Money MoveThe Best and Worst Car Deals in February 2026, Fact-Checked
CarEdge's monthly deals breakdown just dropped, and it highlights a gap between automakers who are fighting for your business and those who seem content to let inventory pile up. The data points are worth examining.
Our Take
Presidents' Day sales are supposed to be some of the best car deals of the year. In reality, the deals vary wildly by manufacturer. Some brands are offering genuinely competitive incentives. Others are posting financing rates you could beat at any credit union. The difference between the best and worst deals this month is thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Knowing which is which before you walk into a dealership is the single best leverage you can have.
The Questions That Matter
1. Which cars have the worst deals right now?
CarEdge highlights several models with underwhelming incentives despite soft demand:
Jaguar F-Pace is sitting at 292 days of supply, making it the third-slowest selling vehicle behind the Maserati Grecale (302 days) and VW ID.4 (527 days). Despite that, Jaguar's incentives aren't matching the desperation their inventory levels suggest. When a car sits on a lot for nearly 10 months, the dealer is bleeding carrying costs, but the manufacturer isn't helping move them.
Jeep Wrangler is being offered at 6.9% financing for 72 months. That's one of the least competitive rates in the market right now. For context, a buyer with good credit could likely get 5 to 6% from a credit union without any manufacturer involvement.
Honda CR-V Hybrid carries a 5.49% APR for 61 to 72 months. Compare that to the 2025 Subaru Forester Premium Hybrid at 0% APR for 75 months, and the Honda offer looks particularly weak. Same segment, dramatically different financing cost.
2. What makes a deal actually good vs. just marketed well?
Three things separate a genuinely good deal from marketing noise:
The interest rate compared to the market. If a manufacturer is advertising 3.9% APR but your credit union offers 4.2%, the manufacturer deal is only marginally better. If they're offering 0% to 1.9% while market rates are 5%+, that's a real deal worth taking.
Inventory days. When a model has 100+ days of supply, the dealer needs to move it. That desperation translates into negotiating power for you, regardless of advertised incentives. The Jaguar F-Pace at 292 days is a car you should be able to negotiate well below MSRP.
Total transaction price, not monthly payment. Dealers love to negotiate on monthly payments because they can stretch the term to make anything look affordable. Focus on the out-the-door price and the interest rate. Those are the numbers that determine what you actually pay.
3. Are leftover 2025 models actually worth buying?
Often, yes. CarEdge points to leftover 2025 models as some of the best deals available. When a new model year arrives, dealers need floor space. Last year's inventory gets discounted, sometimes significantly.
The catch is that a 2025 model bought in February 2026 will show as one year old for resale purposes even though it's essentially new. If you plan to keep the car for 5+ years, this doesn't matter much. If you're trading in after 2 to 3 years, that extra year of "age" hits your resale value.
The best leftover deals combine manufacturer incentives (cash back or low APR) with dealer discounts on aging inventory. That's where you can save $3,000 to $8,000 off sticker.
4. Should you actually buy during Presidents' Day sales?
The sales event itself is mostly marketing. The deals that exist are driven by inventory levels and manufacturer incentives, not the calendar. That said, February is historically a slower sales month, which means less competition from other buyers and more willingness from dealers to negotiate.
The real opportunity is doing your homework before the event. Know the invoice price, know the current incentives, know your credit score, and have a pre-approved loan from your bank or credit union. Walk in with all of that and you're negotiating from strength.
What You Should Actually Do
Get pre-approved for financing before you shop. Compare any manufacturer rate against what your credit union or bank offers. Check inventory days for models you're interested in using tools like CarEdge or dealer inventory sites. If a car has 100+ days of supply, you have leverage. Use it. And don't let a "sale event" create urgency that isn't real. The cars will still be there next week, probably at the same price.