Leasing a car gets a lot of negative press, but some of it is bred out of misconceptions. For those people who like to change up their ride every few years, leasing a car is a great idea. It’s more expensive out of pocket, but a new car depreciates immediately, so in the long term the customer loses the same amount of money on depreciation. 

However, when the lease is over, the customer doesn’t have to worry about that. They can exchange it for a brand new car and drive on their merry way. It’s rare that a car actually gains value, and if it does that can take decades. As long as the customer isn’t bothered by the fact they won’t own the car after a few years, there’s really no downside to leasing. Here are a few of the best lease options according to U.S. News, set to expire at the end of August and the beginning of September.

2022 Honda Civic

Probably the best lease deal that U.S. News illustrates is for a 2022 Honda Civic. It advertises $209 per month for three years, with a $2,799 down payment. The Civic is a cheap, comfortable, and quick sedan that exudes practicality. Braking is responsive, as is the steering and suspension. 

Understeer isn’t as invasive as on other less balanced front-wheel-drive cars, and its dinky 2.0-liter inline-four provides plenty of grunt, especially considering the car’s sub-3000 pounds curb weight. Unfortunately, the sedan only offers an automatic transmission, but opting for the hatchback still gets a manual.

2022 Nissan Leaf

For customers on the fence about buying an electric car, leasing a Nissan Leaf might be the best way to decide. The Leaf is a proven entry-level electric car, though its base model only provides 147 horsepower and the same range in miles. It’s perfect for people with short commutes to work, but it takes seven hours to charge with a 240-volt connection. 

Plus models offer more horsepower and over 200 miles in range but can cost more than $38,000, which is already more than a Tesla Model 3. U.S. News advertises the Leaf’s lease at $89 or $149 per month for 24 months, depending on location. 

2021 Mazda CX-9

Most of the cars on the list from U.S. News are SUVs, and the Mazda CX-9 seemed to be the best of them. U.S. News advertises from $279-309 per month for 36 months, depending on location, expiring on August 31. The CX-9 in true Mazda fashion offers unrivaled handling in its crossover class, without the grunt of a V6. Instead, it uses a turbocharged inline-four that produces 227 horsepower. The car is nimble with responsive steering and suspension. While the interior might be considered cramped when compared to its rivals, everything else about the Mazda excels. 

Leasing a car isn’t necessarily a stupid idea, but it gets a lot of flack. For people who like to switch things up every few years, leasing might be the way to go. Check the terms of the lease, as sometimes there are annual mileage limits. Terminating a lease early can get expensive, so be sure of the decision, just like when buying a car. Consult U.S. News’ list to see what other options are available.