Japanese end of financial year bargains

Mazda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi – now is the time to buy one or any other new Japanese car, and that’s because Japan’s financial year ends on March 31 and dealers are doing everything they can to clear last year’s stock as well as hit their targets.

Plate clearance, 2019 build clearance, mega March clearance… whatever name the Japanese car brands decide go for, it’s good news for buyers. We’ve picked out just some of the best deals from the end of Japanese financial year sale.

The driveway deals below are based on advertised prices by dealers and the manufacturers. We’ve compared these to their regular list prices which don’t include the on-road costs. Prices may vary from state to state in Australia, so be sure check with your local dealer.

Light cars

The 2019 Suzuki Swift GL Navi with a manual gearbox normally lists for $18,690, but it’s being offered at a drive-away price of $17,690. Alternatively, there’s the entry grade Toyota Yaris Ascent with an auto transmission which normally lists for $16,920 but can be had drive-away for $17,990. Meanwhile Mazda is doing the 2019 Mazda2 G15 Pure for $21,990 drive-away when its regular list price is $22,990.

Small cars

This is one category where prices haven’t been heavily discounted, but still the drive-away deals on the Mazda3, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic will save you about $2000 right now over the what you’d pay for the regular list price plus the on-road costs.

Small SUVs

The 2019 Vitara Turbo is a favourite in the CarsGuide office for its build quality and great engine, normally the front-wheel-drive version lists for $29,990, but you can currently drive it away for $30,490. Meanwhile, Mazda’s 2019 CX-3 Maxx Sport in front-wheel-drive form sits in the middle of the model range and is being offered for $25,490 drive-away – about $1000 less than the list price.

Then there’s Toyota’s C-HR Koba with the auto transmission which lists for $33,940 but is on sale for $31,990 drive-away. Also, Mitsubishi’s ASX LS front-wheel drive is on sale – you can get it for $30,440 with nothing else to pay, when this SUV lists for $28,690 before the on-roads.

Finally, Nissan’s Qashqai is another small SUV that’s impressed us, the ST in front-wheel drive with an auto list for $29,990 but it’s currently $28,990 drive-away.

Medium-sized SUVs

Mazda dealers have doing drive-away deals on the CX-5 Maxx front-wheel drive for $31,990. Normally these list for $32,880 before on-road costs, so it’s great value. Mitsubishi dealers have a special on for the Eclipse Cross which we’ve seen for $33,190 drive-away when its regular list price is $32,190. Also, an outstanding offer is on Nissan’s X-Trail ST-L with four-wheel drive – this lists for $39,700 and dealers are doing it drive-away for $40,490.

Large SUVs

The entry grade Toyota Kluger GX front-wheel drive lists for $44,850, but it’s now $42,990 drive-away. It’s rival is the Mazda CX-9 which is one of the most refined large SUVs on the market, dealers are letting the Touring grade with front-wheel drive go for $52,740 and that’s a couple of hundred less than they list for you’re actually saving thousands there.

If you’re looking for something a lot more off-road capable there’s the Mitsubishi Pajero sport seven-seater which dealers will let you drive-away for $53,990 and that’s a great deal seeing as they list $52,490.

Utes

Toyota’s doing an excellent deal on its HiLux SR5 with the auto transmission which has a list price of $59,240, but you can drive it away for $54,990. The deal of the bunch though is the Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab chassis 4×4 – normally this lists for $48,010 but dealers are doing a $38,990 drive-away.

ABN buyers are being looked after by Nissan which is offering its Navara ST-X Dual Cab 4×4 with an auto transmission for $50,490, when they normally list for $56,100.

And while Isuzu’s new-gen D-Max ute is just around the corner the current version in the SX grade  with four-wheel drive and a manual gearbox can be had drive-away for $39,990 when it normally lists for $44,600.