The crossover SUV will be Ford’s lowest-priced vehicle, starting at around $25,000. According to dealers who were shown a preview of the vehicle, it will not be based on the Universal EV platform.

After announcing the name and starting price of its new midsize electric pickup last week, the Fathom, Ford is apparently working on an even more affordable vehicle.

Ford offered dealers a glimpse of its upcoming lineup last week during a private meeting in Las Vegas, including a new crossover SUV set to arrive in 2029.

According to an Automotive News report, attendees said the entry-level model was a boxy, wide SUV. One said it resembled the first-generation Escape.

Ford did not reveal many details outside of previewing early mock-ups in a video, but the crossover is expected to start at around $25,000. That would make it the brand’s lowest-priced vehicle positioned below the current Maverick.

Surprisingly, the new SUV will not ride on Ford’s Universal EV platform, like the Fathom pickup. Instead, it will reportedly be offered as a hybrid and a gas-powered vehicle.

The new crossover SUV is expected to go into production in 2029 at Ford’s Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico.

Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, said (via The Detroit Free Press) that it will likely replace the Ford Escape.

According to one of the dealers at the event, Ford executives assured them that the company is committed to hybrid powertrains going forward.

In the meantime, Ford will open pre-orders for the all-electric Fathom pickup in early 2027, starting at $28,350.

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