Best and Worst Year-End Car Deals

Jaguar XF Sedan | $52,500 - $79,600

The Jaguar XF looks great, offers a refined ride, sporty handling and a well-crafted interior, and carries plenty of power regardless of trim level. With the 2012 version of this luxury sedan on the horizon, dealers are offering zero percent APR financing for up to 60 months on outgoing models. And that's on top of some impressive price cuts offered by dealers; even the supercharged version of the XF is marked down significantly.

Watch Video:  2011 Jaguar XF

Buick Lucerne | $29,730 - $44,460

It seems unfair to pick on the Lucerne, but it is being phased out of General Motors' lineup for a reason: It's not very good. To get them moving, Buick is offering 1.9 percent APR for 60 months if you put down 18 percent or more, or it will knock $3,000 off the price. We'll make this quick: The Super is the only trim to think twice about — with the Northstar V8 engine only; back away from the V6-equipped models — and it starts at nearly $45,000. If you're even considering spending $42K on a Buick after the discount, take a look at that Jaguar offer again and think about how short and fragile life really is.

Compare: Buick Lucerne vs. Chrysler 300 vs. Toyota Avalon

Cadillac CTS-V Sports Wagon | $62,360

Cadillac is offering zero percent APR over 60 months to qualified buyers on its CTS-V lineup, including the Sports Wagon variant. This car is seriously cool. It has enough room for the family, groceries and, if you squeeze a little, the dog, too. Plus, it can smoke nearly anything you come across in a straight line. Toss in a good financing deal and you have a winner.

View Slideshow:  Manly Machines

Toyota Camry | $20,195 - $29,845

Simply put, the all-new 2012 Toyota Camry is coming and good deals will likely be coming with it. The 2011 Camry is popular and reliable, and zero percent APR over 60 months plus $500 off, or a simple $1,000 off, are fine deals, but they can't be applied to the hybrid model. A break on the 2011 Camry Hybrid would certainly get attention, even among us cynics. We recommend saving your money for the next Toyota sale, when the 2012 Camry gets the discounts these 2011s should be getting now.

View Slideshow:  10 Cheapest Cars to Maintain

BMW 1-Series M | $46,135

While 3.9 percent APR for 36 months may not seem like a super deal, you should consider that the "little Bimmer that could" is a modern classic, the true heir to the righteous E30 M3's throne. And because only around 600 were brought to the United States for 2011, it will probably retain its value among connoisseurs. Trust us, this is one to get before you're left wishing you had. Take it for a spin. You won't be able to resist its great brakes and wicked suspension; you'll see.

Watch Video:  2011 BMW 1-Series

Scion tC RS 7.0 | $21,625

The standard Scion tC is a suitable, if not overpoweringly fast and sporty, car. The special edition RS 7.0 gets you some new body work, a push-button start and a High Voltage yellow paint scheme. But that's about it. For an extra $3,000 to $4,000 over the base tC model, we would need to see a better list of standard features to be impressed.

View Slideshow:  Special Edition Cars

Volkswagen Touareg | $44,450 - $60,565

The current iteration of the Touareg is an attractive, solid, capable SUV, and you can qualify for 1.9 percent APR over 60 months. We suggest giving some serious thought to the Hybrid and TDI models. The diesels are strong and return respectable mileage for the Touareg's class. The Hybrid is even better.

Read:  2011 VW Touareg -- First Drive

Cadillac Escalade | $63,455 - $87,660

Even if you can afford to drive a land yacht that returns as little as 13 mpg, do you really want to? The Escalade has gone from cool to kitsch to gauche. With great cars like the CTS series in the Cadillac lineup, it seems silly for GM to keep the Escalade in production.

Bing: Cadillac Accessories

Ford Ranger | $18,160 - $26,070

The revamped 2012 Ranger isn't coming to the U.S., but the last of the 2011 models are being offered with some great incentives. The Ranger can feel a bit outdated these days, but the 4-cylinder model offers decent fuel economy, is reliable and can handle most of your hauling needs. Cash discounts can add up to $3,000 — $4,000 if you work in the military or law enforcement — or you can get $1,000 off and zero percent APR financing for up to 60 months. It's a bit long in the tooth, but a new Ranger at around $15,000 is still a deal.

Watch Video:  2011 Ford Ranger

Chevrolet Avalanche | $36,300 - $49,500

While the deal offered on the Avalanche is similar to that of the Ranger — $4,000 cash or zero percent APR for 60 months, plus $1,000 off — the sheer bigness of the Avalanche's base price combined with its poor fuel economy make it the pickup to shy away from. Spend your money on an SUV or save on a more practical pickup.

Compare: Chevrolet Avalanche vs. Honda Ridgeline vs. Nissan Titan

Honda Odyssey | $28,075 - $43,525

Currently you can qualify for 0.9 percent APR on the Odyssey for 36 months, or 1.9 percent for up to 60 months, through the end of October. The Odyssey is the reigning big daddy in the minivan world, and with any number of trims and options available, there is no reason not to give it a look. Reliable, well-designed and with enough options to satisfy anyone's desires — the Odyssey is a winner.

View Pictures:  2011 Honda Odyssey

Chrysler Town & Country | $30,260 - $39,160

While the 2011 Town & Country shows significant improvement over past models, its lack of refinement and odd driver's seat ergonomics make its steep price a bit hard to swallow. There are plusses, among them the classic Stow 'n Go seats and excellent rear seating room. But even with $2,000 off or zero percent APR over 60 months for qualified buyers, there are better options on the market for your money.

Watch Video:  Best Road Trip Cars

Honda CR-Z | $19,345 - $23,355

The Honda CR-Z is admittedly an oddball choice, especially for a segment whose buyers who aren't necessarily looking for the sports-car experience. That's why we're listing it. A base model costs less than $20,000, and for that not only do you get the creature comforts — MP3 jack, Bluetooth, USB interface — you also get a car you can chuck around for giggles when you want, and when you don't, it'll return close to 40 mpg. This is a new type of sports car for a new world.

View Slideshow:  10 Best Cars for Older Drivers

Lexus LS 600h | $112,250

For your $112,250, the LS 600h hybrid returns just 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway. With its hybrid system simply tacked on, this luxury sedan comes off as pandering to the eco-conscious, especially in light of how right Lexus got hybrids with the CT 200h compact. Save yourself $80,000 and try the 200h, instead. It delivers 40 mpg city/43 mpg highway.

View Slideshow:  5 Smart and Sexy Hybrids

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trendand European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.

Like us on MSN Autos Facebook and follow us on Twitter

• Visit MSN Autos' "Exhaust Notes" blog to keep up on all things automotive.
• In the market for a new car? MSN Autos is pleased to provide you with information and services designed to save you time, money and hassle. Click to research prices and specifications on any new car on the market or get a free price quote through MSN Autos' New-Car Buying Service.