Ford vehicles are packed with so much technology these days, it’s a little difficult to keep track of each one. Sometimes all we want is to just plug our phone into the car and play some tunes, but entertainment in the car has now shifted to infotainment, and we can access more than just our music. With all these extra features, it’s hard to tell which one does what.
Sound familiar? While some people may think this is coming from your average senior citizen, even your friends here at Kentwood Ford need help figuring it all out. So let us help you with our guide to different Ford technologies in your vehicle.
Ford SYNC
This is the main infotainment system in your Ford vehicle. The Ford SYNC system lets you make hands-free phone calls and stream your music through Bluetooth, all via the standard LCD on your vehicle’s dashboard. If your vehicle comes upgraded with the latest version, SYNC 3, you get a full touchscreen display to navigate the system, as well as extra compatibility with other notable Ford technologies (we’ll get into those in a bit). You can check the Ford website to see if your vehicle is equipped with either a SYNC or SYNC 3 system.
Otherwise, the main difference you need to know is that Ford SYNC is the entire infotainment system, while the technologies mentioned below are additional features you can add to the system.
SYNC Connect
If your vehicle is equipped with SYNC Connect, that means it’s capable of having in-vehicle Wi-Fi connectivity. Certain Ford models have a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for you to connect up to 10 different devices in your vehicle, with a range of up to 50 feet outside the vehicle. With SYNC Connect, you’ll never be far from an internet connection, which pairs perfectly with this next feature!
FordPass
The FordPass app is a really convenient app you can download for your smartphone that changes the way you interact with your vehicle. Using the FordPass app, you can remotely access your vehicle and control select features on board. For example, if you’re uncertain about whether or not you locked your car after walking a few blocks towards the mall, just open the FordPass app to check, and if you forgot you can lock it at the touch of a button. You can also start your vehicle’s engine from the app, or even schedule its start time. Plus, it will let you know when your car is running low on fuel so you know when to gas up next.
SYNC AppLink
Another SYNC feature, AppLink, gives you access to control some of your favourite mobile apps on board. If you have a Spotify subscription, you can listen to your entire catalogue. Want to step it up a notch? You can launch the apps you downloaded on your AppLink with a voice command—but using the touchscreen on your SYNC 3 system should also suffice (if you’re in park).
So now that we have a better understanding of all the different in-vehicle Ford technologies, we hope you’ll be able to navigate them with ease. From all of us at Kentwood Ford, happy driving!