Price & Comparison

This section explains where a monthly lease payment actually comes from. Every advertised deal is built from the same few inputs: the negotiated vehicle price (capitalized cost), the residual value the lender expects at the end, the money factor (the interest rate in disguise), the term and the mileage allowance, plus taxes and fees.

Once you can see those inputs, headline numbers like "$299 a month" stop being mysterious. You can check whether the price was actually negotiated, convert a money factor to an APR, and compare a lease with financing or buying on the same footing.

Start with the price guide for the big picture, then read the guides on what affects price, money factor, residual value and lease-versus-buy. The financing calculator in the tools section helps you price the buy side of the comparison. All dollar figures in these guides are illustrative examples unless a source is named, because advertised incentives and rates change month to month and vary by region.