What would the characters from Stranger Things lease today?

From the Renault 5 to the MINI Cooper to the JAECOO  7 – these are the lease cars we’d assign to the characters of Stranger Things in 2026

It hasn’t generated quite the buzz of the original hit series, so if you’ve slept on the newest addition to the Stranger Things universe, you can be forgiven.

Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 came out last month, which makes it the perfect time to revisit everyone’s favourite sci-fi universe. Especially if you’re running out of ideas to keep the kids occupied this half term.

Yes, yes – play and time outside are important.

But sometimes a day on the sofa is required, especially if you’re fresh off the back of a few day trips that have left you mentally drained, and your fuel tank depleted.

Let this be your excuse to dive back into the smash hit of the last decade. It’s exactly what we’ve been doing (off the clock, of course), and to mark the occasion, we’ve assigned a modern lease car to some of our favourite characters from the series.

No logic, no strategy. This one is purely based on vibes.

From quirky Honda e’s to brand-new JAECOO’s, these are our picks for a modern-day Stranger Things.

So, if you think you know what Steve Harrington would be leasing in 2026, read on. You might just be surprised.

(Spoiler alert: It’s not a BMW.)

Nancy Wheeler: Renault 5 E-Tech

In the series, Nancy’s often seen driving the Wheeler family car, a Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park. Practical, ‘woody’ and with rear-facing third-row seats, this estate is a clear mark of its time.

Perfect for hauling kids and equipment around Hawkins on monster hunting adventures.

Not so perfect for a young single woman intent on pursuing an ambitious career.

The station-wagon has to go.

A young-adult Nancy needs something cheap to run, easy to park, and practical to zip about a busy city in as she chases her next headline.

It’s got to be a supermini.

It’s got to be the new Renault 5; stylish, nippy, and packed with the kind of sophisticated French flair that’d appeal to a small-town girl yearning for bigger pastures.

True, the 252-mile range (WLTP comb) isn’t the best in its class. But the drive is refined, the steering is light, and it’s cheaper to insure than its closest rivals. All good things for a young professional leasing their first car.

And we reckon Nancy would appreciate the green credentials of an electric vehicle (EV).

Plus, with decent boot space, an abundance of physical controls, and lots of retro-inspired design cues, the Renault 5 is a perfect fit for Nancy.

Will Byers: Honda e

A boy with a bowl-cut hairdo needs a car with some seriously quirky style. The Honda e delivers just that.

But beyond the distinctive styling, the Honda’s flagship electric car helped pioneer a groundbreaking discovery: Electric doesn’t have to mean boring.

Featuring flush door handles, cameras instead of wing mirrors, and two enormous touchscreens in the cabin, this little hatch was actually a few years ahead of its closest rivals when it comes to tech and equipment.

Granted, the range is measly – just 131 miles (WLTP Comb) – which was below average even when it was new to the market, but really isn’t up to muster in 2026.

That’s probably why Honda ended production back in 2024, with the bigger E:ny1 replacing it in the lineup.

But despite this limitation, the Honda e’s still got some serious points in its favour. The interior quality is impressive, with high quality materials used throughout that make it feel more upmarket than it actually is.

Is it practical? No.

Is it competitively priced? Also no. Even with significantly newer and better models hitting the market, the Honda e still isn’t cheap to lease.

But it’s easy to drive, surprisingly spacious in the front, and most importantly, it’s really good fun.

And that’s basically our main requirement for the youngest Byers. Will has been through hell.

More fun in his life is what he deserves.

Dustin Henderson: JAECOO 7

If there’s one thing Dustin loves, it’s a voyage of discovery.

Fortunately, JAECOO promises exactly that – so it seems a fitting choice for the genius of the series. A boy who wanted to keep a Demodog for ‘science’ definitely wouldn’t be scared to try out a new-to-the-UK carmaker.

And he’d be right to do so.

The JAECOO 7 launched in the UK in 2025 and has taken the market by storm. Available with petrol or hybrid powertrains, it boasts class-leading tech, luxurious comfort, and most importantly of all?

A genuinely sensible price proposition that keeps monthly payments low.

But what you get for the money makes it seriously good value: Clever driver assistance systems working overtime, the widest panoramic sunroof in its class, super sharp-styling, and a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Combined with a seven-year warranty?  The JAECOO 7 could handle any further adventures that come Dustin’s way.

Demodog involvement, optional.

Maxine Mayfield: Volkswagen Golf GTI

If there was a boy-racer in the world of Stranger Things, it could only be Max Mayfield.

This is the girl who stole her step-brother’s Chevrolet Camaro and took it for a joyride.

Whose safest memories involve a skate park.

Who literally classifies herself as the party’s ‘Zoomer’.

Chevrolet’s are thin on the ground this side of the pond, so we’re going to stick with hot hatch territory for Max.

And is there a hotter hatch to be found anywhere than the Volkswagen Golf GTI? It’s not just reliable – VW have spent decades refining everything about the Golf that works, and making it even better.

