The biggest reason for leasing: Lower monthly payments
Your monthly lease payment is calculated primarily by adding up the amount a car will depreciate over the typical 36-month lease term. The fact that cars aren't depreciating as much as in the past lowers the average lease payment. According to credit agency Experian, the average lease payment is now about $467 a month vs. an average loan payment of $568, so leasing can leave an extra $100 in your bank account every month.
A lease requires less of your money in the beginning
Many families burned through a lot of cash during the pandemic. That's why the big down payments required for a car loan weren't very appealing. But you can find leasing specials that let you get into a lease with little or no money down. Of course, the less you put down on a lease, the higher your monthly payments. But many people around Oroville and Red Bluff, CA are willing to accept that to avoid paying a lot of cash up front.
It's fun to get a brand-new car every three years
One of the things people like most about a lease is that it's an easy, low-maintenance way to continually be driving a new or nearly-new car. You start out with a new Volvo at the beginning, make lower payments per month than a loan and at the end of your 36-month lease, you can sign up for a new lease and drive home in another new Volvo. You're staying on the cutting edge of the latest tech and driving another shiny new car can feel pretty good.