mach e blue cruise cost

Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise feature is now available as a monthly or annual subscription

Ford owners can decide to activate the level 2 driver-assist feature after buying their car as a $75 a month or $800 a year subscription..

By Andrew J. Hawkins , transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.

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Ford is changing how it sells its hands-free BlueCruise driver-assist feature to its customers.

Previously, customers had to decide at the dealership whether they wanted to purchase a new Ford vehicle with BlueCruise hardware installed — and they couldn’t go back and change their minds if they opted not to include it. Now, the hardware will come standard on many new vehicles, and customers can decide at any time whether they want to activate it. Most notably, they can choose to pay for it as a monthly or annual subscription.

Most notably, they can choose to pay for it as a monthly or annual subscription

The news comes as the broader auto industry is shifting to subscription products as a major new source of revenue. Everything from driver-assistance features to heated seats is on the table — with customers growing increasingly nervous about having to pay more often for services they previously only had to purchase once.

BlueCruise is a Level 2 system, meaning the vehicle controls major functions like acceleration and braking as well as lane centering and automatic lane changing. And it only works on divided highways in the US and Canada. But while drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel and their feet off the pedals, they need to keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take control at a moment’s notice. Ford said that BlueCruise-equipped vehicles have already traveled over 100 million miles.

Ford says, at present, 225,000 vehicles are equipped with BlueCruise. And it projects that an additional 500,000 vehicles will have it by the end of 2024. The company also says the feature works on 97 percent of controlled access highways in the US and Canada — which translates to around 130,000 miles of road.

Now, customers will have several new ways in which they can get access to the feature. They can pay for it when they order their vehicle online or from a dealership, with a three-year commitment costing $2,100. If a customer doesn’t choose this option, they can also activate a $75 a month or $800 a year subscription — with a 90-day complimentary bonus.

The new payment structure will first come to all trims of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and will soon be available to all 2024 model-year vehicles where BlueCruise is available, like the F-150 Lightning, Ford F-150, and Ford Expedition.

The news also comes on the heels of Ford’s announcement of the hiring of former Apple executive Peter Stern to oversee the automaker’s software services.

Ford is not the only company shifting to subscription payments for its advanced driver-assist products. Tesla started offering its Full Self-Driving feature as a $199 a month subscription in 2021. GM’s Super Cruise costs $2,500 to install upfront as well as a monthly rate to keep it active.

No one’s ready for this

Nothing is requiring employees to be in the office five days a week, chick-fil-a is reportedly launching a streaming service for some reason, google’s ai ‘reimagine’ tool helped us add wrecks, disasters, and corpses to our photos, microsoft is rebranding copilot in the most microsoft way possible.

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Ford BlueCruise Rivals GM’s Super Cruise for Balancing Automation and Driver Monitoring

This new active driver assistance system stands out for allowing the driver to intervene without shutting off

We just evaluated the new Ford BlueCruise active driver assistance system on a 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle and came away with mostly positive feelings. The system can allow for hands-free driving on sections of premapped divided highways, automating the vehicle’s steering, acceleration, and braking for the driver. It stands out for its driver monitoring and appropriate warnings when driver attention appears to have wandered, plus it effectively encourages collaborative driving. 

BlueCruise is similar to General Motors’ Super Cruise—currently the top-rated active driver assistance system in Consumer Reports’ tests —in that it uses a direct driver monitoring system, via an infrared camera mounted on top of the steering column, to make sure the driver is looking at the road. 

CR feels it is imperative that active driver assistance systems—which combine lane centering assist (LCA) and adaptive cruise control (ACC)—use direct driver monitoring to make sure the driver is looking at the road to help keep their car and other vehicles around it safe. Most current active driver assistance systems, including Tesla’s Autopilot , do not use effective direct driver monitoring, and instead require occasional hand pressure on the steering wheel as a means to make sure the driver is paying attention.

BlueCruise has a big advantage over Super Cruise and Autopilot: It allows for driver collaboration. If the driver wants to steer around a pothole, pedestrian, or cyclist, for example, the system doesn’t immediately shut off or go into a standby mode, as with Autopilot and Super Cruise. After the maneuver is completed, the system will recenter the car in the lane automatically. This allows the driver to work with the system, rather than seemingly passing the control back and forth between automation and the driver.

Although BlueCruise has taken notable steps in the right direction for active driver assistance systems, Ford has made some missteps, too. We found that it doesn’t communicate enough information to the driver about when and why they are being told to suddenly put their hands back on the wheel when the system is in its “hands-free” mode. 

Plus, Ford’s marketing of the system as a “hands-off highway driving experience” is sure to leave some customers confused about the system’s capabilities when they get alerts to put their hands back on the wheel for reasons that aren’t always clear. 

“If consumers expect that BlueCruise will do the driving for them, they are going to be disappointed,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing. “The reality is this is a unique, collaborative approach that balances making driving easier while keeping drivers engaged during the boring parts of driving.”

During an interview with representatives from Ford, we were told that they “choose very carefully what to show drivers” in terms of messaging on the instrument cluster. But they also acknowledge that they’ve been listening to feedback from customers and “are looking at a future enhancement” to the system, although they wouldn’t elaborate on the details. To further help their customers understand the nuances of BlueCruise, Ford says it is developing how-to videos on the system.

@consumerreports Tesla’s system fails to keep a driver's attention on the road. Ford's issues an alert when the driver's eyes are diverted. #cartok #tesla #ford ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports

BlueCruise worked well during our preliminary evaluations on a Mustang Mach-E rented from Ford. The system is easy to activate because it takes only a single press of the cruise control button on the steering wheel to simultaneously engage the ACC and LCA. After that, all the driver has to do is stay attentive, ready to take over the steering on certain curvy sections of highways and manage the little stuff, such as steering to avoid potholes and manually adjusting the ACC’s speed, if they wish. 

We found BlueCruise enjoyable to use because it provides steering assistance on straight, boring sections of highway, or when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, which can make driving less stressful and more relaxing. 

We’re happy with Ford’s decision to utilize a driver monitoring camera to ensure that the driver is paying attention to their surroundings any time the system is active, whether on highways or secondary roads. 

We will fully test BlueCruise when the system becomes available through an over-the-air update on our 2021 Mustang Mach-E test car.

Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports

BlueCruise Strengths

• Direct driver monitoring to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road.
• Allows for the driver to make their own steering-wheel inputs without immediately shutting the system off.
• Simple to activate by pressing a single button on the steering wheel.
• The system works on nonhighway roads with lane lines, but it still requires the driver to have their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

BlueCruise Weaknesses

• BlueCruise doesn’t make it clear to the driver why it’s telling you to suddenly put your hands back on the wheel, or why the system won’t engage “hands-free” mode at times on divided highways.
• Hands-free mode doesn’t always engage immediately after pressing the cruise-control button, with no explanation as to why.
• Ford’s marketing of BlueCruise as “a hands-off highway driving experience” overstates the true experience.

Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports

The Camera Is the Key

BlueCruise hands-free driving is available only on “prequalified” (Ford’s term for GPS mapped or premapped) sections of divided highways called “Hands-Free Blue Zones.” Those zones cover about 130,000 miles of North American roads, according to the automaker. Thanks to Ford’s mapping data, BlueCruise knows information such as the GPS location of the lane, lane width, lane curvature, and changes in elevation. The information is onboard the vehicle, and Ford will update the maps over the air as needed.

But a key reason BlueCruise works so well is that the driver has to pay attention to the road. The system uses a driver-facing infrared camera perched atop the steering column that monitors the driver’s eyes and head gaze. If the driver glances away from the road for too long (about 5 seconds in our experience)—whether to look at their cell phone, fiddle with the infotainment screen, or because they fell asleep—the system will give the driver a visual warning to “Watch the road” within the instrument cluster, followed by an audible warning chime. The driver monitoring works effectively at detecting when the driver is looking away from the road, and it was not thrown off by sunglasses or a face mask. We didn’t find that it warned us so quickly that it became annoying.

Among BlueCruise’s advantages over competing systems is its simple activation process: All the driver has to do is press the cruise control button on the steering wheel (provided the system is set to adaptive cruise control, as opposed to “normal cruise control,” within the driver assistance settings on the infotainment screen) and the system is activated. 

But although pressing the cruise control buttons turns the system “on,” the hands-free aspect won’t necessarily engage immediately—sometimes it does; other times it can take a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The system has to be on a section of divided highway that it deems safe for hands-free driving. The driver will know the hands-free mode has been engaged when the instrument cluster background turns from white to blue, while showing a steering wheel with the words “hands-free” below it. 

We asked Ford representatives what parameters cause the system to suddenly switch out of hands-free mode, and were told it could be a number of things, from overly curvy lanes to unclear lane lines.

Works With the Driver, Not Against

As with Autopilot and Super Cruise, the BlueCruise system steers the vehicle to keep it near the center of the lane, yet unlike those other systems it doesn’t fight the driver if they want to take corrective action to dodge a pothole, or steer around a pedestrian or cyclist. Once the steering correction is made, the system seamlessly resumes control. With some competing systems, adding your own steering inputs deactivates the steering assistance, which means the driver will then have to reactivate it. 

Not only is it annoying to have to reactivate the system, but having to do so can also be a deterrent to the driver adding their own steering inputs, or using the system at all. With BlueCruise, even if the driver takes over the steering, the system still provides lane centering steering-wheel torque, but we found that it works with the driver instead of feeling like it’s working against them.

We see this as a big win, because systems shouldn’t “penalize” the driver for adding their own steering inputs.

BlueCruise Correctly Suggests Its Limitations

Unlike the inappropriately named Autopilot and other active driver assistance systems, the BlueCruise system is “more honest” about its limitations, says Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s manager of vehicle technology. “In our experience so far, BlueCruise seems to perform well in areas such as lane centering, ease of use, and driver monitoring,” she says. “But one of the aspects we really like about BlueCruise is that it doesn’t say to the driver, ‘I’ve got this, don’t worry about steering,’ which can lead to a false sense of complacency.”

Instead, BlueCruise asks the driver to “Keep hands on steering wheel” on curvy stretches of highway. “It’s not necessarily ending its steering assistance,” Funkhouser says, “but the system wants the driver to have their hands on the wheel for safety just in case the automation can’t actually handle the turn.”

“I love driving,” Fisher says. “But not on boring, straight stretches of highway or in stop-and-go traffic.” In those situations, BlueCruise can automate the steering, braking, and accelerating for you pretty well.

“I still want to be in charge during higher-risk driving, such as through fast or tight curves,” Fisher continues. “BlueCruise has the ability to sense those sections ahead of time, and it makes sure you have your hands on the wheel so you’re at the ready.”

Mixed Messaging

Ford’s marketing of BlueCruise as a “hands-off highway driving experience” is potentially misleading to consumers. People may be confused or feel misled when they find out that BlueCruise wants them to have their hands on the steering wheel quite often on curvier sections of highway. Many customers may assume “hands-free” actually means “hands-free at all times,” and in our experience so far, that simply isn’t the case with BlueCruise, even on premapped sections of divided highway.

BlueCruise is currently available on the F-150 full-sized pickup and Mustang Mach-E EV. The system will be coming to the 2022 Expedition Platinum soon, as well as the upcoming F-150 Lightning EV pickup. A Ford spokesman told us BlueCruise would be heading to more vehicles, as well, but declined to give specifics as to which models, and the time frame.

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FORD  NEWSROOM

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• Following 500,000 miles of development testing, Ford embarked on a 110,000-mile “Mother of All Road Trips” across the United States and Canada to prove out BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology in a wide range of driving and weather conditions
• 2021 Ford F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with the available Ford Co-Pilot360 ™ Active 2.0 Prep Package can receive BlueCruise later this year through over-the-air software update.  
• BlueCruise will give drivers the comfort and confidence of hands-free driving on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones that make up more than 100,000 miles of North American roads
• Additional Ford vehicles to receive BlueCruise technology in coming years as Ford continues to add additional highways and deliver new hands-free driving capabilities to F-150, Mustang Mach-E and more

DEARBORN, Mich., April 14, 2021 – Ford will begin offering its new BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system to customers later this year after 500,000 miles of development testing and fine-tuning the technology on a journey across the United States and Canada.

Last year, Ford sent a fleet of 10 test vehicles – five F-150 pickups and five all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs – to complete what test drivers dubbed the “Mother of All Road Trips.” The trek covered more than 110,000 miles through 37 states and five Canadian provinces to challenge BlueCruise against a wide range of road, weather and traffic conditions.

