After abandoning leases when the economy swooned last year, General Motors is dipping its toes back in the water.

In a pilot program expected to run through August, the company will offer leases through U.S. Bank on the 2009 Cadillac CTS, and Chevrolet Malibu and Traverse, as well as on the 2010 Buick Enclave and LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Acadia. Except for the SRX, the leases will only be available in five states: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. The SRX lease will be available nationwide. (Links point to the model overview pages, available to online subscribers.)

Consumer Reports rates most of these models highly, including the Buick Enclave, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Malibu and Traverse, and GMC Acadia. Reliability, however, has been mixed: Only the Malibu has been rated reliable enough with our subscribers to earn our Recommendation. New models from GM, including the Equinox, LaCrosse, and SRX, look promising, but we have not yet had a chance to test them, and their reliability record has not yet been established.

We welcome expanded financing choices for consumers who are interested in buying these vehicles, but caution that leasing is more expensive for most owners in the long run than purchasing a new vehicle with cash or financing.

Learn more about leasing from our car buying advice special section.

—Eric Evarts