Need to hit the road but don’t feel like driving? No problem. Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving system can do it for you. Blue Cruise has been around for a few years, and you can find used cars equipped with it, but the latest version is better than ever.
Blue Cruise 1.5 Is Easier to Use
The goal of Blue Cruise 1.5 is for your Ford to do the driving the same way you would if you were in control. The big news is that this latest version can change lanes. Once you set it, it will keep you at a set speed, monitor the cars around you, and change lanes to keep you going at the speed you want. Part of the monitoring system makes sure that it only changes lanes when it’s safe to do so, but it will also make maneuvers to keep you safe.
If the system detects a vehicle getting too close to the lane markers, it will move you away to prevent any mishaps.
Small Changes Add up to Big Improvements
While the lane changing capability is big, there are also several smaller changes to Blue Cruise 1.5. One of the things Ford studied was why drivers took the wheel when using Blue Cruise. What they found was that they wanted to move over when other cars got too close.
The updated system can see exactly where there are cars around you, and it will automatically reposition you in the lane so you’re not traveling too close to them. This is all happening at 70 mph, which can ease your mind when driving in heavy traffic or when someone comes zipping up next to you with their phone in their hand.
What Ford Vehicles Have Blue Cruise 1.5?
The first new Ford to get the 1.5 version of Blue Cruise is the 2025 Mustang Mach-E. It will be available on the upcoming Ford Explorer Tremor edition, and you can expect to see it in most newly designed Ford vehicles as they come out in the future.
In order to make the improvements that Ford wanted to make, upgraded hardware was needed. If you are looking at used cars and wondering if you could just do a software update, you’re out of luck. You can still take advantage of the previous version of the hands-free driving system, but the upgrades to lane-changing and lane centering require getting a whole new Ford vehicle.
Does it Really Work?
In real-world testing, drivers found that Blue Cruise did a good job of changing lanes. You can set your cruising speed, and it will stay out of the way of approaching left-lane traffic, and it will make a lane change to move around slower traffic.
The key to this hands-free driving system and others is that you still have to pay attention to the road. It is not 100% perfect, so you need to be ready to take the wheel.
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