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DETROIT — The highlights of the best leasing offers during March were the attractive rates offered in the "hotly contested" family and compact segments, according to the Best March Lease Deals report from AOL Autos.

Among some of the deals AOL Autos shared, the Nissan Sentra compact car was leasing for as low as $149 per month in certain areas during March, and the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima and Honda Accord could be leased in some spots for less than $200 per month.

"The low rates in the hotly contested family and compact segments stand out in the latest round of automakers' special leasing offers," said AOL Autos correspondent Gary Hoffman during March. "On some models, it is hard to imagine rates getting much lower."

Looking at some other deals, Hoffman noted that Mazda6 models were going for $239 a month, pointing out that "Mazda has dispensed with the down payment — a break that recession-weary car buyers are likely to appreciate."

Continuing on, Honda was waiving the initial payment on the Accord Crosstour and offering a lease rate of $390 per month. Shoppers could also choose the option of paying $2,299 at signing and then go into a $339 per month lease deal.

"Meanwhile, Nissan (had) one of the widest ranges of low-rate leases among all manufacturers, offering them on everything from the diminutive Sentra to the hulking Armada," Hoffman said.

Next up, AOL Autos featured its Editor's Pick for March, which went to the 2010 Subaru Impreza.

"The onslaught of snow that recently battered the East Coast has no doubt given trendy metro dwellers a few second thoughts about those light-weight Priuses," Hoffman noted. "A Subaru model could be the answer for anyone inhabiting snowy climes. This brand offers all-wheel drive across the board.

"And while Subaru base prices may (be a) bit higher than those their front-wheel drive counterparts from other brands, you won't notice this when you are leasing," he continued.

During March, shoppers could lease the Impreza for $179 a month with a down payment of $1,478.

Hoffman said, "Subaru can afford to charge those rates because its vehicles enjoy a fairly high resale value — the company and its dealers aren't going to be stung when they put it up for sale three or four years from now."

What Hoffman called one of the top aspects of the Impreza offering was that lease contract was extended to 42 months, which delays "the pain of coming up with another down payment a bit. That could be considered the equivalent a 10-percent discount on the initial payment."

Moving on, AOL Autos spotlighted 20 vehicles across five segments as being the top deals during March.

Compact Cars

Subaru Impreza
$179 a month for 42 months, $1,478 due at signing
MSRP: $17,495 – $27,995
Invoice: $16,734 – $26,389
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 20 mpg city 

Nissan Sentra
$149 to $179 month for 36 months, $2,449 due at signing
MSRP: $15,420 – $20,080
Invoice: $14,794 – $18,725
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg hwy, 24 mpg city 

Honda Civic
$199 a month for 36 months, $1,699 due at signing; or $0 due at signing, $220 a month.
MSRP: $15,455 – $25,340
Invoice: $14,250 – $23,884
Fuel Economy: 34 mpg hwy, 26 mpg city 

Family Cars

Honda Accord
$199 a month for 36 months, $1,999 due at signing
MSRP: $21,055 – $29,305
Invoice: $19,101 – $26,556
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg hwy, 22 mpg city 

Nissan Maxima
$289 to $329 a month for 39 months, $2,999 due at signing
MSRP: $30,460 – $33,180
Invoice: $27,903 – $30,389
Fuel Economy: 26 mpg hwy, 19 mpg city 

Volkswagen CC
$283 a month for 36 months, $2,499 due at signing
MSRP: $27,760 – $40,420
Invoice: $25,864 – $37,849
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg hwy, 21 mpg city 

Subaru Legacy
$199 a month for 36 months, $1,899 due at signing
MSRP: $19,995 – $29,995
Invoice: $18,926 – $28,061
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 19 mpg city 

Luxury Crossovers

Mercedes-Benz GLK350
$469 a month for 36 months, $4,014 due at signing
MSRP: $34,600
Invoice: $32,178
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg hwy, 16 mpg city 

Infiniti FX35
$559 a month for 39 months, $3,999 due at signing
MSRP: $42,400 – $43,850
Invoice: $39,155 – $40,490
Fuel Economy: 23 mpg hwy, 16 mpg city 

BMW X5
$549 month for 36 months, $5,824 due at signing
MSRP: $47,600
Invoice: $43,970
Fuel Economy: 21 mpg hwy, 15 mpg city 

Acura RDX
$399 a month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing
MSRP: $32,520 – $34,520
Invoice: $30,303 – $32,137
Fuel Economy: 24 mpg hwy, 19 mpg city 

Compact Crossovers 

Mitsubishi Outlander
$239 a month for 48 month, $2,488 due at signing
MSRP: $20,840 – $29,250
Invoice: $19,859 – $27,574
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 21 mpg city 

Nissan Rogue
$199 to $239 a month for 39 months, $2,999 due at signing
MSRP: $20,340 – $25,140
Invoice: $19,392 – $23,881
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 22 mpg city 

Subaru Forester
$229 a month for 42 months, $1,929 due at signing
MSRP: $20,295 – $28,495
Invoice: $19,214 – $26,707
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 20 mpg city 

Volkswagen Tiguan
$269 a month for 36 months, $2,499 due at signing
MSRP: $23,200 – $33,500
Invoice: $21,455 – $31,180
Fuel Economy: 26 mpg hwy, 19 mpg city 

Pocket Rockets

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS
$253 per month for 36 months $2,552 due at signing
MSRP: $19,190
Invoice: $18,282
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg hwy, 20 mpg city 

Volkswagen GTI
$279 a month for 36 months, $2,299 due at signing
MSRP: $23,465 – $24,070
Invoice: $21,885 – $22,446
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg hwy, 21 mpg city 

Subaru Impreza WRX
$279 a month for 42 months, $1,579 due at signing
MSRP: $32,995 – $34,995
Invoice: $31,239 – $33,099
Fuel Economy: 23 mpg hwy, 17 mpg city 

BMW 135i Coupe
$399 a month for 36 months, $4,824 due at signing
MSRP: $36,050 – $40,350
Invoice: $33,345 – $37,300
Fuel Economy: 25 mpg hwy, 18 mpg City 

Most of the deals included in this story expired Wednesday. However, some are still ongoing, such as the deals from Acura and Honda, which run through May 3, and BMW's deals, which go through April 30.

To read the report from AOL Autos, visit autos.aol.com/article/best-lease-deals-of-the-month.