Even with low interest rates that make buying a car more affordable, many consumers are leasing a new car or truck instead.

New vehicle leasing climbed in the first three months of 2013 to the highest level in seven years, according to Experian Automotive, a unit of credit data tracker Experian. Leasing made up nearly 28 percent of all new vehicles financed in the quarter — the greatest proportion in records that go back to 2006.