“There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. “Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.”  

Via over-the-air software updates, BlueCruise will be offered later this year on 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the available Ford Co-Pilot360 ™ Active 2.0 Prep Package. Over-the-air software updates allow owners of select Ford vehicles to update software from the convenience of their own garage.

Ford is targeting to sell more than 100,000 vehicles equipped with BlueCruise in the first year, based on company sales and take-rate projections.

Mother of All Road Trips becomes the ultimate Ford test drive

All 10 test vehicles – one departing from Palo Alto, California, the others from Dearborn, Michigan – spent much of last November and December winding their way across the United States and Canada. Test drivers searched for every conceivable road condition and highway driving scenario, monitoring the system’s performance, collecting data and highlighting areas where improvements could be made.

The trip marked the final leg of a development process that ran up more than a half-million miles in a series of shorter test drives, each designed to evaluate a specific aspect of BlueCruise. As real-world validation of those earlier tests, road trip enabled the system to scan for variances in road signage, lane markings, exit ramps, traffic patterns and weather.

“I drive long-distance quite often, whether out to Boston or down to Florida to visit family or friends, and usually I mentally tire out on drives that far,” said Alexandra Taylor, BlueCruise feature development engineer, who logged more than 3,000 miles in an F-150 on the trek. “The one thing that became clear is that, when using BlueCruise, long drives aren’t nearly as mentally taxing to me.”

Taylor and fellow BlueCruise engineer Shruti Gotadki set out on an eight-day journey that wound through the southeast United States, targeting driving differences between Jacksonville, Louisville, Atlanta and other major urban areas.

Back at the Ford lab, driver-assist technology supervisor Justin Teems monitored the progress of the entire fleet, corralling important data that will help shape BlueCruise driving experience in the months and years ahead.

“It was like mission control,” Teems said. “We really wanted to push BlueCruise to its limits. Every state builds roads a little differently. When you include factors like lane line degradation, weather and construction, building a hands-free driving system becomes extremely complex. Those complexities are why Ford has the best team of engineers in the world working on it.”

BlueCruise, the evolution of Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology

Using both advanced camera and radar-sensing technologies and building upon Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering and Speed Sign Recognition, BlueCruise adds a new level of convenience for drivers with vehicles equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology. The feature allows a driver to operate truly hands-free on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones. A driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster monitors eye gaze and head position to help ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road.

Currently, more than 100,000 miles of highways across North America are dedicated Hands-Free Blue Zones in the Ford GPS mapping system. BlueCruise uses blue lighting on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when the vehicle is in a hands-free zone.

In addition to the full hands-free mode, equipped vehicles will also feature Lane Centering mode. Lane Centering works on most roads with lane lines and can help keep the vehicle centered in its lane but requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel. In either mode, a visual prompt on the instrument cluster notifies drivers when they need to return their attention to the road or resume control of the vehicle.

BlueCruise is an SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology, similar to Tesla Autopilot but with the advantage of offering a true hands-free driving experience while in Hands-Free Mode that does not require a driver’s hands to stay in contact with the steering wheel, unless prompted by vehicle alerts.

And unlike other approaches – such as GM’s Super Cruise, which uses red and green lighting, or Tesla’s Autopilot, which requires a driver keep their hands on the steering wheel – BlueCruise communicates with drivers in different ways. The instrument cluster transitions to communicate that the feature is in Hands-Free mode through text and blue lighting cues, effective even for those with color blindness.

More highways and features to come

Beyond the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E, additional Ford vehicles will also receive BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, while current owners continue to receive over-the-air software updates to add new features and capabilities in the coming years.

Future enhancements are planned to include Lane Change Assist that will let the vehicle change lanes with just a tap of the turn signal indicator, and Predictive Speed Assist that will adjust vehicle speed for road curves, roundabouts and more.

Ford also plans to offer regular mapping updates for the technology to recognize changes plus thousands of miles of planned new road additions.

Affordable hands-free highway driving technology

2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E customers will be able to purchase BlueCruise software – including a three-year service period – for $600 in the second half of 2021, when it’s ready to launch. Hardware pricing varies by vehicle.

For F-150, BlueCruise is available as a part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package for a total of $1,595 – $600 for the software and $995 for the hardware. The Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package is standard on F-150 Limited and available as an option on Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum models.

For Mustang Mach-E, BlueCruise comes standard on CA Route 1, Premium and First Edition variants. It’s an available package on the Select trim for $3,200 – $ 600 for the software and $2,600 for the rest of the package – as part of the larger Comfort and Technology package, which includes features such as a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.

Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and need to control the vehicle. BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driving feature. Only remove hands from the steering wheel when in a Hands-Free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control of the vehicle. It does not replace safe driving. See owner’s manual for details and limitations. The BlueCruise Prep Kit contains the hardware required for this feature. Software for the feature will be available for purchase at a later date. BlueCruise functionality is expected in the third quarter of 2021. Separate payment for feature software is required to activate full functionality at that time.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.  The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty.  Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services.  The company does that through three customer-centered business segments:  Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough electric vehicles along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs.  Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  Ford employs about 175,000 people worldwide.  More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

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• Car Reviews

Ford Mustang Mach-E BlueCruise review: is this hands-free driving tech any good?

Is this some sort of experimental car?

Nope. It's a legal production car. These photos give the game away, but here's a prize question for when you're next down the pub. Which is the first and only manufacturer to offer hands-free driving in the UK? Win a pint if someone says Tesla . Another for Mercedes-Benz . BMW ? Nope. None of these. You're starting to get a little woozy now.

A bonus packet of dry-roasted to whoever gets the correct answer: it's Ford.

What's the cost?

The hardware comes on all new Mustangs, and the system, called BlueCruise, is activated by subscription. In the modern way. Buyers get a free trial sub for three months, and after that it's £17.99 a month. I guess if you enjoy using it and drive on motorways often, 60p a day is tolerable.

How and where can you use it?

I dived deep into the menus and there's no touchscreen button. I sheepishly rang Ford and was told that's how it is. You just drive, turn on the active cruise control with lane assist, and if it's a BlueCruise road, the driver's screen goes blue and says 'hands free'.

BlueCruise roads, AKA Blue Zones, are basically the motorway network. Ford's website has a map. Elsewhere it's like any other adaptive cruise control with lane centring assist.

