What is considered a good lease payment in 2026?

A common rule of thumb is that a good lease payment is roughly 1% of the vehicle's MSRP per month. For a $40,000 car, that means a payment around $400/month. For a $55,000 SUV, roughly $550/month. This is a starting benchmark, not a hard rule. Actual payments depend on money factor, residual value, term length, mileage allowance, and any drive-off amount. Getting quotes from multiple dealers helps you determine whether a specific payment is competitive for that vehicle.