Ford BlueCruise Explained: How Hands-Free Highway Driving Works
At Best Ford in Nashua, NH, we always walk people through the many tech and safety features of the Ford lineup. If you are wondering about Ford BlueCruise and how hands-free highway driving works in your car, truck, or SUV, our local experts are here to help. BlueCruise first launched in 2021 (via an over-the-air software update in the second half of the year), after its initial introduction as “Active Drive Assist” in 2020. It has since become a must-have for brand drivers, which our Nashua sales team will cover below.
How Does Ford BlueCruise Work?
Ford BlueCruise is a hands-free highway assistant that lets you remove your hands from the steering wheel while driving on pre-mapped divided highways. It works via an infrared camera that faces the driver while you’re on the road, and it is a Level 2 driver-assist system, meaning you must stay alert and be ready to take over steering at a moment’s notice. Its technology is advanced enough to handle controlling your car, but it is not autonomous by any means.
How To Turn Ford BlueCruise On
- Enable Settings: Turn on Lane Centering with Hands-Free in your vehicle’s driver assistance settings.
- Activate Cruise Control: Press the Adaptive Cruise Control button on your steering wheel once you reach the highway.
- Let Go: Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel briefly until the cluster confirms activation.
When Can I Use Ford BlueCruise Hands-Free Highway Driving?
You can use Ford BlueCruise on pre-mapped highways, or “Blue Zones,” throughout the United States and Canada. As the name suggests, BlueCruise is intended for highways, so it works at higher speeds than on everyday roads. Your digital instrument cluster turns blue and displays a hands-free icon when you enter an active Blue Zone, so check that before turning it on. Even more, BlueCruise covers roughly 97% of divided highways in North America, so you should be able to use it when driving most of the time on highways.
Do I Need A Subscription to Access Ford BlueCruise?
Yes, you do need an active Ford BlueCruise subscription to use the service. It is usually included when you buy a compatible Ford model, but it will not be free forever. As soon as your free subscription or trial period ends, it will stop working in your Ford vehicle. As of this year, most free trials last around 3 months (90 days) from purchase.
Explore Ford BlueCruise at Best Ford in Nashua, NH
At Best Ford in Nashua, NH, we’re always ready to review the safety and technology systems in your car, truck, or SUV. With Ford BlueCruise, you get the ability to drive hands-free on approved highways throughout North America, so it’s definitely something to enjoy if your car is equipped. Our friendly, local sales team is happy to walk you through BlueCruise on-site at Best Ford, and we are always here to troubleshoot if something isn’t working. Stop in today, and let’s discuss the many features of your Ford model!