Question Of The Day: How Are You “buying” Your New Car These Days: Loan Or Lease

For a long time a “lease” was a dirty word in automotive buying circles. However, it began to gain favor in the early part of this century, reaching a high of about 30 percent just before the pandemic hit.

Since then, the percentage of folks leasing new cars, trucks, and crossovers has been steadily declining. In fact, leases accounted for 23 percent of new vehicle purchases during the first half of 2026, reports  Reuters using data from JD Power & Associates.  

The number has rebounded some since then clearly, but the appeal of lower downpayments and a lower monthly payment has been offset by a lack of appealing payments or downpayments by automakers. Often with buyers in the market for a new vehicle complain about a lack of affordability, they mean “where are the good lease deals?”

So folks we ask: Do you prefer a lease or a loan to “buy” a new vehicle and why? 

[Images: Toyota, Ford]

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