Lease or Buy a Ford Maverick? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Maverick XLT costs $15,044 vs about $8,423 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,621, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Manufacturer lease programs, verified CarWhere deals and our depreciation report · Updated daily
Lease for 3 years
| Advertised payment | $329/mo × 36 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $3,529 |
| Total over 36 months | $15,044 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $15,044 |
Ford's New York-region offer on the 2026 Maverick XLT, ends January 4, 2027. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $29,765 |
|---|---|
| Resale at 3 years (−28.3%) | −$21,342 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $8,423 |
| Financed at 2.9% APR, 3 years | $9,841 |
Price = the median price CarWhere buyers paid for a Maverick (7 verified deals, all trims). Finance line: Ford's 2.9% / 38-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $6,621 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $5,203 in favor of buying.
If you keep it longer
Leasing continuously at the same effective rate vs buying once and selling at year N (resale from our depreciation report; cash purchase).
| Years kept | Lease (continuous) | Buy and sell | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $15,044 | $8,423 | Buy |
| 4 | $20,059 | $10,299 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $3,529 due at signing + $329 × 35 remaining payments = $15,044 over 36 months. You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the median price CarWhere buyers paid for a Maverick (7 verified deals, all trims); sold after 3 years at 71.7% of the purchase price.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Ford Maverick — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy a Maverick?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Maverick XLT costs $15,044 vs about $8,423 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,621, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Ford offer ($329/mo for 36 months, $3,529 due at signing); the buy side is the median price CarWhere buyers paid for a Maverick (7 verified deals, all trims), less the 28.3% a 3-year-old Maverick loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Maverick lose in value in 3 years?
About 28.3% below the new price at 3 years old, from median used-listing prices vs the median new price in CarWhere's depreciation report (2026-10-25). On this $29,765 price that is a resale value of about $21,342.
How long do you have to keep a Maverick for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($8,423 vs $15,044 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the Maverick lease-or-buy math?
With Ford's 2.9% APR for 38 months offer (ends January 4, 2027), financing the full price adds about $1,418 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $9,841 vs $15,044 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.