04/07/2008 04:40. With the July 4th weekend upon us, consumers may be hitting the dealerships to take advantage of the holiday savings, possibly looking to downsize to a more fuel-efficient model. Given the economy and related challenges in the automotive industry, there are a number of deals to be found, though precious few on the most thrifty vehicles. Check out the best new deals for the latest incentives on Consumer Reports recommended cars, plus learn about the recently extended Chrysler $2.99 gas promotion and our comparison of their overall owner costs with other similar models.

When looking to buy a car, one of the most important steps is the test drive. Even though our reviews can tell you what particular pros and cons a certain model has, you just don’t know how the car will fit you... // Consumer reports