Lease the Beast: the biggest, baddest trucks you can lease 

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Leasing a vehicle, like eating an entire poutine or saying “yes” to the menu at Swiss Chalet, is something that should be approached with caution. Restrictions are many, ranging from how many clicks you can put on the odometer to how much you can modify the vehicle itself. Run afoul of these guidelines and the lease-end inspector could come down on you faster than your author’s arteries slam shut after ingesting his second bacon sandwich of the day.

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This form of ownership ( rental , to be precise) does have its benefits, especially if you own a business. Stated simply, a manufacturer projects the value of their vehicle at lease end, called the residual. The difference between this number and the agreed-upon sales price will be paid by the customer, split into equal payments over the lease term.

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Lease the Beast: the biggest, baddest trucks you can lease  Back to video

Since these payments are essentially instalments on the depreciation of a business asset, they can be used to offset some funds demanded by The Man when tax time rolls around. This helps explain why leasing makes sense for some businesses.

Private individuals might also prefer to lease a vehicle, since the payment will likely be smaller than if one were to finance the entire purchase price over a fixed term. Some folks also like tooling around in a new set of wheels every two or three years, which is another advantage of leasing.

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In any case, we’ve scoured the internet for some of the biggest and baddest trucks available to lease in Canada today. Prices and rates are current as of this writing and exclusive of tax but, as with all transactions that involve money, there is always room in which to deal. Pay attention to current incentives and don’t forget that the manufacturer’s suggested retail price displayed on a vehicle is exactly that — suggested.

Exceeding the agreed-upon end-of-lease mileage may result in extra charges, as may unexplained damage or excessive modifications. Put it this way — if you try to return a leased vehicle on bald tires and missing a fender because you decided to add a snorkel kit, the company is likely to notice. With that in mind, buckle up and pay attention to this selection of snazzy pickup trucks.

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Seriously, it’s the lease you can do.

2020 Ram 1500 Rebel: $61,675 — $838/mo for 36 mos

Kicking off our list is the gnarliest half-ton in Ram’s stable: the off-road-focused Rebel. Recognizing not everyone needs to step up to the gonzo-sized heavy duty trucks, they’ve fitted the (relatively) sensibly-sized Rebel with a locking rear diff plus uniquely tuned shocks and 18-inch light-truck all-terrains. Skid plates pepper the underside and a 1-inch lift jacks the truck ever-so-gently towards the sky. Note, if you will, the latter items can be fitted to any trim of Ram 1500 thanks to a widely available Off-Road package.

Under the hood of our sample Rebel is the 5.7L HEMI V8, selected for its Chewbacca engine note and the dubious value proposition of the optional $3,900 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. Its body style is of the extended cab variety, which packs a 6’4″ box, a configuration your author feels is superior for real-world work compared to the Crew Cab with its 5’7″ bed.

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The sum of $595 is well spent on each of the Trailer Tow group and Anti-Spin rear diff. These packages endow the Ram with elephant ear mirrors, an electronic trailer brake controller, and the ability to effectively proportion power at the rear wheels.

Ram took its competition to the woodshed when it debuted this interior a couple of years ago and, until we see the 2021 F-150 in person, continues to do so. Its centrepiece is the enormous 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, an option which adds roughly $4,000 to Rebel’s bottom line thanks to the mandatory selection of a pricey feature package. The latter bundles items like heated front seats and steering wheel, adjustable pedals, and a rear window defroster.

Such largesse pins the sticker at $61,675. Ram offers bi-weekly payments on its lease terms, pegged here at 36 months since that is the length of time covered by the truck’s comprehensive warranty. A total of 18,000 km per year are permitted in this example.

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2020 Ford F-250 King Ranch Tremor: $77,969 — $1,332/mo for 36 mos

For ages, Blue Oval fans watched in dismay as Moparheads enjoyed a heavy-duty truck fitted with all manner of off-road goodies from the factory. That changed in 2020 with the introduction of a Tremor trim package, a $5,120 option which brings 35-inch off-road tires in addition to a rear electronic locking diff and a front limited slip. Skid plates, water fording (pun intended) vent tubes and a rock crawl mode round out the hairy-chested brute.

Tremor can be fitted to a number of Super Duty trims but we’ve selected the F-250 King Ranch for its combination of luxury features and vaguely manageable girth compared to a dual-rear wheel model. King Ranch brings the goods, including a Bang & Olufsen sound system and sumptuous Mesa Brown leather that looks fantastic and smells like a new horse saddle.

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Those who like towing trailers will enjoy the 360-degree bird’s-eye view and all manner of driving aids such as lane keeping and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

For this exercise, we’ve chosen Ford’s new 7.3L V8 engine, a mill which looks old-fashioned on paper but cranks out 430 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque. Unencumbered by power-adders like a turbocharger, it delivers instant-on throttle response and sounds like a NASCAR stocker on maximum attack. It also represents a ten-stack savings over the Power Stroke diesel. The $100 LED roof marker/clearance lamps were added because they’re cool.

So configured, this truck rings the bell at $77,969. Ford’s low-kilometre least stipulates a 16,000-km limit per annum, with payments coming out semi-monthly rather than biweekly. For clarity, payments are shown in monthly terms.

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2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD High Country: $83,577 — $979/mo for 36 mos

The big bowtie is available with dual rear wheels, an option we cheerfully selected mainly because we don’t have to fret about piloting down Yonge Street at rush hour. High Country is Chevy’s top trim, showing up to the party with exclusive grille treatments and snazzy kit like a power up/down tailgate. This cowboy Cadillac comes standard with GM’s new 6.6L gasoline V8 but we selected the 6.6L diesel and its 910 lb.-ft. of torque.

Added to the tab is a Technology Package that features really-should-be-standard HD surround vision and a heads-up display. These items are bundled with lane-departure warning and automatic emergency braking systems. Pro tip: spend the extra $440 on dual alternators — those electrical accessories you’re planning to connect to the upfitter switches will thank you.

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Pricing for all this truck shakes out to an eye-popping $83,577. It’s worth mentioning that, as of this writing, there are over $11,000 worth of incentives built into that figure. However, though its sticker price is north of the Ford, its monthly payment is much cheaper. This speaks to the dizzying amount of ciphering that goes into creating a monthly lease payment and should serve as a reminder to shop wisely. GM permits 20,000 km per year.

2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali: $72,011 — $831/mo for 36 mos

Is an off-road beast not your style but stepping up to a dual-rear wheel truck proving to be a stretch for your assigned parking space? GMC offers its high-zoot Denali trim in single-rear wheel guise, with the 2500HD occupying the space between half- and one-ton-class trucks. This model has a Crew Cab with a standard-length bed measuring 6’10”, meaning its total length is well south of the dually Chev described above.

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To provide contrast, our Denali is fitted with the 6.6L gasser but does pick up the same Technology Package as its bowtie brother. An auxiliary battery and stouter alternator will be $335 well spent on frigid mornings outside the hockey rink. High-def surround vision and a heads-up display are standard kit on the Denali, as they should be at this price.

Speaking of, nearly ten grand in current incentives brings the sticker price of this heavy hauler to $72,011. That’s a heap o’ beans, but it must be noted that its monthly lease price is virtually identical to the Ram Rebel which bears a much lower sticker price. This proves the mantra that it pays to shop around.