Lease or Buy a Lexus RX? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 RX 350 costs $20,064 vs about $13,298 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,766, 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 | $449/mo × 42 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $4,999 |
| Total over 42 months | $23,408 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $20,064 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $20,064 |
Lexus's California-region offer on the 2026 RX 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 | $55,604 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $54,167 |
| Resale at 3 years (−26.5%) | −$40,869 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $13,298 |
| Financed at 2.99% APR, 3 years | $16,439 |
Price = the $55,604 MSRP minus the 2.6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the RX (30 verified deals). Finance line: Lexus's 2.99% / 48-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $6,766 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $3,625 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 | $20,064 | $13,298 | Buy |
| 4 | $26,752 | $18,970 | Buy |
| 5 | $33,440 | $21,750 | Buy |
| 6 | $40,128 | $24,363 | Buy |
| 7 | $46,816 | $28,700 | Buy |
| 8 | $53,504 | $29,812 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $4,999 due at signing + $449 × 41 remaining payments = $23,408 over 42 months, prorated to 36 months ($20,064). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $55,604 MSRP minus the 2.6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the RX (30 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 73.5% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Lexus RX — 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 RX?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 RX 350 costs $20,064 vs about $13,298 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,766, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Lexus offer ($449/mo for 42 months, $4,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $55,604 MSRP minus the 2.6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the RX (30 verified deals), less the 26.5% a 3-year-old RX loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a RX lose in value in 3 years?
About 26.5% 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 $55,604 MSRP that is a resale value of about $40,869.
How long do you have to keep a RX for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($13,298 vs $20,064 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the RX lease-or-buy math?
With Lexus's 2.99% APR for 48 months offer (ends November 30, 2026), financing the full price adds about $3,141 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $16,439 vs $20,064 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.