As North America rounds out the final weeks of summer, plenty of discounts and deals remain on fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric cars.

The month of August sees a number of familiar nameplates remain as best buys, while a few newcomers arrive to represent excellent new values.

Below are August's best deals on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars.

DON'T MISS: Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for July 2017

As always, head to Cars Direct for additional insight and car-buying information.

2018 Ford C-Max

2018 Ford C-Max

Hybrids

Once again, the Ford C-Max tops the list of the best deals on hybrid cars.

However, the offered lease deal has actually improved compared to that offered last month; the C-Max can now be leased for $149 per month and $1,999 due at the time of signing.

That's $20 less each month, with an identical down payment, covering 10,500 miles per year for 36 months.

Additionally, $3,000 in cash and 0 percent for 60 months is on the table for those who prefer to buy.

2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Replacing the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in our list is the Toyota Avalon Hybrid as a stellar deal—but only for those who plan to purchase outright.

Incentives have risen to $4,000 on the Avalon Hybrid, while a lease rate is actually $100 per month more than a Lexus ES 350.

Despite its full-size footprint, the Avalon Hybrid manages to return 40 mpg combined, as rated by the EPA.

2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid

2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid

Plug-in hybrids

The Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid returns as a sweet deal for plug-in car shoppers with an EPA-rated 29 miles of pure electric range

August still sees a lease rate of $249 for 36 months, with $1,999 due at signing and 12,000 miles permitted every year.

The Optima Plug-In continues to be $73 cheaper each month than a comparable Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, too.

2018 Chevrolet Volt

2018 Chevrolet Volt

States with friendlier feelings towards electrified cars will see the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid hatchback as quite a deal too.

Compared to July, the Volt's lease payment has actually dropped by $5 to $294 per month for 39 months.

That rate only applies in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont, however.

Elsewhere, the rate remains $299 per month with $2,249 due at signing.

2017 Ford Focus Electric

2017 Ford Focus Electric

Electric cars

Also back for the month of August is the Ford Focus Electric, once again with a $139-per-month lease rate over 36 months.

Despite a payment of $2,739 due at signing, it still makes the effective lease rate a steal compared to most other electric cars.

In fact, the Focus Electric is actually less expensive to lease than a gasoline-powered Focus SE, and it will return an EPA-estimated 107 MPGe combined rating for energy efficiency.

(Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, or MPGe, is a measure of how far an electric car can travel on the same amount of energy contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.)

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV added to Maven car- and ride-sharing fleet in Los Angeles, California

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV added to Maven car- and ride-sharing fleet in Los Angeles, California

The Chevrolet Bolt EV sees its best lease deal to date, with a $299 per month payment and only $1,239 due at signing in a handful of key states.

Chevrolet will also allot 15,000 miles per year on this lease over 36 months—more than some other electric-car leases.

Current lessees of 2008 or newer non-GM vehicles are also eligible for a further $500 in bonus cash.

Outside California, Oregon, and the Northeast, the rate rises to $329 per month with $3,469 due at signing.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel (with 6-speed automatic transmission), Catskill Mountains, NY, May 2017

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel (with 6-speed automatic transmission), Catskill Mountains, NY, May 2017

Diesel cars

The Chevrolet Cruze Diesel returns again as the only mainstream diesel passenger-car offering, and it has quite a deal attached to it this month.

Chevrolet is offering 20 percent off manufacturer suggested retail price, which means a base-model Cruze Diesel with a manual transmission can be purchased for just around $20,000.

For those who miss the deal—it expires on August 31—either $3,500 in cash back or 1.9 percent APR for 60 months will continue to be available.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic

2017 Chevrolet Sonic

Fuel-efficient gasoline cars

For the past few months, the Toyota Yaris iA has taken lead billing in this spot, but the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact sedan and hatchback have dethroned it for August.

Thanks to Chevrolet's rebate of 20 percent off suggested retail price, the Sonic can be purchased with as much as $4,075 off the list price.

The Sonic is rated at 38 MPG on the highway when equipped with the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

2017 Nissan Rogue, 2016 Miami auto show

2017 Nissan Rogue, 2016 Miami auto show

Finally, the Nissan Rogue rounds out the list for August, but shoppers should be aware of a catch that applies to the $2,500 in incentives available.

Make sure to specify a "2017.5" model-year Nissan Rogue to obtain a higher level of standard equipment.

Both 2017 and 2017.5 Rogues are on sale side-by-side, but only the latter adds standard automatic emergency braking and other important safety features for a relatively low charge of $400.

The incentives may be applied to both model years, but the 2017.5 clearly represents the better value.

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