazda3 i Touring (auto)	7/2/12	20,345	19,497	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	28
2012 Kia Forte Koup	7/9/12	17,950	17,130	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	27
2012 Nissan Sentra	7/2/12	20,540	19,208	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	27
2012 Kia Forte	7/9/12	18,850	17,990	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	26
2012 Lexus FX 450h	7/9/12	47,700	44,891	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	26
2012 Nissan Altima	7/2/12	23,490	22,070	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	26
2012 Honda Accord	7/9/12	24,070	22,099	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	25
2012 Acura TSX	7/2/12	30,905	29,151	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	25
2012 Mazda3 s Grand Touring (auto)	7/2/12	24,995	23,938	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	25
2012 Acura TL	7/2/12	36,600	34,422	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	24
2012 Ford Mustang	7/2/12	27,105	25,194	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	24
2013 Ford Mustang	7/2/12	26,995	24,965	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	24
2012 Infiniti G25	7/2/12	34,895	32,402	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	24
2012 Suzuki SX4	7/2/12	20,564	19,772	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+	24
2012 Ford Fusion	7/2/12	23,770	22,012	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	24
2012 Mazda6	7/2/12	22,275	20,652	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	24
2012 Nissan Altima	7/2/12	26,350	24,477	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+	24
2013 Mazda6	7/2/12	22,520	21,312	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	5%+	24

Online subscribers are eligible for hassle-free shopping and low prices through the Consumer Reports Build & Buy program. Unlike traditional car buying, there is no pressure or obligation to purchase. Participating dealers are held to high standards of competitive pricing and customer service. Simply click the "Build & Buy This Car" button that appears on the vehicle's model overview page to access the program.

See all current Best Deals or use our New Car Selector to create your own list of vehicles by sorting and filtering by the factors that matter most to you.