How to Save 8,000 on a Brand New Kia!

Imagine buying a brand new four-door sedan from Kia for around $5,200. Can this be for real, you say? Amazingly, yes!

First off, however, you’ve got to qualify for the government’s rather complicated Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). Otherwise known as the “cash for clunkers” program, CARS can get you a government-funded rebate for up to $4,500 on certain models. (See more information on qualifying for CARS below and at www.cars.gov).

Kia says it has 12 vehicles in its fuel-efficient lineup that qualify under the CARS program. Plus, Kia has extra incentives right now on both its four-door Kia Spectra sedan ($3,500 in California and Oregon and $4,000 in Washington) and its highly versatile seven-seat Kia Borrego CUV ($3,000 in all states).

The Kia Spectra has a base MSRP of $13,200 and boasts 23 combined mpg. The Kia Borrego, which I road tested last fall on windy Washington roads, has a base MSRP of $26,245 and gets 22 mpg highway. If you combine the top CARS rebate amount ($4,500) with the top Kia incentive ($4,000), that’s $8,500 off a brand new car!

This means you could buy a full-loaded, five-door 2009 Kia Spectra5 (MSRP $17,345) at around $4,000 less than the base MSRP for a four-door Spectra LX (for a total of around $9,000). What a deal!

Still, I’m personally confused about the CARS program and how it really works. “You’re not the only one that’s confused,” says Kia vice president of marketing Michael Sprague. “Customers come in (to our dealerships) thinking they are going to trade in their vehicle, but not everybody is going to qualify.”

That’s because the government put lots of restrictions into its program. Fortunately, Kia is educating its potential customers and dealers via its www.kia.com website. “But even if you don’t qualify for the CARS program,” says Sprague, “Kia will give you an incentive to buy.”

Besides Spectra and Borrego, nine other Kia vehicles can potentially qualify for the CARS program, including Kia Rio, Kia Rio5, Kia Forte, Kia Forte Koup, Kia Optima, Kia Rondo, Kia Soul, Kia Sedona, Kia Sportage and the Kia Sorento.

Why is Kia such a good buy? I’ve road tested many Kia vehicles, including a recent road test of the super cute Kia Soul. Basically, Kia cars are an overall good buy with lots of standard features, good reliability, above average driving dynamics, modern safety features, advanced technology and excellent fuel economy.

So, what are you waiting for, America? Go buy a brand new Kia on the cheap today!

Some CARS program guidelines:

• Consumers can qualify for that almost unbelievable $4,500 rebate on the purchase or lease of new vehicles that maintain 10 miles per gallon more than their trade-in automobile (or five miles per gallon or more than a trade-in light truck). New vehicles that get between four to nine miles per gallon more than a trade-in car, or two to four miles per gallon more than a trade-in light truck qualify for a $3,500 incentive.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your old car must get 18 mpg or less. To see if you qualify, check www.fueleconomy.gov.
• Your old car must be a 1984 model or newer. This was added to the program to help prevent people from junking classic cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.
• Also, your old car must have been insured for the past year. (This prevents so-called “scavengers” from going to salvage lots and turning in junk cars for cash.)
• New car buyers should visit the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s website www.cars.gov for official government information.

Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif. Follow me! @sheryllalexande