5 Best EV Lease Deals of 2025: Kia, Tesla, BMW, and Hyundai Under $500
The $7,500 federal credit, originally set to last through 2032, now sunsets early on September 30, 2025, due to budget reconciliation changes. But thanks to a leasing loophole, manufacturers can still apply it upfront - on cars that wouldn't otherwise qualify.
This is not a drill. This is your moment.
EPA-rated at 253 miles and riding on a 64.8 kWh battery, the Niro EV feels more like a midsize crossover than a budget eco-pod. Front-wheel drive, solid regen braking, and an honest layout make it a no-fuss, all-function urban runner. The cabin? More IKEA than Apple Store, but that's fine-this deal is about substance. Right now, several California dealers are quoting under $130/month with modest drive-offs. That's cheaper than most people's internet plan.
Hyundai's Kona Electric plays twin to the Niro under the skin but wears a sharper jacket. Inside, the tech is tasteful, and the ride tuned for calm, not cornering. It's the perfect commuter pod: quiet, simple, and cheap to juice. And for $169/month in many markets, it's the best answer to "what EV should I get if I hate charging apps?" Just plug it into your wall and go to sleep.
Tesla's way of doing discounts is not "talk to your finance guy." It's slashing the sticker in broad daylight. The Model 3 Long Range is leasing around $399/month in major metro areas. You still get the dual-motor setup, 300+ miles of range, and an ecosystem most brands still envy: Superchargers, OTA updates, and industry-leading resale. The vibe? Spartan and fast, like if Apple built a sport sedan on a dare.
Rear-drive. 335 hp. Looks like a Gran Coupe, drives like an E46 whispering in your ear. The BMW i4 doesn't brag - it balances. You get a proper driving position, clean interior lines, and enough torque to make passing a reflex. At under $500/month, this is premium EV done right. No fake grills. No startup stunts. Just Munich precision with a cable in the wall.
The EV6 doesn't just look fast - it feels expensive. It's the kind of car that makes you rethink what "entry-level" means. The Light RWD trim still rides on Hyundai-Kia's superb E-GMP platform, with fast charging, strong regen, and roomy interior volume. Right now, several dealers are offering this spaceship lookalike for $199/month. No catch. Just timing.
These aren't clearance-bin EVs. They're mature products getting one last price break before Uncle Sam stops pitching in. If you've ever thought, "maybe next year," this is the year. Indeed, this might be the month. Because in October, the lease math changes - and the best electric cars on the market may go back to pretending they're for someone else.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why Are Automakers Getting Rid Of Dedicated Fog Lights?
New cars incorporate tech you never realized you needed, like 360-degree cameras, blind spot warning systems, and adaptive cruise control. As new innovations are introduced, other features are slowly phased out of new cars, including physical gear selectors, spare tires, and physical buttons. Fog lights are another feature offered in fewer new cars. Mounted low on the vehicle, fog lights produce a sharp beam of light directed towards the road, enabling the driver to see lane markers and other features under the fog, whereas headlights are positioned higher on the vehicle. The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends using fog lights and low-beam headlights in tandem during poor visibility conditions, as high-beams can cause glare during fog, reducing visibility and making it challenging to see the road ahead. Providing a unique purpose compared to headlights, fog lights can be crucial to vehicle safety. However, this once common feature has been replaced in recent years as innovations have made headlights more effective. Read more: These Mods May Look Good, But They'll Just Make Your Car Slower Why Have Fog Lights Disappeared? Fog lights were introduced to mitigate the visibility deficit of halogen headlights, as halogen lights were unable to provide the concentrated beam of light required for visibility in fog. However, some automakers believe that advancements in headlight technology make the inclusion of fog lights redundant. Hyundai and Genesis credit Multi-Face Reflector (MFR) headlamps and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps for diminishing the need for fog lights. Genesis claims that vehicles equipped with LED and MFR headlights, especially those using clear covers, reflector plates, and refractive lenses, provide notably improved visibility. LED-equipped headlights produce a shorter wavelength and almost white light, which is said to provide great visibility, even in fog, removing the need for fog lamps. Although fog lamps aren't particularly high-energy use items, another advantage of LED lights is that they are said to be 20 times more efficient than halogen lamps. Genesis claims that the weight loss from the elimination of fog lamps can improve vehicle performance and give designers more aesthetic options. Meanwhile, repurposing the space fog lamps occupied for functional air curtains has enabled engineers to improve the vehicle's aerodynamics. Another contributing factor to the elimination of fog