Holiday car deals from Audi, Honda, Lexus and more

Thinking about a gift with four wheels and a motor for the holidays? Automakers would be happy to grant your request with the 2013 model-year new car you've been wishing for with some substantial discounts. Check out these hot car deals that run through the holidays and beyond.

Audi is openly trying to woo buyers away from BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz with the Season of Audi event. Through Jan. 7, it is offering 1.9 percent for 60 months on all certified pre-owned Audi models and, for lessees, it is waiving the first lease payment and security deposit on Allroad , A4, A6, A7 and A8 cars.

Chevy says that St. Nick shouldn't have all the fun and has jumped into the giving with its Giving More event. There are cash-back rebates on most models ranging from $500 to $3,500, with the biggest rebates on Impala, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe. Those who want to finance can get rates of 1.9 to 3.9 percent for 48 to 60 months on most models except the Silverado, which has a 0 percent rate for 60 months to well-qualified buyers. The rate depends on the model and the terms, and in some cases can be combined with bonus cash. There are various 36- to 39-month lease offers, with the best deals on Cruze at $169 a month as well as the Equinox and Malibu at $199 month. Offers run through Jan. 2.

Ford's Year-End Celebration features cut-rate financing and cash-back rebates on most models. Cut-rate financing ranges from 0 to 5.9 percent for up to 72 months, depending on the model with 0 percent offered on the Expedition, Fiesta, Flex and Focus models. Rebates range from $395 to $3,500, depending on the model with the best deals on the Edge, Explorer and Flex. In some cases the rebates can be combined with the financing deals. In addition, many models offer $1,000 bonus cash to current Ford owners or owners of competing vehicles, along with a $500 military and police-appreciation discount. Deals end Jan. 2.

Honda has a full spate of finance and lease offers as part of its Happy Honda Days sales event that runs through Jan. 2. It is offering 0.9 percent financing to qualified buyers for loans ranging from 24 to 60 months on all models. Lease specials are available on the Accord sedan, Civic hybrid, Civic sedan, Crosstour, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot. Lease deals that are especially aggressive include $280 per month for 35 months with no money down and a $0 first month payment on Crosstour; and a $149 monthly payment for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing on a Civic LX sedan with five-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai wants to make your holiday cash go farther with its Hyundai Holidays event. There are lease deals on all models for 36 months, with the lowest on the Accent ($169 a month), Veloster ($179 a month) as well as the Elantra and Elantra coupe ($189 a month). Cut-rate financing ranges from 0.9 to 4.9 percent, with the best deals on the Elantra at 0.9 percent for 36 months with an additional $500 cash rebate, and the Veracruz at 0 percent for 36 months with an additional $1,000 cash rebate. The best deals are on the Sonata and Sonata Hybrid. On the Sonata, there is $1,500 cash-back rebate, which can be combined with cut-rate financing of 0.9 percent (for 36 months) to 3.9 percent (for 72 months). The Sonata also has $500 additional cash back to current Hyundai owners or owners of competing vehicles. On the Sonata hybrid, there is a $1,500 rebate that can be combined with 0 percent for up to 60 months as well as $500 loyalty cash for current Hyundai owners. All offers go through Jan. 2.

The Holiday Sales Event from Kia means special offers on all of its models through Jan. 7. Well-qualified buyers can take advantage of cut-rate financing for 36 months, or 0 percent on the Sorento; 0.9 percent on the Optima, Rio and Rio 5-door; or 1.9 percent for 36 months on the Forte, Forte 5-door, Forte Koup, Soul and Sportage. There are $1,000 cash rebates on Forte models and $1,500 cash-back on the Sorento. In addition, there are cash bonuses of up to $2,000 on the Optima and up to $1,250 on Sorento to current Kia owners or owners of competing vehicles. There are special lease offers for 39 months on its Forte, Forte Koup, Optima, Rio, Sorento, Soul and Sportage. All models have $1,999 due at signing and monthly payments vary from $169 for a base Rio LX or Forte LX, to $239 for Sorento LX or Sportage LX.

Lexus is hoping to make someone's day with its December to Remember sales event with numerous finance and lease offers, which run through Jan. 2. It is offering 0.9 percent financing for up to 60 months to qualified buyers of the CT hybrid, IS 250 and IS 350; and 1.9 percent financing for up to 60 months on RX models. There are lease deals on CT, ES, GS, GX, IS, LS, LX and RX vehicles, starting as low as $309 per month for 27 months on an IS 250 with $2,699 due at signing.

Mazda is anxious to put some zoom-zoom into someone's stocking with the keys to a newly purchased or leased Mazda. Deals, which run through Jan. 2, include 0 percent for up to 60 months on Mazda 6, 0.9 percent financing on CX-5, CX-9, Mazda 2 as well as Mazda 3 four-door and five-door, and finally 1.9 percent financing on MX-5 Miata. There are lease deals on CX-5, CX-9, Mazda 3 four-door and five-door, Mazda 6 and MX-5 Miata, which all have $0 due at signing. Leases are as low as $219 per month for 39 months on Mazda 3 four-door.

Mitsubishi is offering lease deals, cut-rate financing and rebates through Jan. 2. Special offers include 0 percent financing for 36 or 48 months on the Evolution, Lancer, Lancer Sportback, Outlander and Outlander Sport. There are lease deals on all those models as well, starting as low as $189 per month for 24 months with $2,388 due at signing on Lancer ES. Current Lancer, Lancer Sportback, Outlander and Outlander Sport owners can also get $500 cash back on the purchase of a new Mitsubishi. Finally, owners of competitive brands who purchase an Outlander Sport can also get $500 cash back. Only Saturn and Suzuki are excluded from the list of competing brands.

Volkswagen's Sign Then Drive Event gets customers into car leases at no cost. The promotion includes no money due at signing, including no down payment and no security deposit, as well as no first-month payment on various models of the Beetle, CC, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg. For those who want to buy, Volkswagen is offering 0 percent for 36 months on Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta Sportwagen and Tiguan, and 0 percent for 66 months on CC, Jetta, Passat and Touareg. All TDI clean diesel and hybrid models are excluded. Finally, there is a 1.99 percent annual-percentage rate for 48 months on certified pre-owned cars that applies to all models. All offers are available through Jan. 2.

All rebates and incentives mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication. Check the manufacturer's website to confirm availability of any rebate or incentive listed here, as manufacturers may change these offers at any time.

By Tara Baukus Mello