I Allowed BlueCruise to Take Control, and It Felt Remarkably Human | Carscoops

      The newest version of Ford's semi-autonomous driving system is more advanced and capable.

      8 hours ago

      by Michael Gauthier

      Ford has introduced its latest BlueCruise 1.5 in the 2025 Mustang Mach-E.

      This system autonomously changes lanes to overtake slower vehicles.

      During our evaluation, it operated smoothly and mimicked human driving well.

      Long family road trips used to be quite exhausting, but technology has considerably improved the experience. This is particularly true for vehicles equipped with semi-autonomous systems like Ford’s BlueCruise.

      Introduced in 2021, the Level 2 system offers hands-free driving on around 130,000 miles (209,215 km) of divided highways across North America. Since its launch, Ford has made ongoing updates to the system, adding new features and improving its capabilities, as well as enhancing the technology to provide a more comfortable and human-like driving experience.

      The latest iteration of BlueCruise was launched with the 2025 Mustang Mach-E, and we recently had the opportunity to experience it while driving around Detroit. Although our time with the system was limited, it proved to be quite capable.

      BlueCruise 1.5 showcases the latest advancements in Ford's semi-autonomous technology, now including automatic lane changes. For instance, if you are driving hands-free at 70 mph and approach a semi traveling at 65 mph, the system will automatically switch lanes to pass the slower vehicle.

      Notably, it can make proactive lane changes, so you won’t remain behind a slower vehicle. For example, as we approached a slow-moving van in the right lane, the Mach-E initiated a lane change before we closed in on it. This feature is a thoughtful addition that closely resembles the actions of a human driver.

      The overall experience is seamless, as BlueCruise continuously monitors its environment and changes lanes when there’s a clear opportunity and enough time to transition safely. Drivers are kept informed about upcoming lane changes through audio and visual alerts. Additionally, the system provides an explanation for the lane change, such as “slower vehicle ahead.”

      This communication is excellent, as it can be unsettling if a semi-autonomous vehicle reacts unexpectedly. It also fosters trust and confidence in the technology, which is critical given that some consumers are still skeptical.

      Drivers can easily override the system by holding the steering wheel steady or signaling in the opposite direction of the lane change, which is handy when preparing to exit and wanting to remain in your current lane.

      When the system performs a lane change, it does so smoothly, often as well as or even better than some human drivers. As a result, if you were seated in the back and not paying attention, you might not even realize it was changing lanes.

      In addition to executing automatic lane changes to pass slower cars, BlueCruise 1.5 can also adjust to let vehicles that want to overtake pass you. During our testing, we experienced this once or twice due to light traffic, and it functioned as expected. However, the Mach-E took its time to change lanes, which frustrated the faster vehicle behind us.

      This behavior seems intentional, as officials informed us that the system favors keeping you in your lane. Ford has designed the technology to avoid frequent lane changes, as that’s not typical human behavior.

      Nevertheless, the system effectively assesses when an automatic lane change is advantageous. If it doesn’t make the change, drivers can use the turn signal to prompt the Mach-E to change lanes automatically.

      BlueCruise is straightforward to use and effectively keeps the car centered in its lane. This is supported by the previous 1.4 update, which addressed the side-to-side movement often seen in earlier versions of the technology. The system handles curves well and can cover significant distances without needing driver intervention.

      Unfortunately, BlueCruise 1.5 requires more memory and processing power than previous versions, meaning that existing vehicles cannot be upgraded. While this is disappointing, BlueCruise 1.5 will soon be available on other models beyond the Mach-E.

      A BlueCruise Plan for Everyone

      Ford provides various options for accessing BlueCruise; customers may make a one-time payment of $2,495 for at least seven years of service. Alternatively, customers can opt for annual payments of $495 or a monthly fee of $49.99. New vehicles equipped with BlueCruise also include a 90-day complimentary trial, allowing drivers to test the system and enjoy its advantages.

      While these options may seem excessive, they are beneficial for consumers. For instance, if you work from home or have a short commute, BlueCruise may not be essential for you. However, if you are embarking on a long trip and driving hundreds of miles, a payment of $49.99 could make for a significantly more relaxing experience.