- The average leased vehicle from the 2019 model year is now worth $7,208 more than its projected lease-end value, aka "residual value."
- The big winner is the Ford Mustang, which on average is worth a whopping $11,852 more today than what was projected in 2019.
- Of course, car prices in general have gone wild since 2019, but if you signed your lease before the pandemic hit, chances are you've got some bonus money in your pocket.
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Average Leased Car Now Worth $7K More Than Expected
If you leased a 2019 vehicle, your timing was impeccable
- byJosh SadlierDirector of Content StrategyJosh Sadlier has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
- May 22nd, 2022
Since when did leasing a car add up to money in your pocket? Well, since COVID, apparently, because if you leased a vehicle from the 2019 model year, it's now worth an average of $7K more than automakers projected it would be worth back then.
According to an Edmunds market analysis, the average leased 2019 vehicle is worth $7,208 more today than the residual value in the lease — and in case you didn't know, the residual value is the price that you have a right to buy the car for at the end of the lease. So, if your lease is about to expire, you can buy the car and likely resell it at a handsome profit. And even if you've got months left on your lease, you might be able to get a lease buyout that still leaves you comfortably in the black.
Top 25 leased cars: Residual value vs. trade-in value
Here are the top 25 leased vehicles from the 2019 model year that have higher trade-in values now than residual values. The vehicles are ordered by the percent difference between today's trade-in value and the original residual value.
Leased Vehicles With the Greatest Difference in 2022 Trade-in Value vs. Original Estimated Residual Value
(2019 model year, sorted by Difference in Percent)
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Make | Model | 2019 Residual | 2022 Trade-In Current Actual Cash Value | Difference in Dollars | Difference in Percent |
| Ford | Mustang | $17,363 | $29,215 | $11,852 | 68% |
| Toyota | Sienna | $21,641 | $33,066 | $11,425 | 53% |
| Chrysler | Pacifica | $20,752 | $31,376 | $10,624 | 51% |
| GMC | Yukon | $36,831 | $54,500 | $17,669 | 48% |
| Chevrolet | Tahoe | $33,209 | $49,101 | $15,893 | 48% |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $22,408 | $32,973 | $10,565 | 47% |
| Lexus | IS 300 | $21,653 | $31,521 | $9,868 | 46% |
| Toyota | Avalon | $21,474 | $31,087 | $9,613 | 45% |
| Honda | Odyssey | $22,927 | $32,797 | $9,870 | 43% |
| Toyota | 4Runner | $27,655 | $38,983 | $11,327 | 41% |
| Lexus | ES 350 | $25,519 | $35,854 | $10,334 | 40% |
| Volkswagen | Atlas | $24,333 | $34,056 | $9,722 | 40% |
| Cadillac | XT4 | $24,599 | $34,149 | $9,550 | 39% |
| Dodge | Durango | $24,791 | $34,401 | $9,610 | 39% |
| Land Rover | Range Rover Sport | $49,947 | $69,293 | $19,346 | 39% |
| Genesis | G70 | $23,344 | $32,284 | $8,940 | 38% |
| Cadillac | Escalade | $45,182 | $60,988 | $15,806 | 35% |
| Ram | 1500 | $29,256 | $38,575 | $9,319 | 32% |
| Audi | Q7 | $36,671 | $47,589 | $10,918 | 30% |
| Toyota | Tundra | $31,940 | $41,213 | $9,273 | 29% |
| Lexus | GX 460 | $34,032 | $43,589 | $9,557 | 28% |
| Lexus | RX 350L | $31,984 | $40,913 | $8,929 | 28% |
| Volvo | XC90 | $36,730 | $45,620 | $8,890 | 24% |
| BMW | X5 | $42,131 | $51,911 | $9,781 | 23% |
| Ford | Expedition | $41,789 | $51,091 | $9,302 | 22% |
Edmunds says
If you leased a 2019 vehicle, here's to perfect timing! Now, put that lease equity to good use and head into today's wild marketplace with a lot more money in your pocket than you expected. For more on how to turn your lease into cash, check out our full article with step-by-step instructions.
