With Memorial Day’s three-day weekend luring more shoppers into showrooms, car-buying experts say deals can be steeper—especially when buyers plan ahead. The offers highlighted include 0% APR financing and bonus cash on models such as the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
By the time shoppers cross onto a car lot for a three-day holiday, the message is usually the same: “rock-bottom” pricing, bigger incentives, and a deal you have to grab before the weekend ends.
This year’s Memorial Day weekend is set up the same way—just with higher sticker realities. Auto industry experts predict U.S. car sales will be flat compared with 2025, which puts extra weight on whether promotions can move inventory. Car shopping experts say holiday weekends like Memorial Day are often the best moment to negotiate. because dealerships expect a rush of foot traffic.
The push for discounts isn’t just about the holiday. A review from Edmunds.com on the best times to buy cars points to three-day holiday weekends—like the upcoming Memorial Day stretch—as periods when dealers typically offer steeper discounts to capitalize on additional showroom traffic.
“It’s hard to miss the inflatable eagles, gorillas and wacky waving tube men that dot car lots on three-day weekends, to say nothing of ads that promise ‘rock-bottom’ prices,” the website said.
Edmunds also urged shoppers to plan early—researching and test driving before the holiday—and to complete the deal during the weekend or on the first weekday after it ends. The website warned that during major three-day breaks such as Presidents Day. Memorial Day. Fourth of July. and Labor Day. showrooms can be busier than normal.
In its review, Edmunds.com also said automakers have averaged a discount of nearly 3.5% off manufacturer suggested retail prices in Mays since 2019.
The USA Today Cars team surveyed automakers’ websites and reviewed some of the most popular auto sites online to compile a list of new-car offers available around Memorial Day.
For the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, the base price is $35,050. Hyundai is offering 0% APR for up to 60 months and zero payments for 90 days on the 2026 Santa Fe compact SUV. The offer runs from May 1 until June 1, 2026, and the company also says it is offering $2,750 bonus cash on the Santa Fe.
The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder has a base price of $36,400. Nissan is offering 0.0% APR financing for 60 months on all trims of the 2026 Pathfinder until June 1, and it is also offering $3,500 bonus cash on the cars. The deal is also available on 2026 Nissan Rogues and Muranos.
Jeep’s 2026 Wrangler starts with a base price of $36,890. The company is offering a $1. 000 bonus cash offer on select 2026 Jeep Wrangler models until June 1 as part of its “Declaration of Deals” sales event. Jeep also says current Jeep owners or lessees are eligible for an additional $1,000 in loyalty bonus cash.
For buyers eyeing a truck, Chevrolet’s 2026 Silverado starts at a base price of $44,695. Chevrolet is offering 0% APR or up to $7,000 in total cash allowance on the 2026 Silverado.
Toyota’s 2025 Tundra, with a base price of $40,090, is seeing cash offers instead of 0% financing. Toyota is offering $5,000 cash on all trims of the 2025 Tundra pickup truck.
Taken together, the details point to a familiar holiday pattern: shoppers tend to focus on financing rates and cash incentives, while experts emphasize timing—because dealers typically discount more when foot traffic spikes.
After all. the incentives on paper still have to land against the wider market reality that new cars are increasingly expensive. With sales expected to be flat compared with 2025. the leverage often shifts to the buyer: showing up prepared. negotiating with multiple offers in hand. and closing when the showroom is at its busiest.
Memorial Day deals new car prices 0% APR bonus cash Hyundai Santa Fe Nissan Pathfinder Jeep Wrangler Chevrolet Silverado Toyota Tundra car sales 2025 2026