That seems pretty weird. Do you get used to it?

Maybe if you're a 19-year-old driver from Silicon Valley or Shanghai, taking your hands off the wheel might not seem such a conceptual novelty, but for the rest of us it takes serious getting used to. So I went on a long drive out of London, trying to keep my mind open.

On the M4, I got the nod from the blue screen somewhere between Heathrow and the M25 junction. I set the speed, tucked my feet under my knees, put my hands tentatively in my lap and nervously awaited developments.

What happened?

In normal smooth motorway traffic, or indeed glutinous congestion, it was smooth and stable. It also read limit signs and slowed down for temporary limits. That was a bit keen actually; it also used sat nav limit data and had an outdated 60mph section in its memory and kept falsely slowing me there.

Did you get confident then?

Shortly after I first switched it on, a Mini pulled out in front of me, going probably 20mph slower. At this point the spirit of fearless journalistic inquiry entirely abandoned me, and I grabbed the wheel and hit the brakes. Sorry, but you would have too. And I suspect that even if I'd been using this thing for thousands of miles, I still would have braked.

Sure, the system would have in all probability worked fine and slowed me down to avoid planting in the Mini's chuff. But the system hadn't coped, the M4/M25 junction right by Heathrow on a bank holiday weekend would have made me a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons.

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Thing is, I saw the Mini begin to move. It had indicated and even if it hadn't, its body language was screaming 'lane change ahoy'. But there was no sign of the Mustang reacting until it had transgressed significantly into my lane. That's standard procedure for all radar cruise systems of course. They're not good at reading other traffic, so sometimes they over-react to things that are no danger, sometimes they under-react to situations a human can clearly see developing.

So you have to keep alert?

I never felt I could let my attention wander. Besides, BlueCruise wouldn't let me. There are eyeball sensors on the steering column and when you look away it gives you stern warnings, and eventually turns itself off. When I was taking these driver's-eye photos, if I looked down for an instant to check focus, it started nagging me.

In other words it's feet-off, hands-off, eyes-on. Even if it felt a bit prim to be sitting with my hands in my lap, that's what I did whenever it was switched on, just to kill any ambiguity. That way I knew the car was doing its stuff. And more importantly, when my hands were on the wheel it reminded me to drive in the usual way. With any driver assist system, there's a danger you think it's activated when it isn't.

If you can't read a book or enjoy the scenery or doze off, how is this helping?

Well, I did manage to eat my lunch with more dignity than the usual one-handed motorway-pasty-crumb-atomisation process.

The engineers say it makes you more relaxed. Unburdens you from parts of the task. Really? Even after hundreds of miles it felt like when you're on a journey sharing the driving with someone you're not sure you can trust: when being in the passenger seat is more nerve-wracking than actually driving yourself.

Look, maybe by the end of the three-month trial I'd relax more. Maybe if I had a regular long trip in good weather (the artificial eyes need clear visibility) it would be a help. But I'm unconvinced.

So where are we?

It's an interesting and technically impressive step on the road to autonomous driving. And like all such steps, it's a necessary one, because it lets the engineers gather data and the accountants collect the subscriptions that fund the brutally expensive development of the next steps.

But until we get to the destination – a car that will truly let people take their attention off the road for the biggest and most boring slabs of a journey – we're not really any further forward at all. Your hands and feet might be freed up, but there's not much you can do with them. The parts of you that you'd like to be free, your eyes and brain, are still shackled.

And you certainly couldn't let BlueCruise drive you home from that pub bet.

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We Tested Ford's BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving and Here's What It's Like

I, for one, embrace our new robotic overlords.

• Ford's hands-free BlueCruise tech is coming to the 2021 Mustang Mach-E and F-150 later this year.
• We've driven both vehicles with BlueCruise equipped, so we're here to tell you what it's like on the road.

General Motors got the jump on its rivals when it unveiled Super Cruise back in 2018, taking features like adaptive cruise control and lane centering to new heights with a hands-free mode that only works on certain premapped highways. Now Ford is getting into the hands-free game with its BlueCruise technology suite.

Is this a case of better late than never? Join us as we take an in-depth look at how BlueCruise works and — based on our seat time in an F-150 and a Mustang Mach-E — what it's like on real American roads.

How does Ford's BlueCruise work?

BlueCruise operates on the same principle as Super Cruise. Once the vehicle is traveling on one of the 100,000 miles of qualified roadways (Ford dubs these Hands-Free Blue Zones) and certain conditions have been met, a graphic appears in the instrument panel to let you know that BlueCruise is ready for activation. Simply press the cruise control button on the steering wheel and you can take your hands off the wheel to let the vehicle drive itself.

Like Super Cruise, Ford's BlueCruise system is not autonomous. As the driver, you have to be alert and prepared to take the wheel at any time. BlueCruise will not take evasive action if there is a small obstruction in the road — a box on the freeway, for instance — and you must be ready to perform advanced maneuvers if necessary. To that end, BlueCruise includes a head and eye position sensor to make sure you're watching the road ahead. Divert your attention for too long and the system will deactivate. And because BlueCruise relies on clearly visible lane markers, traveling on highway sections that lack them will deactivate the system.

With these limitations in mind, here are the first vehicles to receive BlueCruise — and we've driven both, so keep reading to find out what BlueCruise is like in the real world.

Which Ford vehicles have BlueCruise?

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• EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.
• If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.
• Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

The first vehicles to receive BlueCruise functionality will be two of Ford's newest models — the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E and 2021 Ford F-150 . In both cases, the BlueCruise hardware is tied to the Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 package.

For the Mustang Mach-E, all trims except the base Select model come standard with Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0, while the Select can get it as part of the optional Comfort/Technology package. Buyers speccing out fully loaded F-150s will find that Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 is already included in the top-trim Limited model. The package is also available on the Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trims.

Each 2021 Ford vehicle with the Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 package will be outfitted with the hardware necessary to activate BlueCruise. However, BlueCruise isn't available just yet — it'll come online in the next few months via an over-the-air software update. For Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0-equipped models produced earlier in the 2021 model year, the hardware is included, and to activate BlueCruise, you'll have to pay a subscription fee. That fee is $600, which will cover the first three years of service. Models with the above package that launch after the software comes online will come with both the hardware and the software (though the price of the vehicle may rise with the software's inclusion).

