Lease or Buy a Toyota Sienna? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Sienna XLE costs $20,493 vs about $9,466 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $11,027, 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 | $479/mo × 39 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,999 |
| Total over 39 months | $22,201 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $20,493 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $20,493 |
Toyota's California-region offer on the 2026 Sienna XLE, 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 | $52,150 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $49,674 |
| Resale at 3 years (−22.9%) | −$40,208 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $9,466 |
Price = the $52,150 MSRP minus the 4.7% median discount CarWhere buyers got across 717 verified Toyota deals (too few Sienna deals to use the model alone). No manufacturer APR offer is on file, so financing interest is left out (cash purchase).
Buying wins by $11,027 over 3 years.
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 | $20,493 | $9,466 | Buy |
| 4 | $27,324 | $13,638 | Buy |
| 5 | $34,155 | $15,985 | Buy |
| 6 | $40,986 | $22,765 | Buy |
| 7 | $47,817 | $24,694 | Buy |
| 8 | $54,648 | $28,240 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,999 due at signing + $479 × 38 remaining payments = $22,201 over 39 months, prorated to 36 months ($20,493). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $52,150 MSRP minus the 4.7% median discount CarWhere buyers got across 717 verified Toyota deals (too few Sienna deals to use the model alone); sold after 3 years at 77.1% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Toyota Sienna — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance and financing interest.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy a Sienna?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Sienna XLE costs $20,493 vs about $9,466 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $11,027, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Toyota offer ($479/mo for 39 months, $3,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $52,150 MSRP minus the 4.7% median discount CarWhere buyers got across 717 verified Toyota deals (too few Sienna deals to use the model alone), less the 22.9% a 3-year-old Sienna loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Sienna lose in value in 3 years?
About 22.9% 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 $52,150 MSRP that is a resale value of about $40,208.
How long do you have to keep a Sienna for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($9,466 vs $20,493 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.