The GTI? It’s all that, but with higher performance built around a much more powerful engine.

Tidy handling, optional adaptive suspension, and more pliable than its closest rivals, the Golf GTI has always been seriously fun to drive.

But it’s had some noteworthy upgrades recently. VW have rethought the minimalist approach by reintroducing some physical buttons and pairing them with a more user-friendly infotainment screen.

Rear passenger space could be better, but the roomy front and 374 litres of boot space still make it a very practical little hatch.

There’ll be plenty of space for Max’s skateboard, and a few tall members of the party.

Lucas Sinclair: Ford Capri

Possibly the most underrated character of the series, look a little closer and you’ll see Lucas has some real hidden depths.

Nerd-turned-athlete-turned-protector – at his heart, Lucas is loyal. To his friends and girlfriend, for sure – but given the chance, we bet he’d demonstrate some proper brand loyalty too.

He’d be the guy that leases the new Ford Capri because he misses the original.

And why not? The new Ford Capri perfectly marries the existing legacy of its name with thoroughly modern sensibilities. Nostalgic design cues, a coupe-SUV silhouette, and a choice of four different driving modes to choose from all make it feel like a more sophisticated continuation of a much-beloved car.

And the range is nothing to sniff at either. Coming in at 398 miles (WLTP comb), the new Capri is a genuinely competitive EV in its own right.

Lucas would pick it for the name and love it for the updates.

Mike Wheeler: MINI Cooper

Confession time: Mike Wheeler gives off bad-driver energy.

We’re talking instant road-rage, parking situations that look more like a crash landing than a basic manoeuvre, and a complete indifference to spec or brand prestige.

He’s not impressed by your BMW.

He wouldn’t even be impressed by his own.

But if he was going to get behind the wheel, we could totally see him appreciating the charm of a MINI Cooper. Combining the looks of the OG classic with better safety stats and a more robust engine, the new MINI Cooper is all about putting the fun back into driving.

The 2026 version has had an interior update too.

Materials are high-quality and come with fun colour options, the driving position is good, and there’s no driver’s display, just a circular infotainment screen – so it gets points for not blindly following the same design formula as every other motor on the market.

More importantly for lanky lads like Mike, the MINI has class-leading legroom in the front.

Paired with that go-kart-esque driving experience (in a good way), it all adds up to a small car with big personality.

And the performance to match.

Eleven: Mazda MX-5

Every tragic character deserves a happy ending.

A brand-new lease car is only the smallest part of that happy scenario – but that doesn’t mean it’s less important.

El’s choice of motor should absolutely reflect exactly what it is she deserves most: Freedom. And nothing symbolises freedom like driving off into the sunset in a swish new convertible – roof down, wind in hair.

The convertible in question? Look no further than the iconic Mazda MX-5. It’s been on our roads for over 30 years, and even after all that time it’s still a seriously fun car to drive.

The driving position is low-slung and close to the road but it’s giving race car, not go-kart. Visibility is good at the front, with a clear view down the sloping bonnet. But not to worry, it comes with plenty of sensors to offset the poor rear view when the roof’s up.

Loaded with plenty of tech, but without skimping on tactile controls, the MX-5 has a more intuitive and less distracting display than almost every other model in its class.

Add in a lively engine, agile handling, and – rare these days – a manual gearbox, and you’ll understand why the MX-5 feels like a proper car.

And it doesn’t cost a fortune either.          

Steve Harrington: Lotus Emeya 

We had to save the best for last.

Steve Harrington is famous for two things: His hair, and his beloved BMW 733i.

The BMW got sucked into space (or at least, the nothingness outside of a wormhole) in the last season, leaving everyone’s favourite babysitter in dire need of a new set of wheels.

The show set him up with some sort of pickup in the closing scenes, but we think – as car leasing experts – we can do one better. A family-orientated SUV is the obvious choice; spacious, practical, perfect for ferrying around his six “little nuggets”.

But why go for obvious?

The BMW was a status symbol showing off the Harrington’s status and wealth. Retail price put it at around $34,000 USD new – today that’d be about the $86,000 mark, which puts Steve firmly in the premium car market.

The modern-day equivalent needs to be truly luxurious, easy on the eyes, and backed by some powerful performance.

That’s why we’re going with the Lotus Emeya. Entry-level price is £84,900, but move up the spec line, and prices start reaching the £100,000 level.

Yes, the Emeya is elegant. Yes, it’s refined.

But it’s got some real precision performance too. We’re talking 0-62mph in just 4.15 seconds.

Add in a maximum range of 379 miles (WLTP Comb), hyper-fast charging (up to 80% in just 15 minutes), and a driver-focused cockpit, and it all adds up to a car that feels like a genuinely worthy successor to the BMW that literally punched its way through reality to the Upside-Down.

There’s little we love more than a good lease car. But matching great lease cars to some of the greatest fictional characters to grace our screens in recent years?

That’s just the icing on the cake for a newsletter writer.