Though we don't love the idea of subscriptions services in vehicles overall, it makes sense for Ford to charge a recurring rate. BlueCruise will constantly be updated with improvements to expand coverage and add features. For example, automated lane changes and slowing down for upcoming road curves are already being planned as post-launch additions.

What is BlueCruise like on the road?

I had the opportunity to drive both an F-150 and Mustang Mach-E with BlueCruise, and there was no functional difference in how the system behaved in each vehicle. The system itself melds several driver aids that are already present on the majority of cars today, but with a head- and eye-tracking component that makes sure you're paying attention. Once this is established — and you're driving on a preapproved road — a ring will appear around a graphic of the vehicle in the digital instrument panel. This lets you know that BlueCruise is ready to activate. Simply press the cruise control button and acceleration, braking and turning is handed over to BlueCruise.

In this way, BlueCruise functions similarly to GM's Super Cruise. The primary difference is that GM vehicles with Super Cruise have an LED light bar integrated into the steering wheel to let you know when Super Cruise can be activated. Ford's system isn't so obvious in letting you know when it's ready. When you press the cruise control button, however, the instrument panel graphics turn blue to inform you that BlueCruise is active and you can take your hands off the wheel.

The other difference between the two competing systems is that GM's Super Cruise has one prescribed distance for the adaptive cruise control (ACC) aspect. Ford has decided to treat BlueCruise like a typical ACC system in which you can choose one of four following distances.

When engaged, BlueCruise does a good job at approximating typical human driving behavior. I never had to adjust the following distance from one of the medium settings, and the system gives you a few beats to put your hands on the wheel when it needs you to resume control.

I didn't experience many technical issues in either vehicle on my limited test drive, but there was one instance in which I was forced to make an emergency maneuver. A Civic driver with little concern for their personal safety accelerated to merge right in front of my F-150, and the truck didn't slow down quickly enough. This wasn't necessarily a fault of BlueCruise itself — I have found that ACC systems in general are slow to react to vehicles merging into or out of my lane — but it goes to show that you still need to have your wits about you at all times.     

Edmunds says

Like GM's Super Cruise, Ford's BlueCruise provides a hands-free driving experience on certain limited-access highways. It certainly takes some stress out of driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and should be similarly pleasant on long-distance road trips. But these are not autonomous systems, and drivers need to be ready to take the wheel at any time to react to changing road conditions.

Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

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Ford BlueCruise 146  

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Ford BlueCruise 146  is a hands-free highway driving assistance feature designed to help make driving easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful.

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How Does BlueCruise Work?

Step 1 welcome to the blue zone.

When you enter a pre-qualified section of a divided highway — a Blue Zone — you’ll see a prompt on the instrument cluster letting you know BlueCruise is available and ready to assist.

Step 2 Let BlueCruise Assist

Simply tap the Adaptive Cruise Control button on your steering wheel and let BlueCruise assist, while keeping your eyes on the road. The system helps handle steering, keeps you centered in your lane, and adjusts your speed as needed — all without you ever touching the wheel. Designed with driver collaboration in mind, you can always take over and steer manually within the lane without BlueCruise disengaging.

Step 3 Feel the Magic of Letting Go

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Customers have the option to add a BlueCruise subscription at time of vehicle order at a discounted annual rate. Ask your local dealer for details when placing your order.

Pricing * options (available on select 2024/2025 model year vehicles):

$2,750 for 3 years (taxes extra)

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Subscribe After Your Trial

2024 and 2025 model year vehicles equipped with BlueCruise come with a 90-day complimentary trial period , starting with your vehicle's warranty start date. After the trial, you can choose to purchase BlueCruise monthly or annually based on your needs.

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BlueCruise is available on select 2023+ vehicles.

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Ford increases BlueCruise subscription to $800 per year

Ford bluecruise subscription bumped up to $800 per year.

In 2021, Ford introduced the BlueCruise on the Mustang Mach-E  and the F-150. It’s also available in the 2022 Lincoln Navigator , but it’s marketed under a different name — the Lincoln ActiveGlide. Ford delivered on its promise to make the BlueCruise or ActiveGlide one of the most advanced self-driving software currently available. More succinctly, you can drive your Mustang Mach-E or F-150 without putting your hands on the wheel for over 100,000 miles of highways across North America. The Ford BlueCruise will also warn you if you take your eyes off the road so you don’t get distracted while it’s in self-drive mode.

When the Ford BlueCruise was released, the subscription cost was $600 for three years or $200 per year. If your Mustang Mach-E or F-150 doesn’t come with BlueCruise as a standard feature, you would need to pay $995 to install the hardware. However, Ford has recently increased BlueCruise subscription to $2,100 for three years.

“For new Mustang Mach-E orders made after May 2, BlueCruise is available at the time of order for $2,100 for 3 years,” Ford announced the price changes on the Mach-E forum . The automaker also clarified that BlueCruise subscription will cost “$800 per year or $75 per month.” However, if you already subscribed to Ford BlueCruise at $200 for three years, the new prices won’t take effect until your subscription has expired.

Why is Ford adjusting the price upwards? According to the automaker, the $200 per year subscription cost was a discount when BlueCruise was first introduced in the 2021 Mustan Mach-E models. Besides that, Ford upgraded BlueCruise last year with new features such as In-Lane Repositioning, Predictive Speed Assist, and Lane Change Assist. The new BlueCruise 1.2 is a standard feature in the latest Mustang Mach-E models, and it could be another reason why Ford is increasing the subscription cost. Of course, it’s likely that other Ford models like the F-150 Lightning or the gas-powered F-150 truck that will come with BlueCruise 1.2 will also be affected.

Automakers also can’t resist tapping into subscription revenue to increase profits. If there is one thing we’ve learned from Netflix , companies will capitalize on every opportunity to increase their subscription revenue. Sometimes it could be something as ridiculous as paying a subscription to access Apple CarPlay in your BMW , or even unlocking heated seats.

Then again, it’s reasonable for manufacturers to request a subscription for self-driving software since they’re expensive to develop and maintain. But is it worth it to pay $800 per year for a Ford BlueCruise subscription? Well, it’s certainly cheaper than the Tesla’s AutoPilot, which is $99 or $199, depending on the package. Ford BlueCruise is also available with a three months free trial if you want to figure out if it’s worth it. 

