Looking for a cheap car lease? Choosing a new Mazda might be right for you. The Mazda brand is known for their quirky yet elegant looks, driving refinement, affordable price, and sporty ride.

If you are looking for a well-made car with distinguished looks and sharp handling, you better take a look at the latest Mazda lease deals for May 2012.

Mazda Mazda 3

Mazda dealers are currently offering low monthly lease rates for the 2012 Mazda3. Lease prices starts at only $185 per month for 36 months with around $2,000 due at lease signing.

You can also lease the new 2013 Mazda3 for as low as $224/month for 36 months with less than $2,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda Mazda6

The Mazda6 is one of the most talented sport sedans in the $20k budget range. Lease deals for the 2012 Mazda6 starts at $209 per month for 36 months.

You can also lease the new 2013 Mazda3 for as little as $249 per month for 36 months with less than $2,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda CX-5

Despite the onslaught of new crossover vehicles, the compact Mazda CX-5 manages to stand out from the rest with sporty styling, sharp steering, and a well composed ride.

Lease deals for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 starts at $239 per month for 36 months with around $3,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

If you want an affordable roadster with rear-wheel drive, the Mazda MX-5 remains a wise choice.

Lease the new Mazda MX-5 starting at $249 per month for 24 months with only around $3,000 due at lease signing for the Miata sport with the manual transmission.

The Mazda MX-5 touring model starts with a lease price of around $339 per month for 24 months.

Mazda CX-9

If you want a 7-seat crossover SUV with that drives like a sporty car then look no further than the Mazda CX-9.

Lease the Mazda CX-9 starting at $309 per month for 36 months with around $3,000 due at lease signing.

New Mazda Incentives

Mazda dealers are now offering 0% APR financing for up to 60 months on the Mazda2, Mazda6, and Mazda CX-9.

You can also check out 0.9% APR offers for up to 36 months on the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-5.

Kelly Blue Book has been publishing their Official Residual Value Guide since 1981, and has helped American consumers find the top new cars with the highest estimated residual value since then.

Remember, you should carefully consider the estimated residual value of a new car, most especially if you are looking for a new car lease.

Leasing a car with a high residual value will give you lower monthly payments. This is because the lease price will be based on the negotiated selling price (or MSRP) along with the residual value. Simply put, a car that depreciates less will provide you with more savings on your new car lease.

Here are the top 10 cars with the highest residual value for 2012:

1. Jeep Wrangler

With a projected residual value of 68% after 36 months, the Jeep Wrangler is also one of the best and cheapest cars to lease, with lease prices starting at only $219/month.

2. Toyota FJ Cruiser

The FJ Cruiser is a robust off-road vehicle that has unique retro-styling cues, harking back to the original FJ40 Land Cruiser of the 1960’s. Resale value is estimated to be 67% after 36 months.

3.Toyota Tacoma

Toyota once again proves that the Tacoma is one of the best choices for a durable and reliable pickup truck. the Tacoma has an estimated residual value of 64% after36 months.

4. Hyundai Tucson

The Tucson is Hyundai’s entry into the compact SUV department. With gorgeous styling and a long warranty, the Tucson has an estimated residual value of 64.3% after 36 months.

5. Audi Q7

The Q7 is Audi’s first SUV, and it is a good one at that. It is sporty, stylish, and comes with Audi-levels of interior quality and refinement. The Q7 has an estimated residual value of 63.3% after 36 months.

6. Infiniti FX

If you happen to be searching for a sporty midsize SUV that drives like a true sports sedan, the Infiniti FX combines good looks with sure-footed handling. The Infiniti FX has an estimated residual value of 58% after 36 months.

7. Honda CR-V

It comes as no surprise that the CR-V is once again included in the list of cars with the highest residual value, which is estimated to be around 60.3% after 36 months.

8. Lexus RX

Whether buying new or used, the Lexus RX remains a solid choice. It is a highly desirable compact SUV, with a residual value that is estimated to be around 64% after 36 months.

9. Nissan Frontier

The Frontier utilizes a fully-boxed frame to deliver reliable performance. It also happens to be one of the cars with highest residual value, which is estimated to be 56.2% after 36 months.

10. Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is a desirable sports car because it has the looks of a muscle car with the performance and refinement of a modern vehicle. Residual value is estimated to be 57% after 36 months.

