2011 Nissan Sentra

Nissan is offering one of the lowest lease rates ever on its popular Sentra compact: just $139 a month. And the initial payment of $1,999 probably won't break the bank either. The special lease payment for a Sentra has varied greatly over the past year. As late as last August, it was running $149 to $179 a month. Another advantage: The term is 39 months, giving you an extra three months to get your financial act together before your next purchase or lease. One reason for Nissan's largesse is that used car prices are expected to rise, and it can count on making a tidy profit on returned Sentras once the leases are up. In the meantime, lessees reap some of the benefit, provided they can live with driving just 12,000 miles a year (or pay $0.15 a mile above that threshold). Sentra owners also save money at the pump: The relatively spacious compact gets a maximum fuel economy of 24 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. Nissan offers the option of a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine generating 140 hp, and two 2.5-liter engines generating either 177 or 200 hp.