A Fiat Lease Is Ending, and the Search for a Replacement Hits a Wall of High Prices

A driver facing the end of a Fiat 500e lease this spring is starting to look for a replacement, but the current used-car market is offering little that excites them. Buying the leased Fiat is technically on the table, but the driver is leaning toward something different, possibly a convertible, though no firm decision has been made yet.

The main frustration centers on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Despite being a track-oriented electric SUV with over 600 horsepower, its used prices remain stubbornly high. S. market for about two years. Used examples are almost all priced at $45,000 or more, a far cry from the $20,000 range the driver had hoped for.

The driver acknowledges that with such a recent launch, steep depreciation isn't realistic yet, but they're still surprised. For a 221-mile EV that trades range for handling and track performance, they expected values to drop quickly, like running shoes. Instead, demand has kept prices firm, which is both annoying and a point of pride for someone who loves niche enthusiast cars.

The driver invites others to share which vehicles they're waiting to become more affordable, asking readers to name the car that refuses to depreciate fast enough for their budget.