Here are some helpful tips that will help you obtain a cheap car lease.

If you want to drive the best new cars without spending all your monthly earnings, then you should find an affordable car lease. Since you are basically paying for the depreciation (or the ‘use’ of the car), leasing will give you more affordable monthly payments compared to buying or financing a new car.

You can also lease a better car, and even lease an SUV for the same monthly payments as financing a smaller car.

Cheap Car Leasing Tips

Tip 1: Select a car that you can actually afford. As stated above, you can choose to lease a more expensive car and pay less compared to a new car financing loan. However, you should still lease a car that is within your budget range. Remember that the lease price will also depend on the MSRP or dealer invoice of the car. Leasing a more expensive automobile will give you higher monthly payments, negating any savings that you’d expect from a new car lease.

Tip 2: Select a vehicle with a higher perceived value at lease end. In short, you should focus your efforts on a vehicle with a higher resale value. Your monthly lease payments will also be dependent on how much the car will be worth when the lease term expires. Import brands such as Toyota and Honda cars generally have a higher resale value compared to other brands. Luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi vehicles also have high resale values.

Tip 3: Majority of new car lease deals require a down payment. This is to somehow reduce the monthly lease payments that you are going to make. You can pay a higher down payment and get lower monthly payments, but be careful not to pay too much down payment. If the car gets stolen or totaled in an accident, you will never get your down payment back.

Tip 4: Maintain a good, or at least average credit score. The lease deals that you see being advertised on TV and on the radio are reserved for buyers with a good or average credit score. Keep in mind that the money factor rate /interest rate on your car lease will be based on your average credit score. If you have good or average credit, then you can expect to qualify for the best new car lease deals in the market.

There are no secrets to new car leasing. Consider the tips mentioned above and you are on your way in finding a cheap car lease with low monthly payments and low interest rates.

The high cost of fuel is forcing car makers to think outside the box. Honda introduced the Civic Natural Gas and it was immediately crowned as the car with the cleanest internal-combustion engine on Earth.

General Motors has announced that they will begin selling a dual-fuel version of the Silverado and Sierra pickup truck. Chevrolet and GMC dealers will begin taking orders for a CNG and gasoline fueled version of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. This move is in response to the needs of business owners who want a more fuel efficient commercial vehicle.

Benefits of CNG or Compressed Natural Gas

Based on studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, natural gas vehicles produce less harmful pollutants compared to a conventional gasoline or diesel engine.

Tests were performed on heavy-duty vehicles that utilized CNG for fuel. The results were staggering, as CNG fueled vehicles reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 49%, and an impressive 84% fewer particulate emissions compared to a diesel engine.

Add to that the fact that natural gas costs 1/3 less than gasoline, and the benefits are now easier to understand. Vehicles that burn CNG are not only cleaner, but they cost less to operate as well.

Disadvantages of CNG

Most of the problems associated with CNG vehicles will have something to do with the installation and the quality of the parts used during the conversion process.

But the major disadvantages of CNG vehicles is the loss of trunk space and increase in weight. Since you will need to have a separate fuel tank to store the CNG fuel, small vehicles will have to contend with a smaller trunk and loss of storage space when equipped with a bi-fuel system.

There are no such problems with the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. The CNG tank will be positioned in the bed of the truck, and will have the capacity to store 17 gallons (or 64 liters) of compressed natural gas. Along with the conventional 36-gallon gasoline tank, the bi-fuel pickup trucks will have a maximum driving range of around 650 miles, or 1,000 kilometers.

Depending on your driving habits, the CNG-powered Sierra and Silverado pickup trucks are expected to save around $4,000 to $10,000 in fuel costs over a span of three years. This is good news for business owners or private individuals who are looking for a powerful, economical, and long range full size pick up truck.

The Cost

Fleet and retail customers can start placing their orders for the 2013 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup truck beginning April 19, 2012. The Chevy and GMC bi-fuel extended cab pickup trucks are expected to cost $11,000 more than the standard gasoline-only version.

Would you like to lease a CNG bi-fuel GM truck? Will the potential fuel savings be enough to justify the higher cost? Auto insiders were asking the same kind of questions when hybrid vehicles were introduced in the beginning of 2000.

Hybrid cars are still here. Let us hope that CNG and bi-fueled vehicles have a bright future as well.

