When you’re shopping for a new car, you want the latest and greatest model available. Yet what many new car buyers don’t realize is that often, the newest model year offers very few changes. You could purchase a new SUV from the previous model year and get all of the same features at a far lower price.
So, instead of eyeing 2019 SUV models, consider a 2018 SUV instead – as dealerships try to clear out their unsold inventory before the end of the year, prices are dropping. And you could score a huge clearance deal on a new 2018 SUV.
Last Year’s SUVs Offer the Same Features for Less
Think the latest model year is the most up-to-date SUV on the lot? Sometimes that’s true, but more commonly it’s exactly the same as the current model year. Here’s what happens each year of the model cycle:
- Years 1 and 2: The vehicle stays the same, with no changes made.
- Year 3: The model gets a facelift. This is a subtle update meant to keep the SUV’s design fresh and modern with a few adjustments, some new technology, and occasionally some style updates like new paint colors or headlights.
- Years 4 and 5: No changes are made.
- Year 6: Time for a redesign. The entire SUV is updated, often with an entirely new style of vehicle. Everything from the engine to the interior to the chassis is redesigned.
Based on this cycle, it’s clear that many cars sit unchanged from model year to model year. That’s why you won’t see many differences, if any, between 2018 and 2019 SUVs. The biggest difference will be the price.
Dealerships Need to Clear Out 2018 SUVs Now
Now more so than ever, new SUV buyers will benefit from incentives offered by dealers who need to make space for the new 2019 models arriving soon. With 2018 SUVs still sitting on their lots from as long ago as the summer of 2017, dealerships need to make sales to move SUVs.
And some of the best SUV deals on 2018 models will appear in the coming weeks. The longer a vehicle sits unsold, the more a dealer is likely to try to incentivize buyers like you with cashback offers, discounts on the MSRP, and other bonuses that make it a more affordable SUV. As the end of the year draws near and 2019 arrives, there will be a huge push by dealerships to clear out all of the leftover 2018 SUVs.
Closing Advice
Now that you know why last year’s model year is just as good as the newest SUVs on the road, you’re ready to get a deal on your next SUV. But in order to score a clearance deal, you’ll need to know exactly what dealerships are willing to offer.
That’s why researching 2018 models is so important before you head to your local dealership. It’s easy to be swayed by the brand-new 2019 SUVs sitting on a dealership lot – but you don’t need to pay thousands of dollars more for an SUV that’s changed very little.
Doing research to determine which SUVs are changing and which are seeing lower prices is crucial to ensure you aren’t overpaying for an SUV that’s had few improvements from 2018 to 2019. Know just what dealerships are offering on 2018 SUVs so you can get the lowest possible price on a brand-new car you love.
