Best end of year car deals

One of the hottest cars of 2013, the waitlisted Range Rover Evoque, is now on special. Nissan has put a red pen through the showroom sticker of its raunchy 370Z, ripping as much as $12,000 off the bottom line.

And there are $22,990 drive-away deals on the Volkswagen Golf, the early favourite for the Carsguide Car of the Year crown having set a small-car benchmark in Australia. That's the reality of dollar dealing as the clock winds down rapidly to the end of 2013 and the majority of the 60-plus car brands in Australia slash prices to clear their decks by December 31.

Hyundai has even turned its i20 baby into what amounts to a $10,990 car. It normally sits just below $15,000 as a starting point but, thanks to free on-road costs and an automatic that adds nothing to the bottom line, it's now $14,990 as a drive-away automatic. Once you do the sums, that means the real price for the car is $10,990.

This sort of pricing is setting new standards on value for anyone looking to buy. And it's great news for anyone who wants a new car in their Christmas stocking. So here's a few of the best to help in the bargain hunt and the countdown to Christmas.

1. FIAT 500 POP $14,000

There is nothing on the road that's as fun or funky as the Italian baby. Its retro styling draws directly from the good times in the 1950s, with a modern twist on things such as safety and aircon. It was overpriced in Australia for far too long but a change of importer - to a direct factory operation - means everything in the Fiat-Chrysler empire is now priced much sharper for down under distribution. The best news on the 500 front is the 1.2-litre starter car, the Pop, but there is a value boost throughout the range. Fiat has also just added the Panda to its range from $16,500 drive-away.
 

2. MAZDA3  from $19,990, drive-away

The end is coming fast for the current Mazda3 but it's still the No. 2 choice in showrooms (shaded by the Toyota Corolla) so far this year. It's also a rock-solid small car that does everything well and nothing particularly badly.
It's not as good as the latest Hyundai i30 or Corolla, and the all-new 3 coming before the end of the year will push it straight into the history books. It's still great buying and a car to recommend to friends.
 

3. HOLDEN CRUZE from $19,490

The Holden baby is part of the drive-away push with prices from $20,490, a significant saving on a car that gets better and better as Holden's engineers continue their local improvement work. It's not the best in the class, or the best value, but it's a good family car with plenty of space and solid credentials as a starting-price Equipe model. It's also the best way you can vote for the Australian car industry, at a time when support for the Commodore is not as strong as it has been in the past.
 

4. OPEL ASTRA  Negotiate

If you're looking for a real bargain, it could be worthwhile to track down an Opel orphan. The German brand gave up on its Australian ambitions after less than a year, leaving dealers marooned and with some stocks of worthwhile cars. The Astra is the best of the bunch, and also the best buying if you can crunch the right numbers below $20,000. No need to worry about ongoing support - Opel is part of the GM family and the company still has to ensure a supply of parts for 10 years.

5. TOYOTA CAMRY  from $30,490

How does a $4000 discount on a Aussie-focused family carsound? That's what Toyota is delivering on its Camry Altise, which is now down to $26,990 on the road as part of a so-called clearance of 2013 cars. The Camry is no firebrand but it ticks all the boxes for a family car and is bulletproof for the long run and also as a used prospect. It's built in Melbourne.
 

6. HONDA CR-V  from $27,490

We're not great fans of the current Honda line-up but the CR-V was on the podium at last year's Car of the Year judging and it's one that the Carsguide crew is happy to recommend. With an annual clearance now into full swing, promising sharp prices and free onroads, the CR-V is the one we'd choose as a value buy in the compact SUV class.

 

7. MAZDA CX-5 from $27,880

The class-leading CX-5, at least by Carsguide standards, has just had a value boost that includes everything from improved suspension tuning for Australian roads through to extra equipment on the mid-level Maxx Sport. That means there will be sharper prices on pre-update cars, especially if you can find a pre-registered demonstrator in the right colour.



8. MITSUBISHI TRITON  from $31,990

How does a $2000 cheque for Xmas shopping sound? And you'll have a ute tray to lug your booty home for December 25. That's the promise as Mitsubishi boosts value on the Triton GLX 4WD, a solid if not class-leading member of the work-and-play ute crew. Or you can just take the $2000 as a showroom bonus, which cuts the drive-away price to $29,990

9. McLAREN MP4-12C  from $398,000
We all have to dream. And the supercar McLaren is a true dream machine, even if a Ferrari 458 shades it for motoring theatre and head-turning ability. It tops our Christmas list because it is so fast, so sublime and beautifully built, and it's now $100,000 cheaper than it was at the start of 2013. OK, it's not a bargain if you don't have $400,000 to splash on a Christmas treat, but it is still smart buying and a great way to prepare for 2014.

This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover