Ford’s better 1.5 version of BlueCruise Level 2 hands-free driving technology is now available in the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E. With the new system, cars can now instantly switch lanes to get past slower cars and avoid traffic behind them. Because the latest version of BlueCruise 1.5 features improved ADAS hardware and processing power, older vehicles equipped with BlueCruise software cannot be updated to this version. Since BlueCruise first appeared on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 in 2021, Ford has been improving its hands-free driving technology. The goal is to make the experience smoother and eliminate the need for the driver when the system is running. The newest BlueCruise 1.5 version, already available on the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E, can change lanes autonomously, making even the most mundane highway trips more enjoyable. Earlier versions of BlueCruise included an assisted lane-change feature, but the driver needed to activate the turn signal to initiate the maneuver. No longer does the driver have to take any action for the system to avoid slowing down cars and fast-moving traffic. Ford says that the new technology will make it much less necessary for drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while BlueCruise is running. It also allows up to 45% of lane changes to occur automatically. Along with the automated lane-change feature, changes have been made to the user interface to make it easier for drivers to see if hands-free driving is available and to provide them with more information about how the system works. A message may appear on the digital cluster to inform the driver that they need to change lanes or to explain why hands-free driving has been turned off. In previous versions, software updates only improved current features and added new ones. The upgrade to BlueCruise 1.5, on the other hand, required some hardware changes. To handle the update, the 2025 Mustang Mach-E features a faster CPU and improved sensors and cameras for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). People who own older cars with BlueCruise may not like the new hardware standards because they won’t be able to receive over-the-air software updates. The BlueCruise 1.5 works because we tested it in a Mach-E on a section of Interstate 96 outside of Detroit, Michigan. Even though it was set to run at 65 mph, it moved out of the way of oncoming left-lane traffic before any middle fingers or flashing lights were used. Even though we had to hold on to the wheel to keep from wobbling as we tried to move between two fast-moving cars, it worked well when passing slower cars. Sometimes they seemed rushed, but the lane changes felt smooth and right. In terms of hands-free driving capabilities, BlueCruise 1.5 is now comparable to GM’s Super Cruise, which has been on the market since 2021. This is because it automatically changes lanes. Drivers need to keep their eyes on the road and be prepared to take control of the car if needed, even though Super Cruise and BlueCruise feature numerous high-tech capabilities. Both systems work just as well as they did before, but Super Cruise has more features, such as hands-free driving, and can assist on approximately 750,000 miles of roads, while BlueCruise can only assist on about 130,000. The 2025 Mustang Mach-E is the first vehicle to come equipped with BlueCruise 1.5 as a standard feature, with additional models expected to adopt it in the future. Higher-end trims, such as the GT and Rally, come with a one-year BlueCruise subscription from the manufacturer. Customers can sign up for a monthly ($49) or yearly ($495) plan, or they can pay a one-time fee of $ 2,495 at the time of purchase to enable BlueCruise on Select, Premium, and GT Performance trims.
