Close Buy vs Lease near Chicago, IL
Have you recently begun searching more seriously for your next vehicle? If so, then there’s a good chance that you’ve come across the question of whether you should opt for financing or leasing. We at McGrath Kia of Highland Park would be glad to help you come to a decision on the matter, so read through the points below to learn some of our basic tips!
Financing
When you choose to finance a vehicle, you’ll be getting full ownership of it until you choose to move on from it on your own terms. Depending on the down payment that you provide initially, you’ll have to make monthly installments going forward until the car is completely paid off, but there won’t be any limitations on how much you can drive it. So, the freedom that comes with financing is certainly one of its most enticing elements, and it can be done with both new and pre-owned vehicles. That opens the door to an even wider variety of options, so you’ll have to take into account even more models to find your ideal pick
Leasing
Unlike with financing, only new cars can be leased. However, there is a significant advantage to the latter option, and that’s the way depreciation works with a lease. When you sign up for a leasing contract, our Finance Department team will work with you to establish a set length of time for which the agreement will last. Typically, this will be two to four years, and during this time, you’ll only be able to drive the vehicle for a predetermined mileage limit. In exchange, you’ll only be required to pay for the depreciation of the vehicle, so it’s a significantly cheaper option when compared to financing. While you won’t have full ownership and the unrestricted ability to drive the car as much as you like around the Chicago area, the monthly payment will also be far less harsh on your finances.
Which is Right For You?
To figure out if you should finance or lease your next car, you should start by taking into account what your daily travels tend to look like. If you only ever commute to work with the occasional trip to 31st Street Beach, then the mileage limit associated with leasing won’t be much of an impediment to you. That said, if you’re frequently visiting many destinations and even partake in a few road trips throughout the year, then you’re going to want that freedom that comes with financing and fully owning your vehicle. One of our sales team members will be more than happy to help you figure out which option is best for your lifestyle, so call us at your earliest convenience!
How Long Does a Car Lease Last?
- Most leases last for two to four years.
Dealership Information
Testimonials
“ I already left a five star review from another account, but I wanted to come back and say this just for JACKIE PIERCE. She is just amazing! From my first call she handled everything with such calm and care. Nothing felt stressful. What others couldn’t get done, she took care of right away. She’s an expert and knows her way around the dealership. I left feeling relieved and very grateful. KIA is lucky to have her. If you get the chance to work with Jackie, you’ll be glad you did. ”
“ Absolutely everyone I encountered there was so kind and attentive. They made it so easy to drop off my car, get a great loaner and keep in touch. I’m truly not going anywhere else from here on out! Thanks Jackie and Scott!! ”
“ We had an outstanding experience at McGrath Kia of Highland Park, and I can’t say enough good things about Greg and Jarek. From the moment we walked in, they treated us with genuine respect, kindness, and professionalism. There was absolutely no pressure—just honest communication. Greg and Jarek (Jerry) had a truly top-notch demeanor. We were treated extremely well and felt confident in our decision. I would absolutely recommend anyone looking for a car to work with them—you won’t be disappointed! Thank you both—I’m going to greatly enjoy my new car! 🚗✨ ”
Wayne is the guy!