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Sixty years after the first Ford Mustang rolled off the production lines in 1964, three Mustang GT3s are racing this year in the 2024 World Endurance  Championship (WEC) in Le Mans, France, better known as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year's race is a collaboration between Ford, Multimatic Motorsports, M-Sport, and Proton Competition, a highly successful Germany-based racing team. While three Mustangs raced at Le Mans previously, this year's concentrated effort in the World Endurance Championship program is the first such focused campaign. Why does racing a Mustang GT3 at Le Mans matter? Ford Returns to Le Mans: Mustang GT3 Dares to Dream | Ford Performance CEO Jim Farley explains Ford's perspective in entering Mustang GT3s in Le Mans this way, "The Ford Mustang has raced in circuits across the world for decades, and now is the time for us to race our iconic coupe at the most important race in the world."

In addition to responding to the competitive itch in Ford's bloodlines, the Le Mans race cars can also help the company's road car marketing efforts. During the June 13-16 event at Le Mans, Ford is also debuting the Mustang GTD, "a roadgoing version of the Mustang GT3." The Mustang GTD, which can run quarter miles in under 7 seconds, is a limited edition Mustang with an estimated price tag well north of $300K. Ford's strategy for Le Mans and beyond

Without sounding like we're writing this wearing a tinfoil hat while watching videos of the moon landing in slow motion and searching for inconsistencies, it's hard not to notice that Tesla has used some rather colorful marketing techniques over the last several years. It started with claims of nearly unobtainable range numbers in its early cars unless, of course, you happened to be driving downwind, downhill during the perfect ambient temperature.

Then claims of the Model S Plaid being able to run 0-60 mph in under two seconds, which technically was true, Elon just forgot to mention that time was achieved on an NHRA-prepped drag strip. Then, when the Cyberbeast came along, claiming to have ten thousand pound-feet of torque, which again was technically true if you used the same unorthodox method of output measurement.

Ford BlueCruise is a Level 2 self-driving system that is available on several of the manufacturer’s vehicles, along with some Lincolns. It’s capable of whipping you along without any input whatsoever, so you can abandon the steering wheel and pedals as long as it’s active -- though you still have to pay attention to the road. I recently got hands-on, or rather hands-off, with the latest version of BlueCruise and was quite impressed by it. The test took place on a stretch of I-10 near Palm Springs in California during moderately heavy traffic.

If you’re in a designated “Blue Zone,” and a facial scan shows you're looking at the road, then the system will take over when prompted. You can then do what you want with your hands, as long as your eyes are pointed at the road most of the time. The system will keep your car or truck centered in its lane unless it’s overtaking a large vehicle. Then, it will move to the opposite side of the lane, provided that wouldn’t bring it dangerously close to a vehicle on that side, too.

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FORD BLUECRUISE

Bringing you hands-free motorway driving.

Our vision for the future just accelerated with Ford BlueCruise Try Ford Bluecruise today , our latest innovation in Advanced Driver Assistance technology – the first of its kind in Europe. Mustang Mach-E owners can now enter a new era of mobility, and be the first to experience L2 hands-free driving in designated ‘Blue Zones’.

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Flexible driving. flexible subscription..

HANDS OFF, EYES ON

Turn the music up, enjoy watching the miles go by and arrive at your destination less stressed. Ford BlueCruise unlocks a new world of driving convenience Ford Bluecruise safety .

SAFETY FIRST

For your safety and peace of mind, we’ve rigorously tested our Ford BlueCruise technology over 100,000 miles Ford Bluecruise safety . Plus, the technology is continuously monitoring of the road and other drivers around you. 

90-DAY FREE TRIAL

We think the convenience of driving with Ford BlueCruise speaks for itself. So we’re giving you the opportunity to try it free for 90 days Ford BlueCruise subscription , after which, it’s only £17.99 per month.

ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD

The world of Advanced Driver Assistance technology is constantly evolving at a rapid pace. So, we’ll update Ford BlueCruise maps automatically over-the-air Enable automatic updates  as the technology and infrastructure progress. Making sure you’re always getting the most up-to-date experience.

INTRODUCING BLUE ZONES

Over 95% of the country’s Try Ford Bluecruise today motorways are designated Ford Blue Zones, where Ford BlueCruise can be activated upon entering. With automatic updates enabled and completed, your vehicle will have the latest Blue Zone routes.

TRY FORD BLUECRUISE TODAY

The future of driving, completely free of charge. All Mustang Mach-E vehicles built from 2023 Try Ford Bluecruise today  are eligible for a 90-day free trial of Ford BlueCruise, worth £17.99 per month. Just sign into your Ford Account to get started.

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We’ve rigorously tested this Ford BlueCruise technology, including racking up over 100,000 driving hours and consulting the authorities, for your peace of mind.  

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Ford BlueCruise Ford Bluecruise switch on uses the driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster to carefully monitor your gaze and head position, checking that your attention is on the road ahead before the vehicle takes control.

INTELLIGENT ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Combining Speed Sign Recognition and Adaptive Cruise Control Ford Bluecruise switch on , your speed will be automatically set to the zone detected. For example, if going from a 70 mph road into a 40 mph, your vehicle will gently slow to 40 mph.

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When activated, Ford BlueCruise uses our intelligent Lane Centering technology to maintain steering control between lane markings.

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Ford's BlueCruise Subscription Pricing Gets A Lot More Expensive

No one asked for subscriptions. an increase for a few extra hundred dollars a year hurts a lot of wallets.

If you’re interested in ordering a Ford Mustang Mach-E with the company’s BlueCruise semi- autonomous driving system, be prepared for some sticker shock. Ford has confirmed that pricing for the system is increasing on all new Mach-E orders going forward.

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In a post on the Mach-E forums, a user posted what looks to be a dealer bulletin. In it, it details BlueCruise’s pricing increase on new Mach-E orders placed after May 3, 2023. Before I go any further, it’s important to note that we call this BlueCruise pricing setup for what it is, a subscription. And it’s good to see Ford calls it as much instead of beating around the bush.

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BlueCruise will now be available on all trims of the Mach-E as a stand alone option. For the tidy sum of $2,100 you’ll get access to it for three years. Buyers that don’t purchase the three year access outright will have a 90 day trial period. The subscription comes into play once the trial ends. The bulletin mentions that since every Mach-E is already built with BlueCruise hardware, you just have to open your wallet to activate it for either $800 annually or $75/month.

