Best March new car deals

March is traditionally a breather month after a usual weak sales start to the year. Given the market downturn so far, it could be a bit tougher than before. That means the new car deals will start coming hot and strong so we’ll publish some of the best that could save you some big bucks.

Chinese light-commercial vehicle maker LDV has included no-cost three years of scheduled service for its van range, and thrown in on-road costs. The deals suit commercial applications and prices here are for ABN holders. However, private buyers are welcome to haggle.

LDV G10 van: The smallest LDV van is now from $25,990 drive away (105kW/200Nm 2.4-litre petrol six-speed manual). It has rear leaf springs, a 5.2 cubic-metre cargo area and 1093kg payload.

The smallest LDV van is available from ,990 to ,490 depending on engine choice.

Pay $29,990 including on-road costs for the 165kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol automatic with a six-speed ZF transmission. Other than the different engine than the manual, it has coil springs at the back and standard cruise control. Payload is 1093kg.

The 1.9-litre diesel is available in manual and automatic and costs $28,990 and $31,490 respectively, including on-road costs. The payload is 1010-1030kg.

LDV V80: The bigger V80 van is available in three body styles - short wheelbase low roof, and mid roof and high roof in long wheelbase - with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel rated at 100kW/330Nm and claimed fuel economy of 8.9 L/100km (manual). Prices start at $30,990 including on-road costs for the low-roof manual and open to $35,990 for the manual mid roof, and $37,990 for the manual high roof. Add $2000 for the automatic. All get two sliding side doors, rear barn doors and alloy wheels. Cargo volume is 6.4cu.m, 10.4cu.m and 11.6cu.m for the respective body lengths and height and payload ranges from 1204kg to 1419kg.

The bigger V80 van is available in three body styles, short wheelbase low roof, and mid roof and high roof in long wheelbase.

Payload and panache hitch up in Mercedes-Benz’s debut ute model, the X-Class. Though still relatively fresh in showrooms, there already is room for a deal. Wearing a three-pointed star ahead of your business comes in as affordable as the X220d pure, a rear-wheel drive cab-chassis that lets tradies and rural users the freedom to design a tray body to suit their needs. The Pure is now $51,335 normally comes with a manual transmission, 120kW/403Nm 2.3-litre single-turbo diesel - no secret that this comes from its Nissan donor - with a 1223kg payload and 3200kg tow rating. The deal includes an upgrade to an automatic transmission, drive away charges and metallic paint at no extra cost. Mercedes also has a low interest rate finance offer. If you need 4WD cab-chassis, the X250d Pure with all-wheel drive and low-range box is now $58,037 drive away with the same deal. It gets the beefier bi-turbo diesel engine with 140kW/450Nm, a 1172kg payload and 3500kg tow rating. There’s more gear - including satellite navigation, cruise control and alloy wheels - in the upmarket X250d Progressive cab-chassis at $60,699 drive away.

Though still relatively fresh in showrooms, there's already deals for the X-Class Pure.

Dual-cab buyers don’t miss out on the free auto upgrade and metallic paint and drive away pricing on the X250d at $72,336 for the140kW/450Nm four-cylinder diesel. The latest V6 turbo-diesel is also on special, with the X350d Power now $88,226 drive away with up to $5000 worth of accessories includes. This gets a 190kW/550Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel with a 3500kg tow rating.

Nissan has put selected models on the block, adding extra features to vehicles including the Qashqai ST SUV that is priced from $27,990 drive away for the manual and includes a $1500 EFTPOS card and an accessories pack valued at about $700.  The automatic version is $29,990. The ST has a six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission, front-wheel drive and a 106kW/200Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine. Features include 17-inch alloy wheels, six airbags, and lane departure warning.

Need more space? The X-Trail ST is now from $29,990 drive away for the manual transmission ($31,990 for the auto) for the front-wheel drive version. It comes with a $1500 EFTPOS card and an accessory pack valued at more than $1100.

The Qashqai ST SUV is priced from $27,990 drive away for the manual.

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The X-Trail ST is now $29,990 drive away for the manual version.

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The Pathfinder comes with a $2000 EFTPOS card and $1000 of accessories.

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Even bigger is the seven-seat Pathfinder that is $41,990 for the automatic front-drive ST. The deal includes on-road costs and a $2000 EFTPOS card and $1000 of accessories thrown in. There is also the ST with 4WD priced at $46,490 with all the same incentives included.

Renault has drive-away pricing on its Clio range with the 2018-built variants opening at $19,990 including on-road costs and low-rate finance for the Life grade. It includes automatic transmission and the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. The more highly specced - and probably the best value for money in the Clio range - Intens is $27,490 drive away with the same low-finance offer. It has the same engine and transmission as the Life, but adds satellite navigation, automated steering for parking, LED headlights, Android Auto, leather-look cabin and 17-inch alloy wheels. The top-line Clio RS 200 Sport is now $33,990 drive away. It has a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include satellite navigation, LED headlights and 17-inch alloys. The mid-spec Zen with automatic transmission is $23,990 drive away with front and rear park sensors, satellite navigation and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Probably the best value for money in the Clio range is the Intens at $27,490 drive away.

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The sporty RS 200 Sport is now $33,990 drive away.

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Mitsubishi’s city-friendly Mirage now comes with on-road costs. The 2019-built versions open with the ES manual at $14,990 drive away and has a three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine rated at 4.7 L/100km. The automatic version is now $16,490 drive away and has a claimed fuel economy of 5.0 L/100km. The LS grade is $17,490 and includes on-road costs and free premium paint. This adds feature such as cruise control, a four-speaker audio (adding two speakers on the ES), and 15-inch alloy wheels instead of the 14-inch steel units on the ES.

The Mirage now kicks off at ,990 plus on-road costs.

Honda has its City sedan - the four-door sedan version of the Jazz hatch - on the market for prices including on-road costs. The entry grade VTi is now $17,990 for the five-speed manual version and $21,370 for the automatic including 12 months registration costs. Both have a 1.5-litre engine, get 5.8 L/100km, have 15-inch steel wheels and a four-speaker audio. The more upmarket VTi-L automatic is $25,121 drive away and adds satellite navigation, push-button start, fog lights, eight-speaker audio and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Jazz hatchback is also on special, with the VTi now $16,990 including on-road costs and only $1000 more for the automatic. The better equipped VTi-S is now $23,454 drive away with standard features including a 1.5-litre engine, LED headlights, satellite navigation and 16-inch alloy wheels. The top-shelf VTi-L is from $26,580 drive away and adds body trim plus leather upholstery and six-speaker audio.

The City adds satellite navigation, push-button start, fog lights, eight-speaker audio and 16-inch alloy wheels.

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The Jazz VTi is now $16,990 including on-road costs.

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Will you be lining up for any March deals? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.