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Which Cars Hold Their Value for Lease Buyouts? A Data-Backed Guide for 2026 and Beyond
Published 12/18/25
Updated 1/29/26
TL;DR (9 min read): Not all leased cars hold their value equally. Based on Lease End’s proprietary analysis of more than 18,000 lease buyouts in 2025, certain brands and models consistently show stronger equity, higher popularity, and lower replacement costs. Hondas dominate the value category. SUVs remain the most popular buyout choice.
Lease buyouts are exploding in popularity, and for good reason. When drivers reach the end of a lease, they want to know one thing: Is the car in my driveway actually worth owning?
This question used to be answered by gut instinct. Now you have data.
Introduction: Why “Value” Matters More Than Ever When Buying Out a Lease
Lease End has facilitated tens of thousands of lease buyouts in the last few years. That gives us a rare nationwide picture of which vehicles actually hold their value when the lease ends, which ones produce surprising equity, and which ones drivers genuinely love enough to keep.
Spoiler: Some models are practically begging to be bought out.
In this guide, we will walk through:
• The vehicle types that dominate modern lease buyout behavior
• The brands that consistently create strong lease buyout value
• The top models that hold their value most successfully
• The equity winners based on Lease End’s proprietary 2025 dataset
• How to interpret these numbers when deciding whether to buy out your own vehicle
• The brands that consistently create strong lease buyout value
• The top models that hold their value most successfully
• The equity winners based on Lease End’s proprietary 2025 dataset
• How to interpret these numbers when deciding whether to buy out your own vehicle
What “Value” Really Means in a Lease Buyout
Different drivers define value differently, but across the board, three questions reliably shape buyout decisions:
- Does the car hold enough market value to justify the buyout price?
- Has the car proven reliable, practical, and enjoyable to drive over the last few years?
- Would replacing it cost more than keeping it?
A lease buyout is not just a financial decision. It is a lifestyle one. Some drivers buy out a lease because they love the vehicle. Some because the alternative is too expensive. Some because their car is aging beautifully and they don't want to start over with something unknown.
Lease End evaluates buyout value using five categories:
• Popularity (how many drivers choose to buy these vehicles)
• Reliability (based on car performance)
• Replacement Cost (what shoppers would pay to get something similar)
• Equity (how the market value compares to the residual)
• Mileage Overage Behavior (how drivers use the car, which signals long-term desirability)
• Reliability (based on car performance)
• Replacement Cost (what shoppers would pay to get something similar)
• Equity (how the market value compares to the residual)
• Mileage Overage Behavior (how drivers use the car, which signals long-term desirability)
This framework powers our Lease End Buyout Score and gives you a clearer understanding of why certain cars rise to the top.
What The Most Popular Lease Buyout Vehicles Tell Us About Value
Across more than 18,000 lease buyout transactions in 2025, popularity alone reveals a lot about what drivers trust enough to keep. Popularity does not always mean highest equity or highest price. But it can. And it also signals confidence.
Note: Regardless if you see your vehicle on the list or not, reference our Make and Model Lease Buyout Index for info on doing a lease buyout with your manufacturer.
Based on Lease End’s proprietary data:
Top Vehicle Types by Popularity in 2025
SUVs are dominating the buyout landscape.
- SUVs: 65%
- Sedans: 18%
- Trucks: 14%
- Minivans, Coupes, Hatchbacks, Wagons, Convertibles: 3%
Interpretation:
SUVs over-perform because they offer utility, space, and long-term practicality. These are vehicles people keep because the lifestyle fit is strong.
SUVs over-perform because they offer utility, space, and long-term practicality. These are vehicles people keep because the lifestyle fit is strong.
Top Manufacturers That Hold Their Value in Lease Buyouts
The brands below represent the most frequent buyouts, based purely on customer choices across Lease End transactions.
Top 10 Manufacturers by Popularity in 2025
1. Honda
2. Toyota
3. Jeep
4. Kia
5. Chevrolet
6. Volkswagen
7. Hyundai
8. Subaru
9. Ram
10. Mazda
Why this matters:
Brands with strong buyout interest generally offer:
• Solid reliability
• Predictable ownership costs
• High customer satisfaction
• Fair replacement cost relative to alternatives
Brands with strong buyout interest generally offer:
• Solid reliability
• Predictable ownership costs
• High customer satisfaction
• Fair replacement cost relative to alternatives
This list also mirrors national resale-value leaders reported by Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, though the ranking below is based exclusively on Lease End’s internal data, not third-party studies.
