We’ve had a couple of stabs at suggesting what various vehicles can be financed at different price caps, but this time will be focusing on leasing instead.

Why? As tax time comes around people start to think about how best to minimize (legally) their tax burden. One method is by setting a car lease through your work/business – that’s where the limit comes in. The CRA maximum deductible lease amount can be as much as $800 depending on your particular circumstances, but we went with a safe, low $700 – it’s important to stay on the tax man’s good side.

Leasing offers a few benefits over financing. Generally smaller monthly payments, shorter terms and the ability to walk away at the end rank highly. As does the money-saving tactic of not needing to include an extended warranty since the standard bumper-to-bumper should cover most leases both for time and mileage limits.

But leasing really makes sense for entrepreneurs, consultants and tradespeople too, who can write off a portion of their monthly payments and expenses. That’s why we’ve included everything from basic work vans to luxury cars, to try and cover off a whole range of possible uses.

We’ve tried to collect all available information, including extra fees and taxes where possible. These deals were all done using Toronto prices, so the actual totals in other provinces may vary. And because we started with the MSRP, there’s always room for negotiation to make those payments smaller. If you get too creative though, the CRA has a nifty table to make sure you don’t over claim your due, so make sure your lease terms are realistic.

We haven’t locked it in to just one interest rate or term because the CRA sets no such limits and you might want to be creative when you try to fit your lease payment under the cap. But remember, you can only claim the portion of the payment that reflects business use of the vehicle, so consult with a certified accountant familiar with your business to ensure you stay within the proscribed limits.

All calculations are done with no down-payment or trade.

The Workman’s Write Off

The ‘original’ compact cargo hauler, the Ford Transit Connect, is two years into its second generation. The basic idea remains the same – tall hauling machine based on Focus and Escape guts. The optional 1.6L turbocharged EcoBoost with 178 hp is plenty poky, especially with standard six-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. The long-wheelbase cargo version is completely customizable with bins, shelves racks and more. Anyone from an urban delivery service to a mobile pet washing setup and any other thousand customers would find it useful.

In pretty loaded XLT spec, the LWB Cargo runs $30,149, or $32,227. With a 36 month term at 2.99 percent and 20,000 kilometres annually, it runs $719 a month.

Although due to be replaced reasonably soon, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter remains one hell of a Swiss Army knife. A bevvy of wheelbase, body lengths, roof height options and more allow for intense customization, but what’s even cooler is the available 4×4 system, something unique in this part of the world. The new-ish 2.1L four-cylinder turbodiesel offers 161 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission in the base 2500 model.

Choosing a standard roof, ‘regular’ 144-inch wheelbase, and no-window two-seat body has a starting MSRP of $49,900. On a 48-month lease at 5.99 percent, we picked the middle mileage option of “between 40,000-55,000 km annually.” Yes, annually. That works out to $696 a month.

The Chevrolet Colorado is rolling out smoothly across Canada, and its mid-size footprint is drawing some attention. It’s aimed directly at the aging Toyota Tacoma, with available four-cylinder and V6 engines, although in the Chevy’s case, its optional 3.6L pushes out 305 hp and its automatic transmission has one extra speed for six total. Inside, the Colorado stands out with its up-to-date materials and design, and the rear seats in the crew cab versions aren’t torturous. Only not being able to order a basic two-up cab with an eight-foot bed takes some of the joy away.

However, where the Colorado really wins is in the wallet. MSRP on the mid-level LT is $34,000 or $35,151 after freight and fees. On a 36-month lease at 0.9 percent with 20,000 km/year, the monthly payment is only $508 with a $19,687 residual at the end. A similarly specced Tacoma nets out nearly $60 a month more.

While Ford has made big news out of its latest aluminum-bodied F-150, the good news is that on paper at least, the weight-saving benefits are numerous. Even though the base 3.5L V6 produces less power than before – 285 – it has a few-hundred kilograms less mass to push, so acceleration and towing haven’t suffered. And should you need more juice to haul tools or equipment, three other powerplants with various levels of power are available.

The exterior design is familiar enough, and the improvements made inside are too numerous to list. A base XL trim regular-cab with the optional eight-foot box and four-wheel drive, comes to $33,299 before $2,100 worth of basic options like power windows, SYNC and more. There’s also a $3,500 delivery credit that more than cancels out the $1,800 worth of fees, bringing the total price to $33,699. A 36-month deal at 2.29 percent, with 25,000 km/year allowance rings in at $677 a month.