Initially, BlueCruise could be had on the Mach-E for $600/year . Understandably   owners were up in arms in the comments. Many stated that they didn’t use it enough to justify spending that kind of money on it.

“I would do $10/month. I don’t use it nearly often enough to justify $75/month,” said one owner . “ I did purchase the hardware and 3yr subscription on my ‘22 GT and the price made sense given that it was described as including hardware.”

Others said they thought the $600/year price was already a bit steep and were considering not renewing. Ford helped make that decision easier.

A representative from Ford jumped into the comments and reiterated what the bulletin said, essentially doubling down on the price increase. Most owners it would seem are turned off by both the price increase and the fact that it’s a subscription.

Ford’s crosstown rival, GM, would seem to have the better deal with their version: Super Cruise. According to GM/OnStar , vehicles equipped with Super Cruise functionality come with a three year trial. Or you can subscribe to Super Cruise for just $25/month. But don’t be so quick to think that this means it’s a better deal than Ford’s system. There’s a huge catch depending on the vehicle.

The catch is that you have to equip your GM vehicle with Super Cruise to use it . And depending on the vehicle, that can be a hell of an option. Take the Cadillac CT4-V Series that our own Andy Kalmowitz recently tested . The CT4 range, along with the CT5, XT6 and Escalade can be equipped with Super Cruise on most trims. But GM is slick and bundles Super Cruise in with other options. A basic, no option $41,000 CT4 Premium Luxury can turn into a near $48,000 car just by adding the top Super Cruise package. On the CT4-V Series it can cost as much as $8,100. It’s a bit more palatable if you go with Super Cruise alone at $3,700, but it’s still pricey.

Look, we get it. Technology is expensive and it’s costly to hire folks to write code and keep things up-to-date. With everything rising in cost, it makes sense that Ford’s   cars  and tech options are getting pricer too. And while the company says that tech like BlueCruise will help “enhance” their product offerings, they’re also watching customer reactions for feedback. It shouldn’t take them long to learn that no one wants pricey subscriptions for features they hard ly use.

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2023.5 Ford Mustang Mach-E BlueCruise subscription renewal gets huge price increase

How much more depends on how you do the math, which is the problem.

For years, we've posted about the price increases applied to Tesla's Full Self Driving package — from $5,000 in 2019 to a $15,000 option now. Ford's BlueCruise for the Mustang Mach-E doesn't cost anywhere near that much, but it isn't nearly as inexpensive as it used to be, either. Via Carscoops , a member of the MachEForum noticed a Ford document earlier this month advising that after the BlueCruise trial period ends in a 2023.5 Mustang Mach-E, owners can "subsequently activate the technology through an annual ($800/yr.) or monthly ($75/mo.) subscription." The short story is that many Mach-E shoppers and owners were expecting to pay a renewal price of $600 for three years, or $200 per year. The new pricing means renewal costs either $800 in a lump sum or $900 paid over the course of a year. 

The long story is ... it's complicated. BlueCruise pricing has fluctuated since the Mach-E's launch, just like MSRPs and every other vehicle option. On top of that, Ford's taken various approaches to breaking out the prices of the hardware and the software depending on model year and trim. One owner in the forum posted a window sticker showing a $1,900 charge for Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 BlueCruise for his 2021 Mustang Mach-E. On the other hand, a 2023 Mustang Mach-E GT on sale in California at the time of writing shows BlueCruise 1.2 included in the MSRP. On some other trims just before the latest change, Ford charged $1,500 for the hardware and $600 to cover a three-year subscription, which is why buyers have focused on the $200-per-year price. Buyers have also mentioned being told by dealers that the renewal price would be $200 per year.

Perhaps trying to simplify things, Ford declared that for all 2023.5 model-year trims, BlueCruise is a $2,100 option active for three years. This made the same dollar amount a lump sum instead of its most recent format ($1,500 + $600 = $2,100). Regardless of presentation, BlueCruise remained a $700 option per year for the first three years when amortizing the hardware expense.

What's got forum members riled up is that BlueCruise option pricing for a new Mach-E has been labeled as paying for hardware and software. Once they've paid for the hardware, the reasoning goes — for something like $1,500 or $1,900 or whatever — one would think the software renewal price would only need to cover software updates, by now a familiar practice among all who use computer programs. They expected that renewal price to be $200 per year. Instead, the least expensive BlueCruise renewal amount of $800 per year costs more than the averaged price of the hardware and software when buying the Mach-E new.  

A Ford rep popped into the forum thread to confirm the new pricing. The automaker's clarification noted an exception as well; those who took home a 2021 Mach-E with the BlueCruise option, like the buyer mentioned above who paid for the $1,900 option, can renew at the $200-per-year price for another three years. These vehicles had their hardware installed after taking delivery. When the second three-year renewal period is over, those owners will join the $800-per-year or $75-per-month tier just like everyone else.

Or, more likely, everyone will pay more. It should be clear now that prices will go up.

Since every Mach-E comes with BlueCruise hardware, customers who don't purchase the option get a 90-day free trial period. If they want to subscribe after that 90 days, they pay the $800- or $900-per-year price. These buyers will lay out from $300 to $600 more during the first three years for not choosing the option from the factory.

This sounds like either a case of poor communication about hardware and software prices on Ford's part, or Ford realizing how expensive it is to start an EV business and how vital it is to get more money coming in immediately. Whichever it is, Ford isn't alone on either count. Despite the MSRP price cuts by various manufacturers lately, including Ford , the far more consistent story has been regular and occasionally staggering price hikes on nearly every EV below $100,000. The EV revolution is not only going to be televised, it's going to be crazy expensive for everyone.

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Payne: Cruisin' future classics, Mach-E 'n' Miata

Pontiac — The Woodward Dream Cruise is one of the world’s biggest auto events, bringing an estimated 40,000 cars and 1 million spectators to a 16-mile stretch of Metro Detroit’s main street. I love the variety. Unlike other cars shows, the Cruise is free and open to every type of automobile, from vintage milk trucks and Motown muscle cars from the 1960s to current-generation pickups and European exotics.

This year, I took an odd couple to the Dream Cruise: the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Mazda MX-5 Miata Club, both future classics.

