Lease or Buy a Subaru Crosstrek? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Crosstrek Base costs $11,459 vs about $8,728 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $2,731, 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 | $235/mo × 36 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,234 |
| Total over 36 months | $11,459 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $11,459 |
Subaru's California-region offer on the 2026 Crosstrek Base, ends November 29, 2026. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $28,445 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $26,762 |
| Resale at 3 years (−36.6%) | −$18,034 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $8,728 |
| Financed at 3.99% APR, 3 years | $10,810 |
Price = the $28,445 MSRP minus the 5.9% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Crosstrek (6 verified deals). Finance line: Subaru's 3.99% / 48-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $2,731 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $649 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 | $11,459 | $8,728 | Buy |
| 4 | $15,279 | $9,752 | Buy |
| 5 | $19,098 | $10,833 | Buy |
| 6 | $22,918 | $11,885 | Buy |
| 7 | $26,738 | $13,478 | Buy |
| 8 | $30,557 | $14,616 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,234 due at signing + $235 × 35 remaining payments = $11,459 over 36 months. You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $28,445 MSRP minus the 5.9% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Crosstrek (6 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 63.4% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Subaru Crosstrek — 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 Crosstrek?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Crosstrek Base costs $11,459 vs about $8,728 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $2,731, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Subaru offer ($235/mo for 36 months, $3,234 due at signing); the buy side is the $28,445 MSRP minus the 5.9% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Crosstrek (6 verified deals), less the 36.6% a 3-year-old Crosstrek loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Crosstrek lose in value in 3 years?
About 36.6% 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 $28,445 MSRP that is a resale value of about $18,034.
How long do you have to keep a Crosstrek for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($8,728 vs $11,459 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the Crosstrek lease-or-buy math?
With Subaru's 3.99% APR for 48 months offer (ends November 29, 2026), financing the full price adds about $2,082 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $10,810 vs $11,459 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.