Small print trips car giants

WELLINGTON - Car giants Holden, Mitsubishi and Nissan have admitted advertising new cars in a way liable to mislead consumers about the prices.

The acknowledgements, over advertisements for Holden Barinas, Mitsubishi Galants and some Nissans, form part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission.

The commission said the size of big final payments and deposits were "inadequately disclosed" in the advertisements.

"In the commission's view, all three companies' advertisements were misleading and risked breaching the [Fair Trading] act," it said.

Mitsubishi offered a Galant for $99 a week, but did not adequately disclose a final payment of $10,500 and a deposit of $6250.

Holden's promotion of a Barina for $79 a week did not adequately disclose a $6656 final payment and a $2750 deposit.

Nissan's "finance offer" did not give figures for deposits and final payments, which varied depending on the model and were substantial percentages, the commission said.

The companies acknowledged that the small print was too small and could not be read and understood by people seeing the advertisements. - NZPA