Our Top Picks for Troy Drivers: Upgrading Your Drive With Ford

How much time do you spend in your vehicle each day? The average commute for Troy drivers is 22.3 minutes, but realistically, we spend much more time in our cars, trucks, and SUVs. We’re not only driving to work, but we’re also running errands, dropping off and picking up our kids from school, and managing a plethora of after-school activities. Because we spend so much time in our cars, enjoying our time behind the wheel is essential, but there’s also more to consider.

Ford dealerships near Troy, like DePaula Ford, realize your vehicle’s impact on your safety, comfort, and financial stability. Ford also recognizes as much, ensuring its models prioritize your safety and comfort but also conservatively sip fuel so that you can save more of your hard-earned money. But which Ford models do this the best? As your Ford authority, we’re here to highlight the best Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs for getting around the vibrant city of Troy.

Most Expansive Lineup of Gas, Hybrid, and Plug-In Hybrid Models: Ford Escape

The Escape is one of the most attractive options for Troy drivers because its compact footprint makes it agile, efficient, and engaging, whether navigating the city streets of Troy or venturing into Schenectady or Albany. Offering seating for five and ample cargo room, the Escape is a versatile SUV that handles and rides like a sedan. It’s also one of the most efficient in the Ford lineup, with models like the 2022 Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) averaging 105 MPGe.

Performance and Efficiency

The Escape’s affordable new sticker price makes it even more attractive, especially since models like the 2021 Escape Hybrid are readily available on the used lot. Ford’s compact hybrid delivers the best of both worlds without requiring you to recharge the battery. Instead, front-wheel drive models average 44 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. When possible, the hybrid relies on electric power to reduce fuel consumption without compromising performance, delivering 200 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of instant torque.

Troy drivers who aren’t looking for a hybrid will still find the Escape impressive. Its base 1.5L powertrain and the available 2.0L powertrain are remarkably efficient. For example, a 2021 Escape with front-wheel drive and the base 1.5L engine averages 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, with a power output of 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The larger 2.0L EcoBoost engine, which you’ll find on the Escape SEL and Escape Titanium, boosts this output to 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, averaging 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.

Tech Features

The Escape’s expansive powertrain lineup perfectly complements its sportier styling and advanced technologies that Troy drivers will appreciate. Getting behind the wheel of a model like the 2021 Escape means reaping the benefits of technologies like Ford’s Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Speed Sign Recognition that reduces your input by monitoring traffic and adjusting the Escape’s cruising speed as needed. Other features like the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Waze navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto also make driving more enjoyable by offering seamless smartphone integration and turn-by-turn directions along the most efficient route.

Most Legendary Drive: Ford Mustang

As a historic city on the Hudson River, Troy has so much to offer beyond the hustle and bustle of your daily commute. Legendary sports cars like the Mustang can transform your experience behind the wheel. You can satiate your need for speed and enjoy the beautiful New York landscape, whether driving along the Hudson River, heading south to Poughkeepsie, or traveling northeast to take in the breathtaking scenery of the Green Mountain National Forest.

Performance and Efficiency

As an icon, the Mustang is an exceptional find as a used model because there’s no question you’re joining one of America’s greatest automotive legacies. Newer models like the 2022 Mustang offer high-value packaging on the used lot because they feature the latest connectivity, safety, and driver-assist technology. They’re also surprisingly efficient, with the 2022 Mustang averaging 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, as its 2.3L EcoBoost delivers 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Even the more powerful Mustang GT is efficient, producing 450 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque while averaging 24 MPG on the highway.

Tech Features

Budget-savvy shoppers will be pleasantly surprised by older models like the 2021 and 2020 Mustang. Because of age and mileage, these models are generally priced lower but offer many comparable tech features that prioritize your safety by keeping you connected and informed. These technologies include the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, which became standard across the Mustang lineup in 2020. The suite adds automatic high beam headlamps, a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring via the Blind Spot Information System, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection, a Lane-Keeping System, and Forward Collision Warning with Dynamic Brake Support. These features optimize your situational awareness, alerting you to potential hazards and helping you avoid collisions.

Most Appealing to Commuters: Ford Fusion

Ford discontinued the Fusion in 2020, but the sedan is still popular among Troy drivers because of its expansive powertrain lineup, all-wheel drive capability, and sophisticated styling. It’s the perfect commuter vehicle because it spares no expense at optimizing your comfort or keeping you safe and connected. Moreover, its fuel-sipping characteristics as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and gas-powered sedan make it the perfect choice for drivers facing rush-hour traffic in Albany or Schenectady every day.

Performance and Efficiency

The 2020 Fusion is the most attractive option in the Fusion lineup because of its modern styling and multiple powertrains that offer a broad range of power and efficiency. The Fusion’s standard 1.5L EcoBoost engine gives the sedan plenty of power, producing 181 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. The larger 2.0L engine increases this output to 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, making the Fusion incredibly engaging to drive by delivering remarkable off-the-line acceleration that ensures the sedan can handle itself at every speed.

While the Fusion’s gas-powered engines are impressive, Troy drivers looking to save more money on fuel will appreciate the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Plug-In Hybrid. These models rely on a 2.0L Atkinson cycle in-line four-cylinder engine and an 88-kW permanent magnet motor to deliver 188 horsepower and 129 lb-ft of instant torque. As a result, the Fusion Hybrid averages 43 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway, with the Plug-In Hybrid averaging 103 MPGe combined with a gas range of 42 MPG combined.

Tech Features

Beyond its handling and efficiency, the Fusion is also appealing because Ford puts everything you need to navigate your commute at your fingertips or within view. The Fusion’s SYNC infotainment system gives you access to your smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with top-tier models also equipped with a WiFi hotspot that can support ten devices. Other commuter-oriented features include a premium sound system, a voice-activated navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability, and access to premium features and services like SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link.

What Will You Drive?

Do you enjoy driving around Troy? Whether you spend most of your time navigating your commute into Albany or shuffling your kids to and from school and activities, you can transform your drive when you get behind the wheel of a Ford. Models like the Escape, Fusion, and Mustang are perfect for Troy drivers because they offer exceptional efficiency and legendary performance.

As an SUV, the Escape is versatile and can accommodate passengers and cargo, while the Fusion can upgrade your commute with its remarkable efficiency. Even the Mustang can transform your experience, as it’s destined to fulfill your need for speed and deliver pure thrills in the driver’s seat. Now the question is, “Which Ford will you choose?”