Best deals on American-brand cars for July 4th

Independence day conjures images of parades, flags, BBQ, and car sales. Indeed, this national holiday weekend is perennially one of the best times to buy a new car. Typically, the customer rebates are large, interest rates small, sales staffs eager, and free balloons plentiful.

To size up the buying opportunities, our analysts have studied recent nationwide transactions, then layered in current available incentives to predict the average savings for this holiday shopping weekend. Among the many discounted models, we narrowed our focus to those that meet Consumer Reports’ stringent criteria to be recommended, meaning they scored well in our testing, have average or better reliability in our latest subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated.

In the spirit of the patriotic holiday, we elected to highlight models from domestic manufacturers, finding good choices from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, and Ram. Here we find a wide variety of appealing models, although it is worth noting that some, like the Ford F-150, will soon be replaced, and others (including Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and Ford Flex) are late in their model lifespans.

See all current Best New Car 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.

Buick Enclave

The corporate cousin of the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, the upscale Buick Enclave uses the same 3.6-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic. Expect 15 mpg in mixed driving on regular fuel. A recent freshening included improvements to the transmission, ride comfort, and interior quality. We like the Enclave's firm, comfortable, and quiet ride, and found its handling agile and secure. The third-row seat is roomy enough for adults—not something to take for granted. Fit and finish is excellent. Forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems are available for 2014.

Cadillac ATS

Cadillac has long chased BMW, and the ATS luxury sedan is as close as an American sedan has ever come to the 3 Series. The ATS is an absolute blast to drive. Its sharp handling and eager performance give up nothing compared with the best European sports sedans. We actually prefer the lively steering in the Cadillac over that in the latest BMW 328i we tested. The ride is taut and controlled without being punishing or harsh. Braking performance is outstanding. Interior fit and finish is impressive, and the front seats are very comfortable. But the CUE infotainment system, with its flush buttons, is very convoluted and frustrating to use. Try before you buy.

Chevrolet Malibu

The Malibu stands out for offering an attractive discount on an already affordable, and appealing, midsized sedan. Refined for 2014 with suspension tweaks and incrementally increased rear-seat space, the Malibu is a comfortable, very quiet midsized sedan. A new 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a start/stop system is the base engine for 2014. A smooth-shifting six-speed automatic is standard. Compared to firmer peers, the Malibu ride is cushy and handling is sound, although our testers feel it gets soggy at its limits. Controls are simple and straightforward. Reliability has been average for all versions.

Chevrolet Traverse

Related to the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, the Chevrolet Traverse is a three-row crossover SUV with generous space, a quiet cabin, and surprisingly agile handling. Power is decent from the direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 engine but at 16 mpg overall, fuel economy falls somewhat behind the curve compared to other, more recently designed three-row SUVs. But it does have a slightly higher than average tow capacity, adding to the vehicle’s versatility. Overall, the Traverse is a great choice for a family who might otherwise consider a large truck-based SUV.

Chrysler 300

A large, American-style sedan, the Chrysler 300 is big on style, luxury, and power. The cabin is plush, with numerous padded surfaces, well-finished leather, and believable fake-wood trim. Front and rear seat space is generous, with truly adult-scale accommodations. The 5.7-liter V8 is punchy, but fuel economy is only 18 mpg overall with the five-speed automatic. But the 3.6-liter V6, with its smooth eight-speed automatic, stately ride, and responsive handling, is a bargain luxury sedan and our preferred choice, as highlighted here. The V6 model averaged a good 22 mpg overall in our tests. Inside, the cabin is roomy and nicely trimmed. The Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system is one of the best in the industry. Reliability of the V6 has been average; the V8 has improved to above average.

Ford Expedition