Here’s a car buying puzzle: Why can you lease a Ford F-150 with a sticker price of $49,075 for $502 per month when a compact Maverick truck worth $32,340 will set you back $488 a month? The answer is the lease interest rate. Never overlook the importance of that little percentage on your lease paperwork.

Ford Authority noticed that a CarsDirect dealer bulletin highlighted a bizarre contradiction. A 10,500-mile, 36-month lease for a 2025 Ford Maverick XLT is just $14 cheaper per month than the same lease on a 2025 Ford F-150 STX.

The exact numbers vary by region. In Southern California, the compact Maverick is worth $32,340. A 10,500-mile lease requires $3,199 at signing plus $399 per month, totaling $488 monthly.

Meanwhile, the half-ton F-150 costs $49,075—$16,735 more. It requires $5,159 at signing and $359 per month, coming out to $502 a month over the life of the lease.

The strange math behind Ford’s lease deals

Yes, Ford is currently offering $750 in bonus cash for the F-150. But most of the difference comes down to promotional interest rates for the full-size truck. The Maverick only qualifies for Ford’s standard interest rates.

It’s all a good reminder: if you can get a better interest rate from a credit union, you’ll save thousands over the lifetime of a loan. It’s also worth remembering that $4,000 down and $400 a month would likely get you a loan on a reliable used crossover—a vehicle you’d be building equity in. But your local Ford dealership hopes you don’t think that far ahead.