How We Evaluate Lease Deals

We analyze every lease deal using a consistent, transparent framework.

1. Payment as % of MSRP

The monthly payment divided by MSRP gives us a normalized comparison metric. Payments under 1% of MSRP are considered strong deals.

2. Money Factor Competitiveness

We compare the offered money factor against the manufacturer's base rate and current market rates. Subvented (subsidized) rates are flagged as particularly attractive.

3. Residual Value Strength

Higher residual values indicate lower depreciation costs. We compare residuals against segment averages and historical trends.

4. Total Cost of Lease

We calculate the total out-of-pocket cost including all payments, due-at-signing amounts, and typical end-of-lease fees.

5. Value Relative to Segment

Deals are compared against others in the same vehicle segment to identify true standout offers.