You could lease a gray Toyota RAV4 like everyone else, but this is a new year, so we’re not going to tackle ordinary SUVs in this month’s lease roundup. We’re here to help you make questionable financial decisions as the world teeters on the brink of a recession.
Enter the most exciting and obscure performance SUVs you can lease right now. Most of these SUVs are vehicles we love to drive, even if the next trim down is a much better value. These cars make statements about an owner’s priorities—namely, that spending more money on low-volume, high-performance models is worth every penny.
Check Our Leasing Guide First
Make sure you first read our leasing guide. We’ve covered everything that may get glossed over in the showroom: advertising fees, money factors, residuals, legal implications, and all the other fine print that could cost you thousands more than you’d expect. When comparing similar cars, be aware that a lower monthly price often demands more money up front. As with any national lease special, enter your ZIP code on an automaker’s website to check if these deals apply to your area. Prices do not include taxes or fees and may be higher or lower depending on your location. Research is always your friend.
$379 per month/$3378 at signing
No term/unlimited miles
Henrik Fisker’s previous company failed spectacularly a decade ago, defaulting on $168 million in federal loans and reneging on a promise to then Vice President Joe Biden that it would build cars in Delaware. Now that everyone’s memories are wiped clean, Fisker’s current aspiration is to sell affordable compact electric SUVs with the industry’s oddest lease. It’s a month-to-month contract that requires $2999 upfront but no time commitment. Fisker allows 30,000 miles a year, about double what the average American drives. Chase is backing the financing, and that $379 per month promises a base Ocean Sport with a 250-mile estimated range. Production is underway, and Fisker says it will deliver anywhere in the country for an extra fee.
$539 per month/$4499 at signing
36 months/30,000 miles
A tall-boy Mini makes for a strange SUV. The Countryman is already a defiant weirdo even though it’s temporarily lost its segment-exclusive manual transmission. As a big Mini, there’s ample room inside without causing the exterior to bloat. The John Cooper Works version paints the town (and its roof) red with a 301-hp turbo-four, an ultra-stiff suspension, and a snorty exhaust. With all-wheel drive, we hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Not only is the Countryman JCW the quickest Mini we’ve ever tested, it’s only 0.1 second behind the Mercedes-AMG GLA45 and a lot quicker than the Maserati Grecale that’s also on this list.
$608 per month/$5768 at signing
39 months/34,125 miles
Ford’s lease prices are all over the place, and location plays a major part. The price above is for the 90210 zip code, but depending where you call home, you could pay 100 bucks less or more each month. The signing payment will change, too, but what won’t change is the car. The ST is a silent authority among the masses of Explorers, with its 400-hp turbo V-6, Brembo brakes, and surprisingly agile chassis setup. This is a quick SUV with a level of power and performance typically reserved for luxury brands.
$779 per month/$5343 at signing
36 months/30,000 miles
Anything Mercedes-Benz builds, AMG rips apart and builds back beefier. The modest entry-level GLA-class converts to a full-blown Euro hot hatch in GLA45 trim. It’s a Benz that stares down Honda Civic Type Rs, Hyundai Kona Ns, and modified E46 BMWs. It’s loud and not all that comfortable or luxurious, but the GLA45 does have the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine (in Europe; we get the 382-hp version). As usual, this lease price doesn’t include any factory options.
$829 per month/$6999 at signing
36 months/36,000 miles
When the nosy neighbors see a three-row SUV with racing stripes in their cul-de-sac, they’re upset. When they hear it cold-starting every day, they’ll skip your house when they mail holiday cards (ask us how we know). Even after a refresh that brought a new dash and the latest infotainment, the Durango SRT 392 is still a dinosaur, but it’s also a booming, rattling good time. What other SUV seats seven, has a 6.4-liter V-8, and tows up to 8700 pounds? Despite its age, the Durango SRT beat the MDX Type S in a comparison test. Sometimes old dogs don’t need new tricks.
$960 per month/$5999 at signing
36 months/30,000 miles
Despite appearing at the expensive end of this list, this Maserati Grecale lease isn’t for the 523-hp Trofeo. That would put it all the way at the bottom. Instead, the base GT gets you a trident badge and a 296-hp turbo inline-four that we found to be buzzy and uncompelling, especially since a base Porsche Macan sells for nearly as much. But in this market, a boutique SUV that no one else has seen before carries some weight.
$1059 per month/$7139 at signing
36 months/30,000 miles
A $1000 monthly allowance goes a long way at a BMW dealer. Besides this hot-rod X3, you could drive away in a base 840i coupe, a plug-in-hybrid X5, a loaded-up M550i, the electric i4 M50, or even a three-row X7. In the M department, the M3 Competition and the X3 M are priced within 10 bucks of each other. We consider the X3 a superior value—it’s an M3 with a hatch and more ground clearance. It doubles as a family vehicle and won’t spur unprovoked street races. The X3’s ride is stiff, and the price is steep, though this lease at least includes the Executive Package and wireless charging.
$1359 per month/$14,533 at signing
42 months/35,000 miles
Italian performance SUVs are slowly turning into a fully fledged segment thanks to the hard work of Alfa Romeo and Maserati. The major difference between the Stelvio Quadrifoglio and any Levante is that the former’s turbo V-6 isn’t made by Ferrari (it’s merely Ferrari derived). That’s fine—the four-leaf-clover-badged Alfa is one of the quickest SUVs we’ve ever tested. It’s the brilliant Giulia, just lifted a few inches.