The Mach-E and Miata are automotive bookends representing the diversity of models in the industry today. The Mach-E is an automatic, all-wheel-drive electric vehicle with twin electric motors, four seats, a frunk and more thrust than the Space Shuttle. The Miata, by contrast, is a manual, petrol-powered rear-wheel-drive roadster that seats (barely) two, and is more fun than an inflatable tube on a snow hill.

For all their differences, the two vehicles have their roots in 1960s sports cars. Mach-E is Ford’s first SUV inspired by the Mustang muscle car, and the Miata was inspired by the iconic English Lotus Elan. The pair also offer a chilling glimpse into a dystopian future auto landscape where governments force manufacturers to make only EVs. In 25 years, will internal combustion roller skates like the Miata be banned? A relic of a golden age? Let’s hope not.

For now, these models are a celebration of individual transportation.

Friday fun day

On Friday afternoon, the rains cleared and Mrs. Payne and I rolled toward Woodward for some cruising in the Miata. At a stoplight, we went topless. The car, that is.

The Mazda’s soft top is one of the industry’s engineering marvels. No, it’s not electronic. It doesn’t have a screen, or a dial. But in three seconds, I unhooked it from the windshield and stowed it behind me without getting out of the driver’s seat.

I popped the front latch, pulled the soft top back over my head, and stuffed it into the cubby behind my head. It’s as simple as taking a blanket off your bed in the morning.

I turned off traction control, shifted into first gear and slid the rear end out with controlled throttle as I accelerated onto Woodard’s damp pavement. The short wheelbase Mazda is playful, easily controlled whether on the track or on the road. Like the analog soft top, the old school shifter is crisp and easy to throw.

The Mustang Mach-E is a different kind of giggle.

While the Mustang’s heritage also includes drop-top coupes, the Mach-E doesn’t offer a convertible option. Drop-top EVs like the GMC Hummer have been few. My $64K GT tester, however, let the sun shine in with a panoramic glass roof and was further enhanced with a stylin’ Bronze Appearance package. Incredibly, the GT performance model puts more torque (634 pound-feet vs. 625) to the ground than the King of Mustangs — the $80K supercharged V-8 Mustang Shelby GT500.

I floored the Mach-E and it buried my spinal column in the seatback. Sixty mph blew by in just 3.7 seconds out of the South Boulevard and Woodward stoplight — nearly two seconds quicker than the Miata. Mach-E GT manages this despite tipping the scales at 5,000 pounds — double that of the Mazda. Some of that is due to the Mach-E’s SUV proportions, so that you can take the whole family on a thrill ride.

Let’s blow away this Porsche Boxster, kids!

But much of the girth is in the 91-kWh battery pack. The battery is also a big reason the Mach-E costs $20K north of the Mazda. Fans of small sportscars like the Miata shiver when they think of future, battery-powered sportscars due to the massive weight/cost gain that might entail.

Minimalist dashboard

The Mach-E’s cabin is one of my favorite examples of the digital revolution pioneered by Tesla.

Discussion inside the Ford design team was spirited, but ultimately designers went clean sheet — crafting a modern, minimalist dashboard rather than echoing the classic Mustang coupe’s aviation-style cockpit (even the ICE coupe would go big screen when its seventh-generation car debuted in 2023).

Where Tesla showcased a 15-inch horizontal screen in the Model Y, the Mach-E went vertical with its 15.5-inch display. Unlike Tesla, Ford complements the center stack with a small hoodless display behind the steering wheel that gives you essentials like mileage and speed. The operating system synced effortlessly to my phone and I barked directions to the wireless Android Auto system to help me navigate around Woodward’s worst choke points.

The screen is anchored by a huge volume button — the exception to the streamlined touch-screen environment. The icing on the cake? My GT boasted Blue Cruise, Ford’s interstate-only hands-free driving assistance system for when I exited Woodward onto I-696.

In keeping with its analog, driver-focused experience, the Mazda is spare on electronic wizardry — even eschewing adaptive cruise control that is standard on its sedan and SUV brethren. Still, the Miata’s infotainment system has made big strides.

To the frustration of touch-screen millennials, Mazda has relied on a rotary dial-controlled center screen. But new models like my MX-5 now have a new 8.8-inch touch screen that supports wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Or you can still use the rotary controller — just like premium brands BMW and Genesis.

Niche vehicle

When it comes to daily driving, the Mach-E sport ute should be the obvious choice. Roomy hatchback, four seats, useful frunk. But Mach-E’s electric powertrain makes it a niche vehicle like the Miata.

Given Mach-E’s charging limitations, most will buy it as a second car for their garage. Install a charger in your garage for around two grand and the ‘Stang is an excellent daily commuter — or Woodward cruiser. Road trips? Not so easy, though Ford’s recent access to Tesla’s reliable charging network is a big help.

The Mazda’s old-school appeal extends to its old-school gas engine. It’ll make effortless round trips to, say, an autocross in Columbia — and that clever soft top allows you to store a suitcase in the boot.

Twenty-five years from now, we’ll know a lot more about the longevity of EV batteries. Will they hopelessly degrade? If so, will it crater residuals? We already know the Miata’s reliability — as evidenced by the 1998 second-generation MX-5s that turned 25 years young on Woodward this year.

Long live the ‘24 Miata and Mustang Mach-E. Long live Dream Cruise variety.  

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Vehicle type: Battery-powered, all-wheel-drive four-door SUV

Price: $55,890, including $1,895 destination charge ($64,025 as tested)

Powerplant: 91-kWh lithium-ion battery driving twin electric motors

Power: 480 horsepower, 634 pound-feet of torque

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.7 seconds (Car and Driver)

Weight: 4,952 pounds

Fuel economy: EPA est. range, 280 miles

Report card

Highs: Exhilarating acceleration; state-of the-art tech

Lows: Porky; road-trip charging requires planning

Overall: 3 stars

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Vehicle type: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive two-passenger sportscar

Price: $33,650, including $1,165 destination charge ($39,045 Club, manual model as tested)

Powerplant: 2.0-liter four-cylinder

Power: 181 horsepower, 151 pound-feet of torque

Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

Performance: 0-60 mph, 5.7 seconds (Car and Driver); top speed, 140 mph

Weight: 2,368 pounds

Fuel economy: EPA 26 city/34 highway/29 combined (manual)

Highs: The purist’s sportscar; easy drop-top

Lows: Sporty Club suspension can be stiff on Michigan roads; limited storage space

Overall: 4 stars

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at [email protected] or @HenryEPayne.