Ford BlueCruise

It's not quite fully autonomous driving, as the system requires you to keep your eyes on the road and be ready to take control at any moment, but Ford's BlueCruise comes very close. It allows you to drive hands-free on more than 300,000 kilometres of roads in North America, and the new features make your life even easier.

In total, 97% of North American highways are mapped in the BlueCruise system, and your vehicle alerts you when it's available by illuminating blue indicators on the steering wheel and dashboard.

Ford spends a lot of time improving the hands-free driving assistance system BlueCruise, and a few of these enhancements will be added to the capabilities offered in 2025. For instance, version 1.3 improves vehicle handling. Simply activate the turn signal to have the vehicle initiate a lane change when conditions allow. The new update facilitates this lane change by improving the vehicle's positioning in the center of the lane.

This new version also increases the time you can drive hands-free and makes the trajectory smoother when navigating more demanding curves. A version 1.4, currently only available on the 2025 F-150, will be added during the year to vehicles equipped with BlueCruise through an over-the-air update. It will make prolonged hands-free driving even more effective.

BlueCruise uses a series of radars, sensors, and cameras that, thanks to integrated location, allow you to drive on roads already mapped by the manufacturer. These functions are available in clearly identified and signalled "blue hands-free zones."

To activate it, nothing could be simpler. When the blue indicators are illuminated, just press a button on the steering wheel to allow the vehicle to take control. A distinct display then lights up on the dashboard. Just like with cruise control, you can adjust your trip's maximum speed and the distance between you and the vehicles ahead. A simple press on the button or brake pedal deactivates the system.

However, be careful, as a camera monitors you at all times, and if your gaze strays too long from the road, the vehicle will warn you first with a visual alert, then an auditory alert that gradually intensifies. If the driver still does not respond, the system will deactivate itself.

Currently, the BlueCruise system is available on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150, F-150 Lightning, Expedition, and Explorer, by subscription. The system is retro-compatible with these same vehicles equipped with the SYNC system from 2023 and 2024. Just log into your FordPass account to check the system's availability and manage your subscription.