So...Just got back from test driving a 2025 ST. Spoiler alert....it was just meh!
Let me explain in context.
Im leasing a 2021 ST. Love it. It's loaded and have had only one real issue in 44K miles. I had the timing cams done at 40K. Otherwise it's been great.
Along comes the refreshed 2025 at the same time my 21 lease term ends so I naturally get to the dealer and put in my order for the 25 on March 3. The 25 goes into production on 6/3 where it sit today with no one able to tell me what the deal is and when it will be delivered. So, I've been passing up a 24 because of the missing masage seats (they truly are wonderful), but now some interesting incentives are making me possibly look at this option again. So my local dealer starts getting in the 25s and I went to see what all the hype was to see if I really wanted to wait and extend my lease for the fourth month or look back at a 24.
My impressions:
The wheels actually look REAL nice in person. My concern for these no more.
The rear looks more modern.
The front is pretty nice and much better in person also. The red one looks pretty phenomenal from the front in the sun. Not as nice as my Hot Pepper Red Bronco though, sorry!
The interior seats are quite different. Felt deeper and softer than my 21. The seating position I couldn't seem to get right though. Not sure why.
The interior layout I thought was going to impress me more. Was excited for the new tray and charging location. It was nice but not crazy nice.
The screen is nice and responsive and the horizontal layout is surely better. The dash screen is nice with the map view. Unfortunately, I just wasn't THAT impressed. It's not like a new Mercedes dash. It's better, but is it really all THAT? Not sure.
The first driving impression was that it sounded a lot different in the interior. Not sure why, but it was different.
Close your eyes though (not for too long though) and it juts feels the same as my 21. It's mechanically the same and feels it.
The transmission definitely shifts different but seems almost too smooth. It's seems to have lost a little rawness of the 21.
So parked car and needed one last comparison. Is the new 25 worth the money?
Here is the breakdown.
2025
No incentives unless you have a private offer.
36 month lease 15k miles with 1750 down = 1048/mth
2024
4750 incentives lease to lease
36 mth lease 15k miles 0 down = 680/mth
2021 buyout
Purchase for 28500 + taxes/fees etc at 6% = 597/mth for 60 mths
So the question then becomes is the 25 refresh worth the ~400/mth difference.
The answer for me was NO. I'll be picking up the 24 next week, letting my 25 go to the highest bidder at the dealer. Getting some equity out of the lease return (about $2200) further reducing the lease down to 640/mth. My salesman told me that this is the reason they have almost 10 25s on their lot right now. The sticker shock is forcing everyone to reconsider and go back to the 24 which look to be getting gobbled up around here pretty quickly.
Maybe this helps others. Maybe not. Just my experience and thoughts.
