Residuals dropped across the board on all 2011 models and some 2012 models. Money factors dropped to keep payments lower. Basically your standard MF adjustment to compensate for lost value. Nissans lease pretty well in general, so check them out. I anticipate the Maxima and the Altima to be solid leases this month. If you are looking for the Z, don’t bother. They rarely (if ever) have anyease support. Same goes for the GT-R.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
MSRP – $32,510
Sale Price – $28,041 ($3000 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $310+ tax
RWG Rating – 100.0

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 Month – Residual 54% of MSRP – .00042 Base Rate

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00230 Base Rate

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 Month – Residual 44% of MSRP – .00230 Base Rate

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 Month – Residual 49% of MSRP – .00005 Base Rate

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00122 Base Rate

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00047 Base Rate

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00141 Base Rate

2012 NISSAN LEAF 5DR HATCHBACK SV
36 Month – Residual 45% of MSRP – .00195 Base Rate

2012 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 Month – Residual 63% of MSRP – .00181 Base Rate

2012 NISSAN VERSA 4DR SEDAN S AT
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00230 Base Rate

Not a lot of unexpected changes here. You got the usual drop in residual value and the subsequent drop in MF to compensate. I would recommend looking at the Maxima this month. Nissan is providing big discounts on this vehicle. Edmunds indicates a $3000 cash rebate on the car. But chances are, this rebate will not qualify for a lease since it cannot be combined with special financing (but I still recommend asking for it to see if you can get it). Because of this, the only other alternative to tap into this cash is to use an non-captive bank to finance your lease. Your bank would buy the car out and then lease it to you. be sure to double check their lease rates to see if it makes sense.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
MSRP – $32,510
Sale Price – $28,439
Monthly – $320+ tax
RWG Rating – 97.7

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00077 base money factor

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00081 base money factor

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00141 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 5DR HATCHBACK SV
36 month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00041 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00154 base money factor

2012 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00181 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 49% | .00075 base money factor

With the exception of the Altima, most other Nissan models got a nice drop in money factor. Residuals remain steady (same as last month). I think sale prices have probably inched up a bit, but the drop in money factor should help keep payments reasonable. As for the Altima, it looks like sale prices dropped a tiny bit, but the bump in MF bumped the payments a few bucks north. Overall, I was expecting higher increases than what I am currently seen. By no means is this going to stay the same through out the month. Dealers can (and sometimes will) adjust sale prices mid-month to compensate for any changes in delivery and/or market trends.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

May Calculation
2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
MSRP – $23,190
Sale Price – $20,588 ($1250 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $216+ tax
RWG Rating – 101.7

June Calculation
2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
MSRP – $23,190
Sale Price – $20,438 ($1250 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $219+ tax
RWG Rating – 100.8

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00128 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00055 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00078 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 50% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 5DR HATCHBACK SV
36 month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00111 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00185 base money factor

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00083 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00064 base money factor

Surprisingly, Nissan leases are looking much better than I expected. There is the usual drop in residual value which is expected about every other month, but the MF has dropped enough to compensate for the lost in value. Factor in the relatively good sale prices and you get “better-than-expected” leases for the month of May.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
MSRP – $23,190
Sale Price – $20,588 ($1250 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $216+ tax
RWG Rating – 101.7

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00136 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00034 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00078 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 50% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 4DR HATCHBACK SV
36 month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00161 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00194 base money factor

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00103 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00075 base money factor

Nissan lease rates got a little bit worse than last month. The residual stayed similar to March, but the money factors went up a bit. This probably has something to do with Japan’s earthquare/tsunami/nuclear disaster. There’s also a markup of about $550 to the MSRP, so if you are looking for a Nissan right now, expect to pay slightly more than last month.

About rebates…If you see a cash rebate that cannot be combined with special financing, it probably means that it will not apply to leases either. Please speak to your dealer to confirm.

On a separate note, Just to be clear, the photos of cars I post do not represent the lease rates I obtain. I got a complaint last month as to why I have a picture of a GTR and do not have lease rates for them. If you don’t see them posted, you probably should contact your local dealer.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
MSRP – $23,190
Sale Price – $20,788 ($1250 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $241+ tax
RWG Rating – 94.0

For Dealer Quotes, CLICK HERE.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00192 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00109 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00166 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 4DR HATCHBACK SV
36 month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00178 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 62% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00120 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00092 base money factor

I think Nissan are looking like great buys this month since there is a good chunk of cash rebates available. As far as leasing, they are slightly worse than last month due to lower residuals, but dealers could still be discounting quite a bit off the MSRP to make the deals better, so I wouldn’t be too discouraged. There were reports over at Edmund’s leasing forums regarding folks getting $4000 in rebates for the Maxima. I don’t quite know how that happened, but can’t see how that can happen this month.  Of course, I would love it if someone proved me wrong.

Despite my skepticism, I do think the Maxima is still a good lease this month. The Altima numbers also look great, even without the $1250 rebate. The Sentra and the Versa should still remain excellent leases right now.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
MSRP – $20,670
Sale Price – $18,348 ($1250 rebate not applied)
Monthly – $208+ tax
RWG Rating – 96.3

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00188 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00103 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00164 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 4DR HATCHBACK SV
36 month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00178 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00203 base money factor

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00001 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00023 base money factor

Wow! check out how crummy the Leaf’s residual value is! That’s a shocker. The MF isn’t exactly what I call desirable either. However, if you live in a state where you get some big fat rebates (like we do in CA), you could get a pretty sweet deal on this car…if you can find one.

Overall, there are some good deals to be had here. The Sentra, as usual, is a great lease. The Rogue shows potential due to the high residual. The Altimate sedan is also a solid choice for those who need the extra room.

Nissan has done a great job positioning themselves as a lease-friendly brand by introduction great lease rates in the past couple years. Let’s hope they keep things up in the coming year.

Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
MSRP – $20,360
Sale Price – $18,039 ($2500 rebate not applied to leases)
Monthly – $159+ tax
RWG Rating – 116.1

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00160 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN S CVT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00097 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE S CVT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00143 base money factor

2011 NISSAN CUBE 5DR WAGON S CVT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN JUKE 2WD S AT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00230 base money factor

2011 NISSAN LEAF 4DR HATCHBACK SV
36-month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00204 base money factor

2011 NISSAN MURANO AWD S
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00148 base money factor

2011 NISSAN ROGUE AWD S
36-month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00180 base money factor

2011 NISSAN SENTRA 2.0SR CVT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00011 base money factor

2011 NISSAN VERSA 5DR HB S AT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00042 base money factor