Professional-grade engineering and build quality comes standard with every new GMC vehicle. Those who are currently searching for updated GMC lease deals have come to the right place. Here is where you can find the best GMC lease deals, financing incentives, and cash back offers to enjoy magnificent savings.

GMC Lease Deals April 2012

GMC lease deals, rebate offers, and financing incentives may differ according to your zip code. Certain qualifications will also apply.

GMC Acadia

Lease deals for the GMC Acadia starts at only $299/month for 36 months, with less than $800 due at lease signing.

The Acadia also comes with up to $2,000 consumer cash or 0% APR financing for 60 months.

GMC Terrain

Lease deals for the GMC Terrain starts at only $269/month for 39 months with around $1,500 due upon lease signing.

Special incentive offers for the GMC Terrain includes a low APR rate of 2.9% for 36 and 60 months financing.

GMC Yukon

Lease deals for the GMC Yukon starts at just $419/month for 39 months, with $2,200 due at lease signing.

You can also take advantage of 3.9% APR financing for 36 months on the GMC Yukon, or get up to $1,000 consumer cash with every purchase.

All GMC lease deals are valid until 4/30/2012.

GMC Trucks Special Incentive Offers

GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra is well-equipped for serious work and play, and is an ideal pickup truck for the whole family. Special incentive offers for the GMC Sierra include 0% APR for 72 months financing or up to $2,000 in bonus consumer cash.

GMC Canyon

The GMC Canyon is an affordable compact pickup truck that will serve you well whether you need to carry heavy farm equipment, or simply need a robust vehicle to be used around town. The GMC Canyon is available at 1.9% APR for 60 months and also comes with an additional $1,000 bonus consumer cash.

GMC incentives and cash back offers are valid until 4/30/2012.

GMC dealers offer you a variety of money-saving ways to drive home your very own professional-grade GMC truck or SUV. Whether you are buying or leasing a new GMC, the latest incentives and GMC lease deals will help you decide which offer is better suited for your needs and budget.

The secret to leasing a new car is knowing the basics. Familiarizing yourself with common leasing terms such as the residual value, capitalized cost reduction, and money factor will prevent car dealers from overcharging on your monthly lease payments.

We are not saying that car dealerships are dishonest when it comes to offering lease payments. It’s just that there are a lot of complications in the leasing contract. There are certain entries or values that the consumer might find hard to understand. This, in turn, leaves the consumer vulnerable to dishonest car dealers that are willing to earn an extra buck.

Here is a simple car leasing formula that will help you to arrive at the monthly lease price on any type of car. Remember that not all new cars are available for lease, and the lease price will vary according to your place of residence. To know more about the latest lease offers in your zip code, you should get a free new car lease quote to gain updated lease prices and secret lease offers near you.

Here is a Simple Lease Formula to Help You Get Started

The monthly lease price is made up of 3 parts:

1. Depreciation fee.

2. Finance fee.

3. Sales tax.

Determine the Depreciation Fee

The depreciation fee can be obtained if you use the formula:

Net Capitalized Cost – Residual Value of the Car / Lease term

Let us assume that you want to lease a car with an MSRP of $25,000 for 36 months. The car has a residual value of $14,000 and you negotiated the price down to $23,500. The down payment is $2,000. Using the formula above, the depreciation fee is $23,500 – $2,000 – $14,000 / 36 months, or $208/month.

Note: the down payment should be deducted from the negotiated selling price to arrive at the net capitalized cost.

Determine the Finance Fee

The finance fee can be determined by using the formula:

Net Capitalized Cost + Residual Value x Money Factor

Continuing with example above, let us say that the money factor rate of the car lease is 8%, or 0.00334 (if the car dealer gives you the APR rate of 8%, simply divide it by 2400 to get the money factor rate). Using the formula above, the finance fee is $21,500 + $14,000 x 0.00334, or $118.60.

Simply add the depreciation fee and the finance fee to arrive at a monthly lease price of roughly $326/month (sales tax not included).

Of course, if you can further negotiate the selling price, make a larger down payment, and negotiate a lower money factor rate, you can expect to pay lower than in our example stated above. Also keep in mind that the lease price will also vary depending on the type of car you want to lease. If you choose a more expensive sedan or SUV, then your lease price will be higher.

You should take the time to find updated new car lease prices so can have a chance to compare lease offers from multiple car dealers near your area.