“ Wayne is the guy! Super laid back and on top of his game. No games, no garbage, just a straight shooter who will tell you how he sees it. ”
“ Nicholas was an excellent salesperson at Kia—friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful throughout the entire process. He took the time to answer all my questions, made everything easy and stress-free, Highly recommend working with Nicholas if you’re looking for a great car-buying experience! ”
“ I took my car in for some recalls and they took care of everything in just a few hours. I was dropped back home instead of waiting on site and when the car was ready they offered to pick me up. Great service all around. ”
“ Highly recommend Kia McGrath in highland park. Great service. Great staff. Go get your car serviced with them. And if you don’t have a car, go buy one from them! I’m Always in and out when I need an oil change! Thank you Jackie at service!! ”
“ Nicholas at McGrath Kia of Highland Park was extremely helpful throughout our process. He was responsive, patient, and answered every question we had. I'd definitely recommend working with him! ”
“ My car was transferred to this dealership from another Mcgrath location. The customer service and follow up from the service team at this dealership has been amazing to say the least. Breana, Joe, Tristan, And Jackie have kept me in the loop every step of the way and return my calls the same day or at least within 24 hours. They are honest and transparent it's refreshing to have this type of quality service. Thank you. ”
“ Mike Delaney was awesome!!! After owning a telluride for 6 years, he taught me 100 new things about my car that I never knew. Patients, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you so much Mike. ”
“ Thanks Mike Delaney for my new Sorento. ”
“ Jackie Piece is the best...she was very knowledgeable and prompt at solving my issues and concerns. I recommend her great customer service and recommend the Highland Park dealership to anyone who wants the best customer experience. All employees at this dealership are fantastic hard workers. Under new dealership this Highland Park Kia tops any other dealership I've experienced. They are kind and considerate. I've read previous reviews from retrospective reviews about racism and I rebut those comments because I am an African American man and my experience with this dealership was exceptional well and fairly treated. This is the dealership that works with you and guaranteed satisfaction is the end result. ”
Jackie Pierce and Jose are the best and were very
“ Jackie Pierce and Jose are the best and were very knowledgeable and helpful about my concerns. I highly recommend their customer service and I give them a million star rating because of their prompt service and how quickly they were both able to solve my issues and concerns. ”
“ My car needed to be towed in for electrical issues - no car available. I spoke to Jackie, she got me a car within 30 minutes and has gone way out of her way to help me. I have been working with Orest Sosnivka in sales. He too has been extremely helpful, respectful and knowledgeable. ”
“ Pejman was a very kind and helpful salesman! He broke down all the pricing and options for us so that we could get a reliable family vehicle. I really appreciate him making the process seamless and efficient. He even reached out the morning after our purchase, congratulating us offering to go over any features in the vehicle if we needed assistance. Wonderful customer service! Also, I had also called multiple Kia dealerships and no one was real knowledgeable on working with military members who are trying to register their vehicle in their home state. I spoke with Jackie at McGrath who is a former marine and was able to get the process started before we even got to the dealership. These guys got it done and helped us through the process, so would definitely recommend them over us Kia dealerships for military members. Lastly, I did not catch his name, but another salesman took some time to play with and color with my 3 year old. Going above and out of the way to make us feel comfortable. I can't express how much I appreciate that as a mom and it was the extra step that made us want to buy the vehicle from this dealership. Thank you to everyone at McGrath Kia for the wonderful purchasing experience! We love our new Telluride! ”
“ Thank you Isabella for your patience and professionalism you were the best! I had a great experience ❤️ ”
“ Worked with Wayne and Neil! Very good salesman made sure I walked out with what I wanted plus more! Very good and professional people! ”
“ We weee helped by Wayne and he was extremely kind and knowledgeable made our car buying experience seamless ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) Thanks Mike! ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) McGrath Kia of Highland Park has been phenomenal to work with. Excellent customer service. I came in initially for service on my Kia Sportage. The best customer service I’ve had with a car dealership. Bri really took care of us and gave us a wonderful rental to use. After our car was serviced, we came to look at a new 2025 Kia Sportage. Mike and Isabelle were phenomenal to work with. We came in with a number in mind and they gave us a great deal. No long wait. Extremely kind. Great customer service overall. ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) Thank you Mike and Tracy for helping with my new telluride! Great customer service from start to finish ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) All the staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful! ”
“ Great experience purchasing new Kia Sportage with Nicolas! ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) Thank you Mike Delaney for helping us with our new car! Super fast and easy process! 10/10 customer service ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) Great service, great people, great car. Special thanks to Pejman Movafaghi for his professionalism and help during my search. ”
“ Top-notch customer experience at McGrath Kia - Highland Park! Thank you to Tracey who answered our internet inquiry and found the right vehicle for our family. And a huge shout out to Mike D who assisted - start to finish - with the purchase of our new Kia! Thank you - 5 stars! ”
“ Michael Delaney made our Kia purchase and process so easy and painless! What a great experience! Would highly recommend this dealer and salesperson! Their entire team was super helpful and very coordinated communication. ”
“ Thank you to mike delaney for our purchase for my new nissan rogue ”
“ Thank you Mike Delaney for helping me purchase my new Kia Sportage! Can’t wait to drive it. ”
“ Kat Louvar went above and beyond to ensure my experience, from beginning to end, was a positive one. Thanks again Kat! ”
“ Thanks mike Delaney for helping us with our new ride! If you need a car come see mike and McGrath Kia highland park!! 10/10 customer service!!! ”
“ nicolas was so helpful and made us feel at ease throughout the purchase process! ”
“ Wayne, Mike and Vesko were all extremely helpful, thorough and kind. Very happy with my 2026 Sportage. ”