Updated November 2026 · Offer source
vs rivals: Hyundai Elantra N $582/mo · Volkswagen Jetta GLI $489/mo · Subaru WRX $437/mo
Graded on true cost as a percent of MSRP, against other compact cars. This lease is 1.56%. How we grade
How $499 becomes $610
- The ad says $499 a month, and it also asks for $4,499 at signing.
- $499 of that is your first payment. The other $4,000 is extra money that you pay up front.
- Spread across the 36 months of the lease, $4,000 is $111 a month.
Every offer, ranked by true cost
| Trim | Advertised | Due | Term | True cost | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 SE FWD MSRP $39,080 | $499 | $4,499 | 36 mo | $610 | F |
The math for the 2026 SE FWD
- Due at signing, with payment 1 in it
- $4,499
- 35 more payments of $499
- $17,465
- Total for 36 months
- $21,964
- True cost each month
- $610
- Cost for each mile, with 30,000 miles allowed
- $0.73
Tax, title, license, and dealer fees are extra. Try your own numbers
The offer ends November 30, 2026. See the offer page
Graded on true cost as a percent of MSRP, against other compact cars. This lease is 1.56%. How we grade
How $499 becomes $610
- The ad says $499 a month, and it also asks for $4,499 at signing.
- $499 of that is your first payment. The other $4,000 is extra money that you pay up front.
- Spread across the 36 months of the lease, $4,000 is $111 a month.
Every offer, ranked by true cost
| Trim | Advertised | Due | Term | True cost | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 SE FWD MSRP $39,080 | $499 | $4,499 | 36 mo | $610 | F |
2026 SE FWD MSRP $39,080 | $499 | $4,499 | 36 mo | $610 | F |
The math for the 2026 SE FWD
- Due at signing, with payment 1 in it
- $4,499
- 35 more payments of $499
- $17,465
- Total for 36 months
- $21,964
- True cost each month
- $610
- Cost for each mile, with 30,000 miles allowed
- $0.73
Tax, title, license, and dealer fees are extra. Try your own numbers
The offer ends November 30, 2026. See the offer page
How the Volkswagen Golf GTI lease changed
Since October 12, 2026, the true cost stayed at $610 a month.
- October 12, 2026: $499/mo, $4,499 due, 36 mo
- $610
- October 17, 2026: $499/mo, $4,499 due, 36 mo
- $610
- October 31, 2026: $499/mo, $4,499 due, 36 mo
- $610
- November 5, 2026: $499/mo, $4,499 due, 36 mo
- $610
- November 11, 2026: $499/mo, $4,499 due, 36 mo
- $610
Each line is the best offer where most regions share it, on the day that we collected the offers.
How it ranks among compact cars
The Volkswagen Golf GTI has the 15th lowest true cost of 15 compact cars with an advertised lease this month. The lowest is the Toyota Corolla at $310 a month.
The middle true cost in the class is $335 a month, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI costs $275 more. Each month it costs 1.56% of its MSRP, and the middle of the class is 1.33%.
The best Golf GTI lease in each region
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