Lease or Buy a Subaru WRX? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 WRX Base costs $15,003 vs about $6,916 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,087, 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 | $339/mo × 36 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,138 |
| Total over 36 months | $15,003 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $15,003 |
Subaru's California-region offer on the 2026 WRX 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 | $33,690 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $31,678 |
| Resale at 3 years (−26.5%) | −$24,762 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $6,916 |
| Financed at 0% APR, 3 years | $6,916 |
Price = the $33,690 MSRP minus the 6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the WRX (8 verified deals). Finance line: Subaru's 0% / 48-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $8,087 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $8,087 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 | $15,003 | $6,916 | Buy |
| 4 | $20,004 | $8,634 | Buy |
| 5 | $25,005 | $11,127 | Buy |
| 6 | $30,006 | $13,047 | Buy |
| 7 | $35,007 | $14,833 | Buy |
| 8 | $40,008 | $15,911 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,138 due at signing + $339 × 35 remaining payments = $15,003 over 36 months. You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $33,690 MSRP minus the 6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the WRX (8 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 73.5% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Subaru WRX — 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 WRX?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 WRX Base costs $15,003 vs about $6,916 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,087, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Subaru offer ($339/mo for 36 months, $3,138 due at signing); the buy side is the $33,690 MSRP minus the 6% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the WRX (8 verified deals), less the 26.5% a 3-year-old WRX loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a WRX 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 $33,690 MSRP that is a resale value of about $24,762.
How long do you have to keep a WRX for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($6,916 vs $15,003 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the WRX lease-or-buy math?
With Subaru's 0% APR for 48 months offer (ends November 29, 2026), financing the full price adds about $0 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $6,916 vs $15,003 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.