Need help figuring out what to lease (first timer)

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1

I’m totally new to the lease game and also haven’t purchased a new vehicle in over 20 years. My wife and I are in desperate need of replacing our 20+ year old vehicle. Here’s my criteria… would love some suggestions to help narrow our search (or suggest alternatives) and find the best deal:

  • AWD or 4wd required
  • Suv or larger crossover
  • Love boxy styling of older range rovers, Land cruisers, g-wagon, etc. (but am realistic of our budget options)
  • Leather seats, brown if possible but is a nice to have
  • Monthly lease in range of $500-$800ish
  • Targeting 36 month lease term and 10-12k mileage but am flexible on these depending on deal

Models I’ve been looking into so far:

  • Jeep Wrangler Sahara
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (or other with more luxurious interior)
  • Infiniti QX60
  • Lexus TX 350
  • Lexus GX 550 Premium
  • Toyota Land Cruiser

Please help me narrow this list and/or suggest alternatives. Would love some suggestions on how to dig deeper to find best deals on these as well!

2

Most important is to learn lease variables and negotiables and how to use the below or your own spreadsheet to put together target lease payments/DAS.

3

You can only win if there’s a bank willing to offer such generous RV/MF/rebates that make it possible. For the last 2+ years that’s all been BEVs and some PHEVs. And that ended 9/30/25.

Your best bet is to own the Gx or TX long term

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4

If OP wants to try leasing, could make a strong argument for the Infiniti given current programs, no?

5

Also, it sounds like you haven’t had recent auto installment loans or auto leases (mortgages, credit cards don’t count). Be prepared that you may not get the best rates possible as you don’t have any recent history.

IMO if you keep it to relatively decent MSRP vehicles $50-60k (?) you may get what you’re looking for. Once you get into the $80-100k cars, it could be a crapshoot. But you won’t know till you try :grin: and some lenders/captives are more lenient than others.

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6

Successive Infiniti leases won’t beat a 6+ year ownership of a GX.

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7

All great tips, thank you so much for your contributions!

I’m concerned what I’ve read about Jeep (Stellantis). Has that reputation affect the lease market for Jeeps (like resale value for example)?

Any other makes/models specifically I should consider? We’ve also looked at Broncos but they fell off our list (just didn’t like them enough to justify the price tag).

8

If you want to lease QX60 is probably the best value from those. If you change your mind and decide to buy I would go with GX.

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People here only took Jeep leases when they were dirt cheap and that’s no longer the case.

This isn’t really a hackable segment right now. The best choices from a purchase POV due to value retention would be

Any Toyota or Lexus SUV

Kia Sorento or Telluride

Hyundai Santa Fe or Palisade

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10

Agreed, but other factors which may come into play for OP. Perhaps OP doesn’t want to drop 70+k and/or finance. Cost of cash and what you can make in the market is a consideration if you can get your effective monthly cost close enough on a low/1st out of pocket lease. The Infiniti is an appealing lease this month for those who want an affordable 3 Row non EV.

Agree though, purchasing most any Toyota/Lexus product will always win in the long run from a cost of ownership standpoint.

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The Infiniti, at least on the east coast, is only a good lease in certain markets like the NYC metro with the extra lease cash. Until someone posts a calculator for the OP’s zip it’s moot.

And the OP never mentioned a third row. The QX60 just happens to have one but it wasn’t in the requirements and many/most of the SUVs in the OP’s initial list don’t have one.

I’d agree it’s a good option for people specifically looking for three row crossovers in the right metro area(s)

OP can finance most of the cars in my second post in their monthly budget.

If a GX or TX happens to be out of budget then let’s be sensible about it and select something else. Leasing an unhacked car because one couldn’t afford to buy/finance it is the worst kind of financial mistake when it comes to cars. It’s like the guy on his second successive Urus lease just on a different scale.

12

Agree with everything. I (apparently wrongly) assumed QX60 was more or less hackable in all regions, so that was the premise I was working under.

13

Thanks again all. I’ve seen multiple replies about considering purchasing the GX instead of leasing any of these options, but from what I can tell that would put me in $1k+/month territory at current finance rates, assuming minimal money down. I’m in the Seattle area. Have not seen many compelling purchase finance offers lately. The GX would be an amazing vehicle though. Oh and fwiw, I don’t care about the 3rd row in the QX60. It just also looked like a nice vehicle and thought I had seen some interesting lease offers recently.

14

If you don’t want to buy the GX or financing it doesn’t work in your budget then forget about the GX. GX leases are atrocious.

There’s really no getting around the central fact: choosing a poor lease (defined as when buying and owning for 4+ years is fiscally superior) is a really bad decision. Stick to your monthly budget and finance something within that budget when the alternative is a poor lease.

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15

What would it have cost to lease it?

I don’t think anyone’s trying to say that financing the GX is “cheap,” it’s just that it might be a better use of $ than leasing the same car would be.

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This is a short-sighted way of looking at the cost of purchasing.

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