New Cars for 2011 What to Look For

This is the first of a series on what’s new in 2011 models. Throughout the month, MoneyWatch will tell you about the most significant 2011 small cars, mid-size cars, small SUVs, mid-size SUVs minivans, and hybrid and electric cars to help you make smart buying and leasing decisions.

For 2011 models, the magic word is mileage. Gas mileage gains abound in the ’11s–from Ford’s Mustang (rated 30 mpg in highway driving) to General Motors’ new high-mileage Chevrolet Cruze small car (pictured at right) to new hybrids from Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Porsche, and Volkswagen. “People have come to accept that gas will remain expensive, and high mpg has become a major shopping point and a major factor in car advertising,” says Jessica Caldwell, director of pricing and industry analysis for auto information web site Edmunds.com.

But consumer demand isn’t the only driving force for high mpg. By 2016, the cars of each auto company must average 35.5 mpg under recently-adopted federal regulations. (See What You’ll be Driving in 2016. )

The race for mileage and consumer dollars has spawned 17 first-year models. In small cars, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Cruze–both based on cars already sold in Europe–are joined by the

Mazda2. Among hybrids, Honda’s sporty hatchback CR-Z (pictured at left) and Lexus CT 200h join the pack. Two small SUVs, known as the Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke (pictured below), also debut. And the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, the much-anticipated plug-in electrics, will soon hit showroom floors.

Some of the best-known SUVs and minivans will get full redesigns. The Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs are all-new as are the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna minivans.

Under the hood, smaller engines with turbochargers that kick in when you want more power will be more widely available, too. (See 2011 Ford Explorer MPG Gains 20% to 30%.) And you can look for growing numbers of models with electronic stability control as standard safety equipment. This feature, already in 88% of 2010s, will be mandatory for all new models in 2012.

Looking for bargains? Since many 2011s came out in spring or summer (examples: the redesigned BMW 5-series, the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Mustang), you can get some of the best deals around on the remaining 2010 models of those cars. (See Best Car Deals on Hot Models and Cold).

If you’re thinking about buying or leasing a 2011, remember these points:

Don’t assume you have to pay full price just because the car is new or redesigned. Informed negotiation always pays. Check out average selling prices on sites like Edmunds.com and TrueCar.com. For instance, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS with typical options is selling for $20,990 or $775 under sticker price, according to Edmunds. A 2011 BMW 528i is selling at $44,336 or $909 below list price.

Expect fewer and smaller incentives on 2011s. Though well below pre-recession levels, auto sales have been rising steadily this year partly due to heavy incentives. (Toyota kicked off the big scramble of rebates, low-rate financing, and cheap lease deals to kickstart sales after its major recalls.) Such incentives, which hurt manufacturers’ and dealers’ profits, have already been scaled back on remaining 2010s. Nevertheless, be sure you get any available incentives.

If you aren’t in a hurry, wait until December. The final month of the year is always one of the best months for car shopping because most people are busy spending time and money on holiday gifts. If you’re enough of a contrarian to research and negotiate hard just before the holidays, though, you might find a great deal.