Lease or Buy a Lexus NX? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 NX 350 costs $16,550 vs about $11,881 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $4,669, 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 | $349/mo × 42 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $4,999 |
| Total over 42 months | $19,308 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $16,550 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $16,550 |
Lexus's California-region offer on the 2026 NX 350, ends November 30, 2026. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $48,640 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $46,561 |
| Resale at 3 years (−28.7%) | −$34,680 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $11,881 |
| Financed at 2.99% APR, 3 years | $14,058 |
Price = the $48,640 MSRP minus the 4.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the NX (11 verified deals). Finance line: Lexus's 2.99% / 36-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $4,669 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $2,492 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 | $16,550 | $11,881 | Buy |
| 4 | $22,067 | $14,069 | Buy |
| 5 | $27,583 | $20,101 | Buy |
| 6 | $33,100 | $21,901 | Buy |
| 7 | $38,617 | $24,381 | Buy |
| 8 | $44,133 | $26,327 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $4,999 due at signing + $349 × 41 remaining payments = $19,308 over 42 months, prorated to 36 months ($16,550). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $48,640 MSRP minus the 4.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the NX (11 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 71.3% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Lexus NX — 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 an NX?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 NX 350 costs $16,550 vs about $11,881 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $4,669, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Lexus offer ($349/mo for 42 months, $4,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $48,640 MSRP minus the 4.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the NX (11 verified deals), less the 28.7% a 3-year-old NX loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a NX lose in value in 3 years?
About 28.7% 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 $48,640 MSRP that is a resale value of about $34,680.
How long do you have to keep a NX for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($11,881 vs $16,550 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the NX lease-or-buy math?
With Lexus's 2.99% APR for 36 months offer (ends November 30, 2026), financing the full price adds about $2,177 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $14,058 vs $16,550 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.