Nissan, through its Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. subsidiary, has launched a new, ultra-low mile lease program for customers. The 5,000 miles (8,046 km) term, more akin to what supercar manufacturers offer than the brands for daily drivers, has been introduced as gas prices have risen and the pandemic has pushed people to work from home and drive less.
Dubbed the SignatureFLEX lease model, customers will be able to choose from the Nissan Rogue, Rogue Sport, or the Pathfinder. The automaker, though, plans to offer more vehicle options next year, reports Automotive News.
The SignatureFLEX lease follows another low-mile lease program that was introduced in 2021, said NMAC’s vice president, Jim DeTrude. That 10,000-mile-per-year (16,093 km) lease term became Nissan‘s most popular option for new vehicles, overtaking the previously-most-popular 12,000-mile-per-year (19,312 km) program.
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Since the lease offers so few miles, customers are invited to add more through the term if it turns out that 5,000 miles (8,046 km) wasn’t enough for their needs. The added miles are offered at a lower rate than they would be if customers waited until the end of their lease term and accepted the overage penalty (usually about $0.25 per mile).
As part of the SignatureFLEX lease, customers can also choose to allow Nissan to view their odometer data. The company tracks weekly figures and offers lessees a monthly report on their mileage and makes recommendations on when it thinks customers might benefit from adding more midterm miles to their lease.
Ultimately, NMAC said that it was working with dealer staff to train them on how to recommend the SignatureFLEX to customers who will really need it. They aren’t just trying to push it on everyone who comes into the dealership.
“I’d rather the term align with their driving habits and not where they’re actually incurring additional expense versus drafting the lease initially at a 10,000- or 12,000-mile term that better fits their needs,” De Trude said. “It is a great option for someone that doesn’t need as many miles but also wants the flexibility during the lease period rather than at lease end.”
