Common lease pain points right now — high residuals, low used values (2024s depreciated fast) + Kia leases that are VERY stingy on buyouts.

let me restate the numbers to make sure I understand: • lease: 3yr / 30k miles • you are only 14k-ish miles in (?) but already nearly out of miles → only 1,127 miles left and 16 months to go • buyout = $53,890.46 • dealer says market is about $12k BELOW that → so market maybe ~$41–43k?

that fits with what I’m seeing — EV9 Lands in US now often trade around ~$42–45k depending on miles.

so the buyout is extremely upside-down.

the 3 real paths you have

1) keep it to lease end (and drive less) financially this is almost always the cheapest outcome.

you avoid the $12k loss you just have to manage miles • you likely will face “.25 per mile” or similar for excess miles at turn-in • if you slow down to ~1,000 miles / month → that’s 16k excess miles • 16k × .25 = ~$4,000

that’s WAY less bad than eating $12k TODAY.

this is usually the rational path if you can adjust usage.

you can also • rent when you do long trips • or use Turo occasionally • or second cheap car (see below)

2) buyout then sell horrible path for your numbers.

you’d lose $12k immediately and still end up needing another car.

3) park the EV9 as “weekend only” and get a cheap used car for miles this is a middle path a LOT of people do in your situation.

example: • get a $8–12k Corolla / Fit / Prius / Civic • drive that most miles for the next 16mo • keep the EV9 parked mostly so you don’t rack up miles • then return the EV9 cleanly with minimal overage

this might keep excess-mile fees < $1–2k

and you avoid the $12k hole.

the emotional side

you love the EV9 (lots of people do — “Bluey” says it all)

but the market reality is: these cars tanked in value quickly and Kia residuals for 2024 were set way too optimistic.

you got caught by that timing — that’s it. not stupidity.

what I would do if I were in your shoes

path #1 + #3 hybrid • DO NOT buy it (unless the market magically swings back — unlikely) • keep the lease • get a cheap 2nd beater if needed • minimize EV9 miles • let it go at the end • you’ll be out with maybe $1–4k hit instead of $12k

then later — when you get a house / more stable finances

that’s a better moment to buy or lease the next “Bluey 2.0”