Leasing a new Ford Bronco is unaffordable

The new Ford Bronco came out more than 2 years ago, but inventory at dealerships is still low and some models, especially the 2 door, still have a markup over MSRP. The high prices along with a complete lack of incentives from Ford leads to a poor leasing environment for this car, with some dealers quoting lease prices above what financing would cost on the car. I want to dive into some alternatives if you are looking to lease an off road SUV.

What is the state of the market for Ford Broncos?

Upon launch of the Bronco, demand was incredibly strong. The pandemic limited production numbers and dealers were frequently marking up cars on the lot for $10-$20K. This practice seems to have subsided for the 4 door models, but is still actively practiced for the 2 door models and the newly released Bronco Raptor. 

The used car market for these cars is currently not faring much better, you can find 1-2 year old cars with under 10,000 miles listed for either their original MSRP or just a few thousand dollars less. No where close to the 20-30% discount you would typically look for in a used car.

How much does it cost to lease a new Bronco?

After inquiring with several dealers, most did not even provide a lease price as they had so few inventory on the lot that any new orders would not be able to be priced out until they arrived. The few dealers that had cars on the lot quoted around $900-$1050/month for leasing a $56,000 MSRP car. This falls right in line with the price of financing the vehicle. Given the strong used car market, financing would make more sense, especially if you only want to hold on to the vehicle for 1-2 years. It is likely depreciation on this car will not rapidly set in and you will not be underwater on your loan.

What are some alternatives to leasing a Ford Bronco

The Wrangler 4xe is a direct competitor to the Bronco with its off road capabilities and design. Given that the 4xe is a plug in hybrid, it does qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, so leasing is very affordable with some buyers online sharing deals as low as $400/month for cars with MSRP of over $50,000.

Another good alternative is the Toyota 4Runner. This is a similar off road focused car, but a bit larger than the Bronco. These cars also have notoriously strong resale value, and according to Truecar a lease on these averages around $560/month - almost half the price of a Bronco