“Paying cash for a car is always a great option if it doesn’t present liquidity issues or deplete your emergency funds.
That said, 0.49% is a great rate. If you can invest the principal that you would pay in cash in an investment that nets you a 0.5% return, you’re making some money on the deal. That’s because you’re borrowing money and making more than the interest rate for borrowing, much like banks and investment groups do.
Having a monthly payment and loan can also help increase your creditworthiness, as long as you make your payments on time.