Lease or Buy a Honda CR-V? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2027 CR-V LX costs $13,829 vs about $4,982 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,847, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Manufacturer lease programs, verified CarWhere deals and our depreciation report · Updated daily
Lease for 3 years
| Advertised payment | $289/mo × 39 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,999 |
| Total over 39 months | $14,981 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $13,829 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $13,829 |
Honda's California-region offer on the 2027 CR-V LX, ends January 4, 2027. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $34,570 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $32,569 |
| Resale at 3 years (−20.2%) | −$27,587 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $4,982 |
| Financed at 3.99% APR, 3 years | $7,024 |
Price = the $34,570 MSRP minus the 5.8% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the CR-V (71 verified deals). Finance line: Honda's 3.99% / 36-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $8,847 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $6,805 in favor of buying.
If you keep it longer
Leasing continuously at the same effective rate vs buying once and selling at year N (resale from our depreciation report; cash purchase).
| Years kept | Lease (continuous) | Buy and sell | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $13,829 | $4,982 | Buy |
| 4 | $18,439 | $7,713 | Buy |
| 5 | $23,048 | $9,649 | Buy |
| 6 | $27,658 | $11,170 | Buy |
| 7 | $32,268 | $13,210 | Buy |
| 8 | $36,877 | $15,007 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,999 due at signing + $289 × 38 remaining payments = $14,981 over 39 months, prorated to 36 months ($13,829). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $34,570 MSRP minus the 5.8% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the CR-V (71 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 79.8% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Honda CR-V — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy a CR-V?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2027 CR-V LX costs $13,829 vs about $4,982 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,847, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Honda offer ($289/mo for 39 months, $3,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $34,570 MSRP minus the 5.8% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the CR-V (71 verified deals), less the 20.2% a 3-year-old CR-V loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a CR-V lose in value in 3 years?
About 20.2% below the new price at 3 years old, from median used-listing prices vs the median new price in CarWhere's depreciation report (2026-10-25). On this $34,570 MSRP that is a resale value of about $27,587.
How long do you have to keep a CR-V for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($4,982 vs $13,829 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the CR-V lease-or-buy math?
With Honda's 3.99% APR for 36 months offer (ends January 4, 2027), financing the full price adds about $2,042 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $7,024 vs $13,829 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.