Ford’s entry-level model, set to arrive in 2029, will reportedly be a $25,000 SUV, according to a report from Automotive News. The vehicle was showcased to dealers at a recent event in Las Vegas, where they were given a brief look into the company’s future product development.
The mockups of the SUV showed a boxy, wide vehicle similar to the first-generation Ford Escape. It will be sold as both a hybrid and a nonhybrid, with a starting price of around $25,000.
Design and Features
The sketches shown in the video were still in the early stages of design, mainly serving to offer a general idea of the vehicle’s size and proportions. A dealer told Automotive News that the mockups seemed reminiscent of the first-generation Ford Escape, and that the vehicle looked “boxy and wide.”
Most of its features, including the name, are unknown. However, if the new vehicle does end up sporting early Escape-like proportions, it would likely fall in line with subcompact SUVs like the Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-30, and Kia Seltos.
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These subcompact SUVs are all priced well under $30,000, so the new Ford’s $25,000 price tag would fall roughly in the middle of its segment. The Ford Maverick, which currently holds down the bottom of Ford’s lineup at just under $30,000, will be positioned above the new SUV.
Production and Release
A production date wasn’t announced, but the report says an unnamed hybrid crossover is scheduled to begin assembly in 2029 at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico. Dealers told Automotive News that the video at the event showed only very early sketches of the vehicle’s progress, which seems to signify there’s still a lot of work to be done before it’s ready to hit the road in prototype form.
The fact that the new SUV won’t be riding on Ford’s Universal EV platform, which will form the basis for the upcoming $30,000 Ford Fathom truck, suggests that the company is taking a different approach with this vehicle. As the automotive market continues to evolve, Ford’s strategy will be worth watching.
In practice, this development could mean that Ford is looking to appeal to a more budget-conscious consumer, one who is looking for a reliable and affordable vehicle without sacrificing too much in terms of features and capabilities. If the new SUV can deliver on its promised price point and specifications, it could potentially be a major player in the subcompact SUV market.
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For now, details about the new SUV are still scarce, and it remains to be seen how it will stack up against the competition. As more information becomes available, we can expect to learn more about the vehicle’s features, capabilities, and overall value proposition.
Market Positioning
The new Ford SUV will be positioned below the Maverick, and its $25,000 price tag will put it in direct competition with other subcompact SUVs on the market. The Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-30, and Kia Seltos are all potential competitors, and it will be interesting to see how the new Ford stacks up against these vehicles in terms of features, performance, and overall value.
As the market continues to shift towards more affordable and efficient vehicles, the new Ford SUV could be an attractive option for consumers who are looking for a reliable and budget-friendly vehicle. With its expected release in 2029, the new SUV will likely be an important part of Ford’s overall strategy to appeal to a wider range of consumers.
They will continue to develop the new SUV.
