Ranked worksheet · Episode 62
10 cheapest electric leases, ranked · October 2026
All payments: 36 months · 10,000 miles a year · before tax · $0 down · acquisition fee in the payment · good credit · general cash only. Real cost = payment plus fees at signing (about $400) spread over 36 months.
| Rank | Car | Priced in | Payment | Real cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2026 Honda Prologue EX 2WD | North Carolina | $350 | ≈ $361 |
| #2 | 2026 Kia Niro EV Wind | California | $358 | ≈ $369 |
| #3 | 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD | Texas | $446 | ≈ $457 |
| #4 | 2026 Kia EV6 Light Long Range AWD | Connecticut | $450 | ≈ $461 |
| #5 | 2027 Kia EV3 Wind | California | $465 | ≈ $476 |
| #6 | 2026 Toyota bZ XLE AWD | New York | $474 | ≈ $485 |
| #7 | 2026 Kia EV9 Wind AWD | San Francisco area | $521 | $540 |
| #8 | 2026 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Plus | California | $571 | ≈ $583 |
| #9 | 2026 BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe | Southern California | $575 | ≈ $586 |
| #10 | 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric | California | $611 | ≈ $622 |
North Carolina
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$2,000 if you own almost any 2011+ car · +$500 grads · +$500 military
California
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$3,500 first EV in California · +$500 military
Texas
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$500 grads · +$500 first responders · +$500 military
Connecticut
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$500 military
California
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$3,500 first EV in California · +$500 military
New York
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$5,000 Toyota lease loyalty (certificate) · +$500 grads · +$500 military
San Francisco area
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$500 military
California
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$3,500 first EV in California · +$1,000–1,250 Costco · +$500 Volvo owners
Southern California
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): +$1,000 BMW owners · +$1,000 recent grads · +$500 military / first responders
California
Extra cash if you qualify (not counted): No extra Mercedes cash this month
Due at signing = first month + doc and registration fees. In California the automaker cash is also taxed up front (the EV9 is ≈ $2,700 at signing in San Francisco). Ask for an itemized quote.
No Tesla here: Tesla sells direct at a fixed price, so there's no dealer discount to ask for and no automaker lease program to compare.
Conditional cash (loyalty, military, grads, first-EV programs) is listed under each car but never counted in the payment.
Automaker lease programs pulled 2026-10-15; dealer discounts from real listings and shopper reports. Programs change monthly and vary by region and credit. This is information, not financial advice: verify every number on a dealer rate sheet.
