Are Summer Car Buyers More Patriotic? The Ten Most Popular 4th of July Car Purchases

Are car buyers more patriotic around the Fourth of July?

According to data from TrueCar.com, the ten most popular cars purchased around the Fourth of July last year (June 27 – July 10, 2011), were either American brands or assembled in the USA. Nine of the top ten cars are currently assembled in the USA. Only the Chevrolet Equinox is not currently assembled in the USA, but is expected to be assembled in Spring Hill, Tennesse, during the second half of 2012.

The TrueCar.com data shows that last year, around the Fourth of July, the American new car buyers chose to purchase vehicles that were built in the USA or had an American nameplate. While some of this could be just plain luck or due to lack of inventory from the Japanese earthquake, the data shows that car buyers in the United States are open to buying a car made in the USA.

“Made in the USA” is a strong statement that resonates with consumers, as evidenced by the vehicles most purchased around the Fourth of July holiday. Due to the massive product improvements over the last few years by the domestic automakers, it is no longer a coincidence that American buyers would gravitate towards these vehicles.

Ready to find out which ten cars are most popular around the Fourth of July? We’ve also provided the vehicle’s market average, as well as the current potential discount off of MSRP to give car shoppers context on how that vehicle’s price is trending in the automotive marketplace.

10. Ford Escape FWD 4dr XLT

MSRP: $25,695 / Market Average: $22,184
Potential discount: $3,511 or 13.7%

Redesigned for 2013, the new Ford Escape provides seating for five, and features a choice of fuel-efficient engines boasting highway fuel economy as high as 33 mpg, cargo capacity of up to 67.8 cubic feet, and a towing capacity of 3500 pounds.

And as useful as all that is, the available hands-free liftgate raises with a kick of your foot to make unloading an armload of groceries that much easier.

9. Jeep Grand Cherokee RWD 4dr Laredo Altitude

MSRP: $36,720 / Market Average: $33,730
Potential discount: $2,990 or 8.1%

The Jeep Grand Cherokee hits the sweet spot of premium on-road performance and legendary Jeep off-road capability, while also offering such luxuries as a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and premium wood and leather interior trim.

Passenger safety is high, thanks to standard full-length side-curtain, as well as driver and passenger seat-mounted pelvic and thorax airbags.

8. Toyota Camry 4dr Sedan I4 Auto SE

MSRP: $23,980 / Market Average: $22,704
Potential discount: $1,276 or 5.3%

Toyota welcomes the digital demographic to its reinvented Camry with available Entune connectivity that allows passengers to access popular mobile apps and data services, like Bing for search, Pandora for music, movietickets.com for entertainment, and OpenTable for meal reservations.

On the practical side, it seats five and promises fuel economy of 21mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

7. Chevrolet Malibu 4dr Sedan LS w/1LS

MSRP: $22,870 / Market Average: $19,720
Potential discount: $3,150 or 13.8%

Chevrolet’s midsize sedan sports a lovely dual-cockpit design and soft-touch materials that make its interior as comfortable as it is stylish. And with up to 33 mpg on the highway from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, Malibu LTZ takes you up to 528 highway miles on a single tank of gas.

6. Ford F-150 2WD SuperCab 145″ XLT

MSRP: $31,800 / Market Average: $27,983
Potential discount: $3,817 or 12.0%

Ford’s F-150 full-size pickup truck boasts best-in-class towing and a variety of trim and powertrain options to allow buyers to configure cab, bed, and engine to suit their specific comfort, cargo, and performance needs.

5. Chevrolet Equinox FWD 4dr LTZ

MSRP: $30,045 / Market Average: $29,655
Potential discount: $390 or 13.0%

Ideal for families and friends on the go, Equinox seats five and thanks to its sliding second row, offers the most rear–seat legroom in its class. Boasting 32 mpg highway, Chevrolet says its Equinox offers highway fuel economy that the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 can’t beat.

4. Ram 1500 2WD Reg Cab 120.5″ ST

MSRP: $23,415 / Market Average: $19,775
Potential discount: $3,640 or 15.5%

Known for its smooth car-like ride quality and premium cabin, the full-size Ram 1500 is a solid choice for consumers looking for a versatile truck that gets the job done on the job and after work. The 2012 Ram is available in three engine sizes, three bed lengths, and 11 trims. The standard engine is a 3.7-liter V-6 that generates 215 horsepower and 235-lb-ft of torque; fuel economy is registers at 14 mpg city/20 mpg hwy/16 mpg combined.

3. Nissan Altima 4dr Sedan I4 CVT 2.5

MSRP: $21,330 / Market Average: $18,979
Potential discount: $2,351 or 11.0%

Nissan’s Altima midsize sedan combines a sporty design with a roomy interior offering room for five and 25.3 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. Its 175-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission to offer fuel economy rated at 23 city, 32 highway, and 27.2 combined miles per gallon.

2. Chevrolet Cruze 4dr Sedan LTZ

MSRP: $23,985 / Market Average: $23,755
Potential discount: $230 or 1.0%

It’s easy to see why so many people refer to the Chevy Cruze as a “Mini Malibu.” It’s not fancy or expensive, but it’s a likeable little compact sedan that provides everything a buyer wants in its affordable segment. Cruze offers peppy driving quality, comfortable interior with room for five, and safety and connectivity, all while sharing the attractive design cues introduced with Chevrolet’s recent redesign of its larger sibling, the Malibu.

1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2WD Ext Cab 143.5″ LS

MSRP: $30,920 / Market Average: $27,205
Potential discount: $3,715 or 12.0%

The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado is versatile and offers a variety of cab and bed options to serve any driver’s needs. The Chevrolet Silverado comes standard with a 195-horsepower/4.3-liter, six-cylinder engine that promises fuel economy of 14 city, 19 highway, and 16.4 combined.

Ready to Buy a New Car?

If you’re ready to go shopping for a new car around the Fourth of July holiday, be sure to do your research by visiting a price comparison site like TrueCar.com. TrueCar shows you what other people paid for the car you want (not just MSRP) by make/model and down to the options. TrueCar also allows car buyers to connect with TrueCar Certified Dealers that offer a fast and hassle-free car buying experience.

[i] Market Average is estimated based on the national average of recent vehicle transactions, including destination and delivery charges after incentives that are subject to change, but does not include tax, title, licensing, documentation or processing fees, other state and governmental charges and/or fees, or any other charges or fees allowed by law.

[ii] Percent Discount is rounded to the nearest tenth.

“Are Summer Car Buyers More Patriotic? The Ten Most Popular 4th of July Car Purchases” was provided by TrueCar.com.