Top Vehicles by Popularity in 2025
These are the 15 vehicles drivers most commonly chose to buy out:
1. Ram 1500
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Honda CR-V
4. Honda Civic
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. Toyota Tacoma
7. Honda Accord
8. Mazda CX-5
9. Honda Pilot
10. Honda HR-V
11. Chevrolet Equinox
12. Kia Forte
13. Volkswagen Tiguan
14. Hyundai Tucson
15. Subaru Crosstrek
You will notice something very quickly: Honda dominates the popularity list. As you will see next, Honda also dominates the equity list.
Which Cars Hold Their Value Best? The Top 10 Equity Winners
Based on Lease End’s proprietary 2025 dataset, measuring average equity at time of buyout.
This is where the story gets interesting. These 10 vehicles produced the most average equity at the moment of buyout, meaning the difference between residual value and market value was in the customer’s favor.
Every one of these models averaged over $5,000 in equity.
The top three were Hondas.
| Vehicle | Average Equity | Average New Monthly Loan Payment |
| Honda CR-V | $7,950 | $470 |
| Honda Accord | $7,378 | $461 |
| Honda Civic | $6,850 | $417 |
| Toyota Tacoma | $6,598 | $596 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $6,242 | $443 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $5,874 | $420 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | $5,739 | $433 |
| Honda Pilot | $5,597 | $583 |
| Ram 1500 | $5,570 | $666 |
| Honda HR-V | $5,403 | $405 |
Key Takeaways
- Honda is a value powerhouse.
Four of the top ten equity producers are Hondas, and they occupy the top three slots. This aligns with third-party studies showing Honda’s historically strong resale value, but our numbers reflect real-world buyout behavior from Lease End customers. - Truck and SUV value remains strong.
Toyota Tacoma, Ram 1500, Mazda CX-5, Pilot, and Tiguan hold their value because used truck and SUV demand has remained high nationwide. - Equity does not equal low payments.
Each model shows that both affordable and premium vehicles can produce high equity. It is not about sticker price. It is about the gap between residual value and market reality.
This is why Lease End measures equity separately within the Buyout Score.
How to Use This Data When Deciding Whether to Buy Out Your Lease
If your vehicle appears on any of these lists, odds are good that buying it out could be financially beneficial. But even if it is not listed, your personal equity story may still be excellent.
Ask yourself:
• Does my car have strong resale value in the used market?
• Is my residual value lower than what similar cars are selling for right now?
• Would replacing my vehicle be more expensive than keeping it?
• Have I taken good care of the car and want to avoid lease return stress?
• Do I want predictable ownership instead of rising lease rates?
• Is my residual value lower than what similar cars are selling for right now?
• Would replacing my vehicle be more expensive than keeping it?
• Have I taken good care of the car and want to avoid lease return stress?
• Do I want predictable ownership instead of rising lease rates?
If the answer to any of these is yes, use Lease End’s Buyout Score Calculator to evaluate your specific vehicle.
Why Lease End’s Buyout Score Helps You Make This Decision Faster
Most drivers do not know:
• How their car ranks on popularity
• Whether their model typically holds value
• If similar vehicles show strong equity
• Whether buyers nationwide love or leave this model
• How high their replacement cost would be
• How their car ranks on popularity
• Whether their model typically holds value
• If similar vehicles show strong equity
• Whether buyers nationwide love or leave this model
• How high their replacement cost would be
Lease End uses its proprietary data to calculate a score from 0 to 100 that tells you how strong of a buyout candidate your car is.
It uses the exact categories mentioned earlier, and it does all of this using only your VIN, license plate, and email.
Final Thoughts: The Best Cars to Buy Out Are the Ones That Hold Their Value
The right lease buyout decision is not about hype. It is about data. Equity. Replacement cost. Popularity. Lifestyle fit. And a clear comparison between keeping the car you know and gambling on the car you do not.
Across tens of thousands of Lease End buyouts, here is the simplest trend we see year after year:
Drivers who buy out strong-value vehicles tend to save money, gain stability, and avoid dealership headaches.
Read More: The Complete Guide to Lease Buyout Costs
Start your lease buyout right now by simply filling out your VIN or license plate number in the form below: