Ford has a new $25,000 crossover SUV coming, but will it go electric?

Ford is planning a new crossover SUV priced around $25,000, expected to arrive in 2029. Dealers got a preview of the vehicle at a private meeting, describing it as a boxy, wide SUV similar in look to the first-generation Escape. It would become Ford's cheapest model, priced below the current Maverick, and is expected to eventually replace the Escape. Production is set for Ford's Hermosillo plant in Mexico.

Despite the low price, this SUV will not be electric. Instead, Ford plans to offer it as a hybrid (a gas-electric combination) or a standard gas-powered vehicle. That's notable because Ford's other upcoming affordable vehicle, an electric pickup called the Fathom, does use the company's new all-electric platform. Ford executives reportedly told dealers the company remains committed to hybrid powertrains going forward.

For homeowners tracking electric vehicle options, this means Ford's cheapest SUV won't be a plug-in choice, at least for now. The Fathom pickup remains Ford's affordable EV entry, with pre-orders opening in early 2027 at a starting price of $28,350 and deliveries later that year. Ford has said its electric vehicle platform could eventually support smaller vehicles, so an affordable electric SUV from Ford isn't ruled out, but nothing is confirmed. If you're weighing an EV purchase tied to home charging or electricity upgrades, this news suggests waiting for more details rather than expecting a budget electric SUV from Ford soon.