New figures from Leasing.com show the cost of monthly car lease deals fell again in 2025, following a similar decline in 2024.
Average personal lease costs were down 6.3 percent last year, to £301.50 per month, while business leases were down by 10.3 percent to £397.38 (excluding VAT).
With ever-increasing list prices for new vehicles, the firm says leasing can be a ‘stable way to access a new car’.
The data is part of Leasing.com’s 2025 Insights Report, which also reveals that motorists are moving away from traditional petrol and diesel cars at a growing pace.
Enquiries about petrol cars fell to 41 percent in 2025, down from 50 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, EV-related enquiries climbed to 34.1 percent – and hybrid enquiries more than doubled to 22.8 percent.
Diesel vehicles plummeted, however, from 6.4 percent to just 2.1 percent of all new car enquiries.
SUVs dominate the leasing market
Reflecting the broader new car market, SUVs dominated the top 10 most enquired-about new cars. The British-built Nissan Qashqai was in first place, followed by the Jaecoo 7, a Chinese hybrid SUV that ‘points to a willingness among consumers to consider newer entrants as well as well-known names’.
The Vauxhall Corsa, Britain’s best-selling supermini, was third, while the Ford Puma – the best-selling new car overall – was surprisingly down in sixth place in the leasing enquiry rankings.
Along with the Volkswagen Golf in eighth, the Vauxhall Corsa was the only non-SUV model to feature in the top 10.
Most enquired-about new cars
- Nissan Qashqai
- Jaecoo 7
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Vauxhall Grandland
- Hyundai Tucson
- Ford Puma
- Nissan Juke
- Volkswagen Golf
- Peugeot 3008
- Peugeot 5008
Puma is top EV – but Jaecoo 7 surprises
The Ford Puma did, however, top Leasing.com’s list of electric car-related enquiries, taking 5.8 percent of the share.
The new Polestar 4 was an impressive second, followed by the Leapmotor C10 (which caused a stir earlier in 2025 when the announcement of a C10 EV ‘grant’ saw interest surge more by than 2,600 percent).
“A wider model choice in 2025 has allowed new vehicles to enter the top five,” said Leasing.com CEO Mike Fazal, “supported by improvements in battery efficiency and a stronger charging network.
“With competition increasing across the market, we can expect the ranking of top EVs to continue evolving over the year ahead.”
Most enquired-about new EVs
- Ford Puma
- Polestar 4
- Leapmotor C10
- Tesla Model 3
- BMW i4
Lower-mileage leases are popular
Another trend for 2025 was drivers choosing lower-mileage lease agreements. An annual total of 5,000 miles was the most popular mileage band, accounting for 35.4 percent of enquiries – up from 31.5 percent in 2024.
“Budget sensitivity plays a huge role in the popularity of lower-mileage leasing contracts,” said Fazal.
“Lower mileage means paying less for fuel and helps to reduce overall running costs, as well as lower monthly payments.”
Motorists also showed a growing preference for shorter leases, with 24-month agreements the most popular duration, representing 40.3 percent of enquiries.
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