lights is that they aren't required in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, requires components like seat belts, airbags, tire pressure monitoring systems, and backup cameras, yet does not mandate fog lamps. Meanwhile, the U.K. requires a rear fog light at a minimum. Can You Still Buy A Car With Fog Lights? Regardless of new lighting technology, if you still want fog lights, you have some options. First, not all automakers have eliminated fog lights. For instance, they're standard on the discontinued Infiniti QX55 luxury crossover, while the Polestar 2 EV offers front fog lamps, cornering lights, and rear fog lights, which makes the vehicle more visible to others on the road during conditions such as snow, fog, or smoke. Your second option is to add fog lamps to a vehicle that did not come with them from the factory. Fog light kits are available for purchase, and 1A Auto provides a detailed video on how to install them as part of a DIY. While a DIY will save you labor costs, paying extra for professional installation might be worth the peace of mind. New technology, like LED lighting, and the fact that fog lights have never been federally mandated safety equipment, have caused dedicated fog lights to become less common. Fortunately, there are still cars that offer fog lights, and for the ones that do not, there are fog light kits available as aftermarket accessories. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
Looking Back At Genesis' Cutest And Most Outrageous Concept Car
Designed around city living, the Mint brings luxury on a small scale Cast your mind back to 2019, with no idea of what was to come, the world was quietly optimistic about entering the 2020s. Before city life as we know it was swiftly dismantled, Genesis unveiled its Mint concept, a two-seater compact luxury model aimed at taking the stress out of city driving. Although it's not made its way into production, glimpses of the concept have appeared in things like the GV60's crystal ball feature. To find out what made the Mint so special and such a step away from the rest of the brand's lineup, I spoke with Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer and President of Hyundai Motor Group. It may be small in stature but it's pocket-sized luxury Trinity Francis: What was the initial brief for the Mint concept? Luc Donckerwolke: The brief was to demonstrate that luxury is not linked to size. To the contrary. Size imposes limitations. Genesis should make evident that our Son-nim, our honored guests, can be treated to the highest level of refinement, technological advancement and groundbreaking design regardless of size. Francis: How did you maximize interior space? Donckerwolke: The flat floor of the electric platform allowed a better distribution of the furniture to optimize ergonomics—in the spirit of Alec Issigonis when he created the original Mini. The interior is structured like a living space, with a sofa and an instrument panel that both rotate around their middle axis to facilitate ingress and egress. There is no big screen, rather circular digital touchscreens surround the steering wheel to allow instinctive commands without losing sight of the road or contact with the steering wheel. Usually scissor doors make a statement on supercars but Genesis decided to reinvent the idea. Francis: Can you explain the design process behind the rear reverse-opening scissor doors? Donckerwolke: The concept was created while observing the illogical approach to accessing a vehicle's cargo area—the user having to go first to the rear of the vehicle, leaving the sidewalk to deposit his or her shopping bags, and then return to the side to enter the vehicle. A side trunk access through scissor doors that do not intrude on the sidewalk is therefore practical and logical. Francis: How was technology integrated into the interior design? Donckerwolke: The vehicle features every function a driver needs, but the displays are unobtrusive. The small gauge cluster sits within the steering wheel itself, further augmenting the perception of space, and the six small readouts—finished in copper to allude to the vehicle's electric power source—around the steering wheel added a high-end, luxurious aspect to the concept's interior design. The interior matches minimalism with ease of use Francis: Can you explain the interior and exterior colour choices? Donckerwolke: The matt mint green and cognac leather colorways are a nod towards traditional luxury cars but done in a more modern and fashionable way. The Mint's diminutive size is already a step away from tradition—most luxury cars are quite a bit larger—but we sought to accentuate the modernity of the concept by playing with more contemporary colors. Francis: How has it (or not) influenced Genesis production models since and why? Donckerwolke: Concept cars like the Mint are designed to communicate the design philosophy and the design elements to the audience. The quad lamps that transport the brand's Two Lines signature and the G-Matrix graphics—first seen on the Essentia concept but also repeated in the interior of the Mint—were carried over into production, as was the parabolic line on the side and the concave section at the rear of the car. At their core, concept and show cars