Ford has shown dealers early mockups of a small SUV planned for 2029, with a target starting price of about $25,000.
The Ford $25K SUV is expected to become the cheapest vehicle in Ford’s lineup. It will reportedly be offered with both hybrid and nonhybrid powertrains and positioned below the Maverick.
The SUV is still in the early design stage, and Ford has not confirmed its name, specifications or production details.
Ford Shows Dealers an Early $25K SUV
Ford gave dealers a look at several future products during an event in Las Vegas last week. Among them was an early concept for the Ford $25K SUV.
According to Automotive News, the presentation included a video showing early design mockups of the small SUV.
The vehicle shown was still far from a production prototype. The sketches were intended to show its approximate size and proportions rather than its final exterior design.
One dealer who saw the mockups described the vehicle as “boxy and wide” and compared its proportions with the first-generation Ford Escape.
Ford has not confirmed whether the production SUV will retain that shape.
Hybrid and Gas Engines Are Planned
The Ford $25K SUV will not use Ford’s Universal EV platform.
That platform is planned for the upcoming Ford Fathom pickup, which is expected to start around $30,000. Instead, the new SUV is expected to use conventional powertrains, with both hybrid and nonhybrid versions planned.
Ford has not provided engine sizes, horsepower, fuel-economy figures or transmission details.
The decision to offer two powertrain types would give Ford a lower-cost SUV without making it an electric-only vehicle.
The Ford $25K SUV is also expected to sit below the Maverick in Ford’s range. The Maverick currently serves as the brand’s least expensive model at just under $30,000.
The Design Could Resemble the First Ford Escape
The Ford $25K SUV shown to dealers does not yet have a production-ready exterior.
The early mockups reportedly resemble the first-generation Ford Escape, which was smaller than the current Escape. The first Escape had a compact, upright shape rather than the larger proportions of today’s compact SUVs.
If Ford keeps similar dimensions for the new SUV, it could compete in the subcompact class.
That would put the Ford $25K SUV against vehicles such as the Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos.
The current first-generation Escape was smaller than today’s Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50. Ford’s new SUV could therefore occupy a different part of the market from the discontinued Escape.
Ford Has Not Revealed the SUV’s Name
Ford has yet to reveal what name the new SUV will carry.
The company also has not released production specifications, final dimensions, interior details or equipment levels.
The dealer presentation was based on early sketches rather than a finished vehicle, so many of the design details shown could change before production.
The $25,000 figure is also an expected starting price rather than a confirmed MSRP.
Production Is Expected in 2029
Production timing has not been confirmed for the new SUV.
However, Automotive News reports that an unnamed hybrid crossover is scheduled to begin assembly in 2029 at Ford’s Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico.
The report does not explicitly identify that vehicle as the $25,000 SUV, so the connection remains unconfirmed.
If the two vehicles are the same, production would begin toward the end of the decade.
The Ford $25K SUV is still in the early development stage, with its name, final design, powertrain specifications and exact pricing yet to be announced. What Ford has shown dealers so far is a small, boxy SUV planned around a roughly $25,000 starting price, with hybrid and nonhybrid powertrains expected.
FAQs
When will the Ford $25K SUV arrive?
The Ford $25K SUV is planned for 2029, although Ford has not announced a specific launch date.
How much will the Ford $25K SUV cost?
The Ford $25K SUV is expected to start at around $25,000, but Ford has not confirmed its final MSRP.
Will the Ford $25K SUV be a hybrid?
Yes. The Ford $25K SUV is expected to be offered with both hybrid and nonhybrid powertrains.
What will the Ford $25K SUV look like?
Early dealer mockups showed a boxy, wide design with proportions similar to the first-generation Ford Escape. The production design has not been finalized.
Where will the Ford $25K SUV be built?
An unnamed hybrid crossover is reportedly scheduled for production at Ford’s Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico in 2029, but Ford has not confirmed that it is the $25K SUV.
Also Read: Toyota Camry Recall: 508,354 Cars Face a Critical Digital Gauge Problem
