Cheapest Lease Deals: August 2017

Finding the cheapest lease on a car isn’t always easy. While everyone loves a low monthly payment, it’s meaningless if the amount due at signing is exorbitantly high. That’s we looked at the effective monthly cost of over 500 leases to find the cheapest leases in August.

Special offers ahead of Labor Day are red hot, with leases starting at just $129/month. We’re even seeing some of the best deals of the year now that new 2018 cars and trucks are beginning to arrive at dealers.

We’ve found the 5 cheapest leases in each segment and listed them by effective cost when factoring in both the payment and amount at signing. We’ve even found unadvertised deals that you won’t find anywhere else.

Be sure to also explore our monthly analysis of the best lease deals. Offers can vary by region and assume a Southern California location unless noted otherwise. Check back for updates based on the latest available information.

Last updated 3:00 pm Friday, August 11

Cheapest Small Car Leases

Once again, the 2017 Jetta is the cheapest lease on a small car. In Western states like California, the car features an extremely affordable lease starting at just $129/month. However, the Kia Forte isn’t far behind with an effective cost just under the $200 mark.

The Sentra and Fit battle it out with nearly the same price, although we consider the Nissan a superior deal given that its MSRP is $2,350 higher. Finally, the Mazda3 continues to be a sporty yet affordable alternative thanks to an aggressive model year-end sales event.

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Cheapest Midsize Car Leases

The 2017 Passat continues to be the cheapest lease on a midsize car, undercutting every single one of its rivals. In Western states, VW is offering a promotional lease starting at just $179/month, making the vehicle cheaper to lease than smaller and less-equipped cars.

The majority of its competitors are holding at $189/month with $1,999 due at signing, making it an excellent opportunity to shop around to find the best fit for your needs. Note that both the 2018 Camry and 2018 Accord are redesigns and could feature competitive offers this fall.

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Cheapest Small SUV Leases

The 2017 Honda HR-V is once again the cheapest lease on a small SUV. However, its advantage over competitors like the Mazda CX-3 is a mere $2/month. For just a little more, the Rogue Sport represents a stylish alternative featuring an all-new design and the latest technology.

Similarly, the redesigned 2018 Crosstrek is an attractive choice, although Subaru is still only advertising a deal on the entry-level model with a manual transmission. Interestingly, it’s only $10/month more expensive than the outgoing generation, making it a surprisingly reasonable upgrade.

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Cheapest Midsize SUV Leases

The Kia Sorento continues to be the cheapest lease on a midsize SUV. Whether it’s last year’s model or this year’s version, both choices undercut most competitors by quite a lot. The 2017 Sorento is even more affordable than the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport despite having a higher MSRP thanks to more favorable discounts.

Rounding out our list, the Ford Flex and Ford Edge offer two very different driving experiences for roughly the same effective cost. However, the Flex is a superior value because it’s $12/month cheaper to lease despite having an MSRP that’s $6,180 more expensive.

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Cheapest Truck Leases

The 2017 Chevy Colorado is this month’s cheapest lease on a truck. Last month, a big price cut lowered its effective cost from $378 to just $336. Interestingly, that’s a good bit more affordable than its sibling, the 2017 GMC Canyon ($439).

For something larger, the RAM 1500 is one of the most affordable choices with an effective cost just under $400. The Ford F-150 isn’t far behind, but there’s a catch. To get the best deal, you’ll have to pick an STX SuperCrew with the optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine.

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Cheapest Luxury Car Leases

With a monthly payment starting at just $199/month, the 2017 Acura ILX is this month’s cheapest lease on a luxury car. Ever since a price cut in June, it has been a stellar lease value with the lowest effective cost out of anything in its segment.

The Buick Regal is an affordable alternative, but the best deals are focused squarely on the Sport Touring model. We consider the Volvo S60 a superior value. It’s just $8/month more expensive despite being $9,350 more expensive on paper due to more favorable discounts.

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Cheapest Luxury SUV Leases

It’s hard to beat the Buick Encore when it comes to being the cheapest lease on a luxury SUV. Even better, current non-GM lessees may be eligible for a $1,500 conquest bonus that can reduce the upfront costs significantly. If you think you might qualify, be sure to ask your dealer.

For something larger, the Acura RDX ranks as an excellent choice for lessees. It’s the best time of year to pick up a 2017 RDX thanks to favorable incentives now that the 2018 model has arrived. It’s even more affordable than the Lincoln MKC despite having a higher MSRP.

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