Top 5 Memorial Day Family Car Deals of 2024
Memorial Day weekend is here, but what are the best family car deals available right now? Let’s talk about it.
After years of trying to navigate family car shopping with little negotiation and high interest rates, 2024 is shaping up to be more friendly to buyers. As we head into a weekend known for great car deals, it's crucial to find the right car at the right price. Shopping for car deals has felt like a thing of the past, but today, I’m sharing Memorial Day sales and tips on how to spot a good deal when you see one. Understanding the difference between manufacturer and dealership deals is key to buying with confidence.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the top 5 Memorial Day family car deals, with a few honorable mentions, and what to know before heading to the dealership this weekend.
A special thank you to Car Edge for compiling this list of deals!
Kelly, What Should I Know Before Memorial Day Car Shopping?
As Memorial Day weekend (May 25 – May 27) approaches, car shoppers have a great opportunity for discounts on popular family cars. This weekend has always been known for car deals, but 2024’s Memorial Day sales are shaping up to be especially big. High levels of new car inventory and the expense for keeping all these vehicles are finally giving room for some negotiation!
Here are key things to know before you shop:
Market Day Supply (MDS): High MDS means more negotiable deals
Financing Offers: Look for low APR or 0% financing options
Lease Offers: Attractive lease terms with low monthly payments
Manufacturer Deals: Country-wide deals that can be found at any dealership
Dealership Deals: Location-specific deals unique to each dealership
If you want to enter the dealership with as much knowledge as possible, my course, How To Get The Most For Your Trade-In, will really help guide you through negotiating for the most money possible. I stand by my 100% money-back guarantee, so if you do not save the price of this course, you will be refunded. It’s a win-win.
What Is Market Day Supply?
I know this is a new term added into the Car Mom vocab, so let’s talk about what market day supply means. Market day supply (MDS) measures how long it would take to sell all available inventory of a vehicle model at the current sales rate, assuming no new inventory is added. It’s the best industry measure of how popular a model is, but more importantly how negotiable the current sales rate can be.
On average, the MDS across all car models is 72 days. Models with an MDS higher than this average mean the dealership has slower sales and more available deals, making them potentially better buy for families. On the other hand, models with a lower MDS are in higher demand, which means the dealership has more leverage and there is less room for negotiation.
If you plan on doing a test drive this weekend (and I recommend you do), several of the top Memorial Day family car deals exceed the average MDS rating. This means, you can negotiate even more, on top of the deals already available!
How Do I Find Memorial Day Car Deals In My Area?
Finding Memorial Day car deals (or car deals any day of the year) starts with some research.
First, check the manufacturer’s website for discounts and incentives.
No matter what car you’re interested in, manufacturers will have a section available on their website (it’s usually a separate tab at the bottom) that walks through which models are currently being discounted. These offers are available at any dealership, giving you a good baseline.
Next, look at local dealership websites or contact them directly to see their specific sales and promotions.
Dealerships often add their own discounts on top of the manufacturer’s offers, which can lead to better savings.
Knowing both the manufacturer and dealership offers is a powerful tool. When you visit the dealership, you can say, “This is what the manufacturer is offering. What about your dealership?”
By combining manufacturer discounts with dealership-specific incentives, you can find the best Memorial Day deals and save money on your next vehicle.
Top 5 Memorial Day Family Car Deals:
While each of the vehicles below have different features and selling points, they are all excellent family car worthy of a test drive (and possibly a purchase). Included are financing offers, cash offers, and lease deals. We’ve also included real-time market data from CarEdge on market day supply and total cats for sale nationwide.
If you’re interested in shopping the Memorial Day family car deals, but aren’t sure where to start, I HIGHLY recommend reading my complete breakdown of the Best Cars For Families. This will give you a foundation for what features your family should prioritize, plus which vehicles I’ve tested and give my stamp of approval.
2024 Mazda CX-90
Talk about a family car with a high end redesign! If you’re looking for a luxury family car, this is definitely one to take a test drive in. The second row is great and while I haven’t played around with the bench, I do love the captain’s chairs on this car. Although the third row access is not great, the third row is one of my favorites out there with two really good seats. To see a complete walkthrough, check out my post here.
