Ranked worksheet · Episode 63
13 October leases ranked by real monthly cost, by budget · October 2026
All payments: $0 down · good credit · 10,000 miles a year · before tax (tax adds roughly 5 to 10 percent) · acquisition fee in the payment · general cash only · lease length per car. Real cost = (payment × (months − 1) + due at signing) ÷ months: the money at signing spread over the lease.
| Rank | Car | Priced in | Lease | Payment | Due at signing | Real cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $400 | ||||||
| #1 | 2026 Hyundai Tucson SEL Plus AWD | New York area | 36 months | $303 | $878 | $319 |
| #2 | 2026 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD | Detroit area | 36 months | $362 | $875 | $376 |
| $400s | ||||||
| #3 | 2026 Subaru Ascent Premium 7-seat | Boston area | 36 months | $389 | $1,290 | $414 |
| #4 | 2026 Toyota Tundra SR5 CrewMax 4WD | Texas | 36 months | $421 | $720 | $429 |
| #5 | 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X | Boston area | 24 months | $427 | $1,330 | $465 |
| #6 | 2026 Hyundai Palisade SEL 7-seat AWD | Chicago area | 24 months | $448 | $1,144 | $477 |
| #7 | 2026 Kia EV6 Light Long Range | Los Angeles | 36 months | $479 | $1,014 | $494 |
| $500s | ||||||
| #8 | 2026 Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD | Atlanta area | 24 months | $491 | $1,428 | $530 |
| #9 | 2026 Kia EV9 Wind AWD | San Francisco area | 36 months | $521 | $1,191 | $540 |
| #10 | 2027 INFINITI QX60 Luxe AWD | New York | 24 months | $567 | $1,140 | $591 |
| $600+ | ||||||
| #11 | 2026 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew 4x4 | Dallas area | 39 months | $655 | $1,030 | $665 |
| #12 | 2026 Lexus RX 350 Premium AWD | Philadelphia area | 36 months | $648 | $1,300 | $666 |
| #13 | 2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Plus plug-in hybrid | Florida | 36 months | $668 | $2,070 | $707 |
Budget groups are by real cost, not payment.
New York area · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Detroit area · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Boston area · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Texas · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Boston area · 24 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Chicago area · 24 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Los Angeles · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Atlanta area · 24 months · 10,000 mi/yr
San Francisco area · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
New York · 24 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Dallas area · 39 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Philadelphia area · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Florida · 36 months · 10,000 mi/yr
Due at signing = first month plus doc and registration fees, before tax. Every $1,000 at signing adds about $28 a month on a 3-year lease and about $42 on a 2-year lease. At the dealer, ask for two numbers: the payment AND the total due at signing.
Each car is priced in the region where its own episode found the deal; lease cash and money factor change by region.
Two-year leases jump more from payment to real cost: the same fees are spread over fewer months.
Automaker lease programs re-checked 2026-10-19 (Ram and Lexus RX again 2026-10-20), all unchanged; dealer discounts from real listings and shopper reports. MSRP, residual, money factor and lease cash as shown in each car's own episode. Programs change monthly and vary by region and credit. This is information, not financial advice: verify every number on a dealer rate sheet.