And finally filling the Flippin’ Large category is the GMC Sierra HD in 2500 form, which offers a stout 6.0L V8 with 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, along with a six-speed automatic and optional four-wheel drive. Specced in basic Work Truck form, this regular-cab long-box is happy to take years of job-site abuse with a built-like-a-tank chassis and the only independent front suspension in its class.

Unfortunately, even with a $4,900 credit, the optional 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 is unattainable, mainly due to the less-than-ideal 7.99 percent rates GM is offering on these beasts. With an MSRP of $42,200, a 60 month lease with a 20K/year limit comes to $715 a month, leaving an $11,439 residual after the five-year term.

The Green-Conscious Professional

With Kia’s first crack at the electric-vehicle market with its new Soul EV, perhaps the most impressive aspect is that virtually everything about it feels like a ‘normal’ car. There are a few differences inside the cabin to deal with battery range and power output like other EVs, but otherwise, it looks, feels and drives just like the excellent gas-powered Soul. The 109 hp electric motor feels plenty torquey and a generous 150 km range.

The Soul EV starts with an MSRP of $34,995 with a total sale price of $36,794. With a 36-month term at 1.9 percent, and a 24,000 km/year limit, the monthly payment works out to $705 a month (including HST). The residual fee of $15,806 would be offset even further with the thousands of dollars in various federal and provincial tax credits available.

Although more has been made about the Chevrolet Volt’s popularity to consumers, but it’s hard to fault it as a fleet option too. The combination of 40-odd kilometres of electric-only driving, and should things not go smoothly, there’s the gas-powered 1.4L ‘range-extender’ that adds another few hundred. Even though a second generation is coming soon, the first one is still a ridiculously advanced automobile, with a generous amount of cargo room and seating for four.

The Volt has an MSRP of $38,391 without any options or $40,095 with freight. Another deal made perilously expensive thanks to GM’s crazy 7.99 percent lease rate. Even over 60 months with a 20,000 km/year limit works to be $731 a month with an $11,227 residual. However, some pain could be offset with anywhere from around $5,000-$8,000 in tax credits.

The Real-Estate Agent’s First Impression

Nissan isn’t shy about pitching its latest Murano as a legitimate competitor to the Lexus RX given its similar size. The Murano is darned close to a concept car as you’ll find, especially around the rear with its complex shapes and finishes. The cabin, although slightly more prosaic is still full of neat touches including a large display buried in the gauge cluster and a second, larger one in the dash. And there’s plenty of room to tour houses with clients and haul the For Sale signs around too. Mechanically, it still uses a 3.5L V6 with 260 hp and CVT, although AWD is now optional.

That mid-grade SL trim has an MSRP of $39,098, or $46,311 with all taxes, fees, levies included. A 36-month deal with 24,000 km/year at 3.49 percent interest comes out to $710 a month. And at the end, it carries a residual of $21,504.

The BMW 328i xDrive might just be a near-perfect vehicle for on-site consultants. Just prestigious enough to impress with its badge and reputation, but not ridiculously powerful or ostentatious enough to offend. The 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder has 240 hp, 256 lb-ft of torque, and both an eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive are included. The sky’s the limit when it comes to how many options or packages to include, but even at its base price it’s reasonably equipped.

Its MSRP of $46,500 is one of the higher here, but when broken out over 48 months with an interest rate of 1.9 percent, and 24,000 km/year, with taxes and fees it’s $699 a month. It also carries a strong $21,252 residual after four years.

While the Hyundai Genesis took the industry by storm when it debuted in 2007 with the usual luxury-class suspects, it’s really the new second-generation offering that’s truly impressive. Everything feels more polished, more refined. The styling is less in-your-face, while the cabin offers stretch-out room for even the tallest clients or customers. The 311 hp V6 is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and standard all-wheel drive, something missing from the original Genesis.

The second-rung 3.8 Luxury ticks plenty of boxes at $48,000, although a hefty discount brings the all-in price to $47,407. On a 48 month lease at 3.99 percent and limited to 20,000 km/year, the monthly payment is $685.

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