DETROIT and CINCINNATI -

A recent analysis from Edmunds.com indicates that in addition to being among “the biggest factors that are making it easier for shoppers to afford more expensive vehicles” (along with cheaper credit), new-vehicle lease penetration is on track to reach an all-time annual high.

What’s more, the same Edmunds analysis of financial conditions found that leases in May had average monthly payments that were $70 cheaper than the average payment on a financed vehicle.

A similar affordability factor seems to bearing out in June, according to Swapalease.com.

The site’s Wantalease.com new lease marketplace had 16 monthly payment offers of $200 or less this month. In fact, six of those 16 had monthly payments of less than $160.

“It’s not uncommon to see many monthly lease offers under $200, however it is surprising to see the high quality of vehicles seeing such aggressive deals currently,” said Scot Hall, executive vice president of Wantalease.com. “There continues to be a nice mix of cars and trucks, as well as luxury makes with deals that are attractive to virtually all budgets.”

Much of Hall’s sentiment was noted in Edmunds’ analysis.

But one twist to these findings that Edmunds discovered: while trucks and SUVs are getting a shot in the arm, the same can’t be said for the luxury market.  The majority of luxury segments have had relatively flat consumer appetite numbers the past two years.

“Today’s car shoppers are taking a step or two beyond the more financially conservative choices made in recent years, but we aren’t generally seeing the mainstream buyers reach into luxury the way we did before the economic crisis,” said Edmunds chief economist Lacey Plache said. “That was a time when many aspirational shoppers stretched their finances to get a high-status nameplate, now they are instead buying mainstream vehicles with tech options and creature comforts that allow them to spoil themselves just a little.”

However, Edmunds did point out that luxury buyers have shifted toward the higher price points of the luxury spectrum, like mainstream buyers have done on the mainstream side.

Going back to the Wantalease data, here are some of the highlights of those $200 or less deals:

  • Volkswagen Jetta S: $139 per month
  • Chevrolet Cruze LT: $147 per month
  • Chrysler 200 Limited: $149 per month 

(These three are offered at 24, 36- or 39 months)

  • Chevrolet Equinox 2WD LT: $189 per month for 39 months
  • Ford Escape FWD S: $199 per month for 24 months.

Though not on the list of 16 vehicles at $200 or less, Swapalease did note that there were five popular luxury models with monthly payments at $350 or less, including the Acura ILX at $229 per month and the Audi A3 1.8 Premium at $319 per month.