allow us to push the envelope, experiment, and see what is possible. It allowed the design team to escape their comfort zones and devise solutions—such as the rear doors—that are truly fresh and innovative. The charging port is located just above the Genesis lettering at the rear Francis: Were there any inspirations that influenced the design? If so, what were these and why were they influential? Donckerwolke: The Mint concept was one of the first instances where we showcased our Beauty of White Space interior design philosophy. This is derived from a Korean aesthetic, in which design is pared back and minimalistic, accentuating certain details but leaving space between these elements to bring a sense of calmness to the cabin. European furniture also utilizes the concept of minimalism to great effect, emphasizing clean lines to avoid clutter and focus on the essential. Craftsmanship is another aspect that is visible in both cultures; this is represented in high-quality materials such as the cognac leather and gunmetal balustrade. Francis: What is your favourite element of the design and why? Donckerwolke: My favorite aspects of the design are its atypical three-box typology and the clean, uncluttered, and genuinely luxurious cabin. We achieved this by looking at what modern city dwellers value in their daily lives and home décor and devised an appealing product that is very much aligned with Genesis' values as a brand. For now, we'll have to wait and see if the Mint ever materializes in a production form Francis: What were the key challenges in this project? Donckerwolke: Some of the key challenges were to get internals to appreciate that luxury could be found in small packages. That is not typically the case. When luxury buyers look to a vehicle purchase these are often very large vehicles that have a big footprint. Traditionally this conveys status, which is synonymous with luxury. We had to turn that preconceived notion on its head to develop a car that blends classic proportions with modern, minimalist, and luxurious design but that is compact enough to fit in modern day metropolises. Francis: Are we likely to see any Mint-like concepts or a production Mint from Genesis in the future? Donckerwolke: Stay tuned.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
BNP Paribas Exane Initiates Coverage on Garrett Motion (GTX) Stock
Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX) is one of the Best Performing EV Stocks So Far in 2025. BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on the company's stock with an 'Outperform' rating and a price objective of $14.00. The firm pointed to Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX)'s robust profitability, FCF conversion, and a clear commitment to capital returns. The company's net sales for Q1 2025 came in at $878 million, with net income reaching $62 million. The company continued to return capital to shareholders via $30 million of common share repurchases and its first quarterly dividend amounting to $12 million. A close up of an engine piston with a commercial turbocharger attached. Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX) strengthened its global leadership in turbocharging and won new business with established and new automakers, primarily in plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric platforms. Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX) also joined the Russell 2000® Index after the market closed on June 27. The company has reached a milestone in the development of its E-Powertrain high-speed technologies and secured the first series production award from Hyundai, a leading axle supplier, to integrate Garrett's high-speed E-motor and inverter technology into their axle and transmission platforms for the heavy-duty commercial vehicles, with production aimed for 2027. Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX)'s growing suite of zero-emission products revolutionizes sustainable mobility by providing advanced, efficient, and high-performing solutions for EV propulsion and thermal management. McIntyre Partnerships, an investment management company, released its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: 'Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX) is a leading manufacturer in the moat-rich turbocharger (TB) market, with a global end-market and industry-leading margins. As TBs are not used in battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the market has concerns about GTX's terminal value, which is suppressing its valuation. GTX trades ~5x my 2025 levered FCF with leverage at 2x EBITDA. Beyond its core business in TBs, GTX has a separate BEV growth story that is currently pre-revenue with high upfront costs, depressing GTX's reported run-rate FCF. As a result, I believe GTX is even cheaper on owners' earnings than the headline numbers suggest. Beyond its BEV investments, GTX has been using its FCF to buy back significant amounts of stock. Since 2022, GTX has retired almost one-third of its shares outstanding. If either BEV penetration is less bad than feared or GTX has success in its BEV investments, I believe GTX shares are significantly undervalued. While we acknowledge the potential of GTX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
