Lease or Buy a Toyota 4Runner? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium costs $21,896 vs about $13,224 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,672, 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 | $519/mo × 39 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,999 |
| Total over 39 months | $23,721 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $21,896 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $21,896 |
Toyota's California-region offer on the 2026 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium, 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 | $59,893 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $56,706 |
| Resale at 3 years (−27.4%) | −$43,482 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $13,224 |
| Financed at 4.99% APR, 3 years | $18,773 |
Price = the $59,893 MSRP minus the 5.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the 4Runner (69 verified deals). Finance line: Toyota's 4.99% / 48-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $8,672 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $3,123 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 | $21,896 | $13,224 | Buy |
| 4 | $29,195 | $18,015 | Buy |
| 5 | $36,493 | $20,051 | Buy |
| 6 | $43,792 | $21,728 | Buy |
| 7 | $51,091 | $25,382 | Buy |
| 8 | $58,389 | $27,658 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,999 due at signing + $519 × 38 remaining payments = $23,721 over 39 months, prorated to 36 months ($21,896). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $59,893 MSRP minus the 5.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the 4Runner (69 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 72.6% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Toyota 4Runner — 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 4Runner?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium costs $21,896 vs about $13,224 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $8,672, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Toyota offer ($519/mo for 39 months, $3,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $59,893 MSRP minus the 5.3% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the 4Runner (69 verified deals), less the 27.4% a 3-year-old 4Runner loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a 4Runner lose in value in 3 years?
About 27.4% 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 $59,893 MSRP that is a resale value of about $43,482.
How long do you have to keep a 4Runner for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($13,224 vs $21,896 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the 4Runner lease-or-buy math?
With Toyota's 4.99% APR for 48 months offer (ends November 30, 2026), financing the full price adds about $5,549 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $18,773 vs $21,896 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.