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COSTA MESA, Calif. — Automakers have rolled out unprecedented incentives and rebates this month, according to NADAguides.com, which recently released what it considers to be the top deals for May.

The site said the "standouts" for the month are Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota. Chevrolet, for example, is providing customers with $6,500 cash back when they buy a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab.

Honda has launched "The Really Big Thing" campaign that includes $0 down payment and $0 security deposit, while also waiving the first month's payment and requiring no money due at lease signing.

"The incentives and rebates being offered for May are the most substantial to date. Consumers are walking away with groundbreaking deals and cash back offers," shared Mike Caudill, NADAguides.com auto expert.

"Over the past year, automakers have worked diligently to develop new incentives and rebates programs that will excite the consumer and entice them to shop the dealer lots," Caudill added. "Armed with the right information, consumers can find fantastic deals on new cars."

The following is the list of what NADAguides.com considers to be the top incentives and rebates for the month:

1. Honda
2010 Accord – Special Lease: $250/month
$0 down payment, $0 first-month payment, $0 security deposit, $0 due at signing 

2. Chevrolet  
2009 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab/GMC Sierra Crew Cab – MSRP: $30,040
$6,500 cash back or zero-percent financing for 60 months 

3. Ford 
2010 Ranger – MSRP: $17,820
$3,500 cash back or zero-percent financing for 72 months or $1000 and zero-percent financing 36 months 

4.  Jeep
2010 Jeep Commander – MSRP: $4,500
$4,500 cash back or zero-percent financing for 60 months 

5. Toyota
2010 Avalon – MSRP: $27,945
$3,000 cash back or zero-percent financing for up to 60 months 

Car of the Month

In other news from the company, NADAguides.com also named its Car of the Month for May. Earning honors this month was the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, a crossover SUV already included on the site's "Best Car Buys" list.
Officials praised the 2010 model for its "sharp new styling, improved engine choices, impressive fuel economy and five-star safety rating."

The latest Equinox has an "equally striking" interior and exterior, something NADAguides.com said its predecessor did not have. It also provides a ride that is "smooth and quiet," and is priced affordably, editors shared.

"Sales for the Equinox are a major factor in why this car was selected as well. In March 2010, Equinox sales were up 194 percent over the previous year and GM got it right," Caudill shared. "Overall, the 2010 Equinox has impressive looks, offers a comfortable ride and handles much better than the previous version.

"Small families or anyone looking to downsize from a cumbersome, inefficient SUV will find tremendous value in the 2010 Equinox and its many amenities, which is why it is clearly worthy of the NADAguides.com 'Car of the Month' distinction," he added.

It is available in the following trim levels: LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ. 

Some of the features and options that "stand out" to NADAguides.com are the following: blue ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, a hard drive audio system, an integrated rearview camera with rear park assist, power rear lift-gate, a navigation system with voice recognition, a 40-gigabyte hard drive, premium speakers and a USB port.

Among the various safety features are dual threshold front airbags, curtain side airbags, front-side airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and General Motors' StabiliTrak electronic stability control. These protective features prompted NADAguides.com to call the Equinox "one of the safest in its category."

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine version gets 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Its fuel economy is 22 miles per gallon (city) and 32 mpg on the highway in front-wheel drive, and for full-wheel drive it gets 20/29 mpg (city/highway).

Meanwhile, the 3-liter six-cylinder variety gets 264 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque, and has a fuel economy of 18/25 mpg (city/highway) during front-wheel driving, and has an all-wheel drive fuel economy of 17/24 mpg (city/highway).

The latter engine type is available for the 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim lines, while the LS only includes the 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine.