Weekend deals on wheels:: Big discounts on new cars

It’s time for the latest installment of Deals on Wheels, which looks at four factory-backed special offers for all you weekend shoppers.

This isn’t a promotional campaign, just us trying to offer you some interesting suggestions if you’re in the market for some new wheels.

Suzuki Swift GL

It’s getting on, but the Suzuki Swift deservedly remains one of Australia’s most popular light cars, down to its cute looks and its class-leading running costs.

The base GL normally retails for $15,990 plus on-road costs, but Suzuki at the moment will sell you one for that drive-away, representing a saving of thousands.

But that’s not the good bit. The good bit is the free automatic transmission you get for a limited time. An automatic Swift GL â€" which is what most of the demand is for â€" usually has an official drive-away price in Victoria of about $21,300, so this $15,990 deal is very sharp.

Standard features include seven airbags (five-star ANCAP rated) USB iPod connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. The offer lasts until August 26, and you have to have your car delivered by August 31 â€" likely meaning Suzuki has lots of stock.

Read our Suzuki Swift reviews database here, and read more about the offer here. 

Nissan X-Trail ST AWD N-TREK Edition

The Nissan X-Trail is showing very strong sales growth in 2015, a period in which it has returned to the sharp end of the sales charts. Evidently, Nissan Australia is keen to keep that ball rolling, while faced with new rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson.

We’ve rated the X-Trail quite highly, and while it’s not a critical class-leader (that would be the Mazda CX-5 and Tucson), it’s a practical and generally family friendly offering.

Usually, the ST all-wheel-drive with an automatic transmission has a retail price of $33,980. Right now Nissan will sell you one for $35,990 drive-away.

But from there, it also throws in an N-TREK package, which bundles in bits such as an alloy nudge bar, side steps, roof bars, bonnet protector, rear carpet mats and N-TREK badging. This is on top of usual equipment such as an all-mode 4×4 system, reverse-view camera and push-button start.

Read our Nissan X-Trail reviews database here, and read more about the offer here. 

Holden Ute SS Storm

Here’s a token one for the enthusiasts out there â€" a six-speed manual, rear-drive, V8 sports ute with no compromises. Make you proud to be ‘Strayan.

The Holden SS Ute, with its 270kW/530Nm 6.0-litre V8 engine, normally sells for $39,490 before on-roads. Right now, it’s $39,990 drive-away in white paint, with the added bonus of a Storm spec package.

Standard features include MyLink Infotainment system with 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, 18-inch alloy wheels (if you have steelies on the back, we know what you’ve been doing), bluetooth, Automatic Park Assist and Reverse Traffic Alert.

There’s also the not-small matter of an extended five-year warranty and lifetime capped-price servicing.

Read our Holden Ute reviews database here, and read more about the offer here. Isuzu MU-X 4×4 LS-M

We’ve told you about special deals on the base, rear-drive Isuzu MU-X before, but let’s be honest, if you’re in the market, you’re after the 4×4.

As no-frills, reliable tow-friendly transport goes, the MU-X and its 3.0-litre truck-sourced turbo-diesel engine (with 3.0-tonne towing capacity) makes a solid case.

The entry seven-seater LS-M 4×4 spec normally retails for $45,600 plus on-roads, as a manual. Right now you can pick one up for $42,990 drive-away, with a free automatic transmission. That’s a total saving of many, many thousands over RRP.

The MU-X is perpetually on sale â€" that’s why Isuzu consistently sells so many â€" but really, it’s damned solid value compared to more upmarket options like the forthcoming new Ford Everest.

Worth a look, provided you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Read our Isuzu MU-X reviews database here, and read more about the offer here. 

Volvo S60 T4 Sprint

We told you a few weeks ago about the remarkably good deals that Volvo Car Australia has been stringing together of late.

One that really grabbed our eye was was Volvo S60 T4 at $40,888 drive-away, a saving pushing $15,000 based on list pricing and general drive-away charges (not that many people would have ever paid that, we suspect).

But for all that value, this one is even better. It’s still an S60 T4 at $40,888, but this time Volvo is offering it in T4 Sprint guise, which brings 19-inch alloy wheels (the ride might be firm-ish, but it looks horn), a rear spoiler and leather sports seats.

This is what you’d pay for a low-spec Mazda 6 Touring, and while that’s a damned fine car, this is a Volvo S60 â€" it’s a good badge and a great car for the money. And with those wheels, there’s at least some tiny parallel with its sporty V8 Supercar version.

Read our Volvo S60 reviews database here, and read more about the offer here.