Deal available:
0% APR for 36 months + $1,500 customer bonus cash
$2,000 lease incentive with Mazda’s lease to lease loyalty program
Lease the CX-90 Turbo Select for $359/month for 36 months with $4,679 due
Current market day supply: 164 days
Negotiability score: VERY HIGH
Total for sale (US nationwide): 15,667
2024 Volkswagen Atlas - The Car Mom’s 2023 Family Car of the Year
This might be one of the ultimate family haulers on the market right now. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas redesign won it the title of the 2023 Car Mom Car of the Year with an incredible second row bench, third row access, and updated technology we’ve been needing for years. To see why I love the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, click here.
Deal available:
2.9% APR for 60 months OR $2,500 cash bonus
Lease the Atlas SE Tech from $439/month for 36 months with $4,999 due
Current market day supply: 91 days
Negotiability score: HIGH
Total for sale (US nationwide): 15,602
2024 Ford Expedition (Favorite full-size SUV)
The Expedition MAX (extended wheelbase) is my personal family car and favorite full-size SUV out on the market. If you’re interested in this car, I’d highly recommend looking into the extended wheelbase MAX version to truly get all the space you need. To see why I chose the Ford Expedition MAX, click here.
Deal available:
3.9% APR for 60 months + $3,750 trade assistance + $5,500 red carpet lease renewal bonus
Lease the Expedition XLT SWB 4x4 for $549/month for 24 months with $6,829 due
Current market day supply: 169 days
Negotiability score: VERY HIGH
Total for sale (US nationwide): 19,995
2024 Nissan Pathfinder
This is Lizz’s favorite family car right now! The Pathfinder received a redesign in 2022 and is much more rugged and modern. Some of my favorite features to note are the car seat friendly tilt to the third row, ceiling vents, and really great trunk space. To see a complete review of the Nissan Pathfinder, click here.
Deal available:
2.9% APR for 60 months + $1,000 cash offer
Lease the Pathfinder SV 4WD for $329/month for 36 months with $6,219 due
Current market day supply: 115 days
Negotiability score: HIGH
Total for sale (US nationwide): 18,958
2024 Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade got a much-needed facelift in 2023 and is now a really cool family vehicle with all the updated tech you could want. The second row bench is excellent, but can be tricky to find on a lot of dealership lots with it being only available in the lowest trim level. If you’re considering this car, I’d call ahead at your dealership during this busy weekend to save some time. To see exactly why I recommend this family car, click here.
Deal available:
3.99% APR for up to 60 months, $1,250 cash savings
Lease a Palisade SEL from $379/month for 36 months with $3,999 due
Current market day supply: 108 days
Negotiability score: HIGH
Total for sale (US nationwide): 26,533
Honorable Mention Memorial Day Family Car Deals:
While these deals are not nearly as impressive as the Top 5 above, it’s still worth a mention because they are family cars I really recommend. If you’re ready to pull the trigger on any of the vehicles below, Memorial Day could be a great time to do so.
That being said, if you’re still considering your options, don’t let these okay deals sway you to purchase too quickly. In my opinion, it’s okay to let these deals pass without feeling any pressure.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Deal available:
$1,000 cash offer
Lease the Grand Highlander XLE for $549/month for 36 months with $4,999 due
2024 Kia Telluride
Deal available:
Lease the Telluride S AWD for $389/month for 36 months with $3,999 due
2025 Honda Pilot
Deal available:
3.9% APR for 60 months
Lease the 2025 Pilot 2WD Sport for $419/month for 36 months with $4,299 due
2024 Volvo XC90
Deal available:
4.99% APR for 72 months + $1,000 loyalty bonus
Lease the XC90 B5 AWD Core Bright for $659/month for 36 months with $4,899 due
2024 Memorial Day Car Deals Wrap Up
Memorial Day weekend is a great time to go out and test drive some top family vehicles, especially with it being a buyer’s market. While these deals are an incentive to finally purchase the car you’ve been debating on, do not let the idea of a good deal sway you into a car you have not completely decided on. These deals will not be exactly the same, but will come around again with the next holiday.
As a tool to help guide you through your car buying process, use my FREE Car Payment Calculator to help estimate what you will be paying before walking into the dealership.
Do you have a family car you bought during a holiday sale? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest car buying tips for families, check out my recent posts:
