SYNC 4

[wireman]

With the possibility of Sync 4 being available in the 2025 Sport, I have a couple of questions.

If you have a Ford vehicle with Sync 4, what are your impressions of its software and actual operation compared to Sync 3?

With no physical buttons for HVAC controls, do you find that an issue?

My opinion is Sync 3 is getting long in the tooth.

Appreciate any feedback you may have about both systems.

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[rocks]

I love the screen size but not the elimination of HVAC manual controls. I still would love to have Sync4. I would think it has a quicker response and smoother operation.

 

[RushMan]

I've only looked at reviews of the SYNC4 system in the Escape, and am not impressed.
I would not buy a new '25 or newer BS because of the loss of physically distinct controls of the HVAC.
Did you ever notice that your computer keyboard has little bumps on the "F" and "J " keys?
There's a reason for that - that bump identifies the keys for touch typists without having to look at the keyboard.
The physically distinct keys of the soon-to-be-obsolete HVAC controls enjoy that same convenience, in being able to identify the buttons and knobs without having to take your eyes off of the road.
The row of buttons on the SYNC 4 screen is a step backward in safety, encouraging, no, requiring that the driver take their eyes off the road to look at the the buttons.
Sadly, most auto manufacturers are removing physically distinct controls and replacing them with infotainment touch selections, or as with Ford, physically indistinguishable buttons.

 

[rocks]

I love the wireless Android Auto of the Sync4. My wife has it in her '23 HR-V.

 

[wireman]

I've only looked at reviews of the SYNC4 system in the Escape, and am not impressed.
I would not buy a new '25 or newer BS because of the loss of physically distinct controls of the HVAC.
Did you ever notice that your computer keyboard has little bumps on the "F" and "J " keys?
There's a reason for that - that bump identifies the keys for touch typists without having to look at the keyboard.
The physically distinct keys of the soon-to-be-obsolete HVAC controls enjoy that same convenience, in being able to identify the buttons and knobs without having to take your eyes off of the road.
The row of buttons on the SYNC 4 screen is a step backward in safety, encouraging, no, requiring that the driver take their eyes off the road to look at the the buttons.
Sadly, most auto manufacturers are removing physically distinct controls and replacing them with infotainment touch selections, or as with Ford, physically indistinguishable buttons.

I also prefer physical controls for all functions, but like you said more brands are moving away from them. I never have been impressed with the Sync voice commands which is supposed to be a way for less driver distractions.

 

[wireman]

We will all get used to the lack of physical controls … likely there will be voice activated controls which helps a lot. Next will be brain implants so all you have to is think.. I’m cold and the heat will turn up.

I think I already had one of those.

 

[NoOneHereYet]

I have to agree with most others on here, the loss of physical controls is just not worth the update. Not a fan of the move everything to a touchscreen ideology that seems to be the current trend.

 

[wireman]

I have to agree with most others on here, the loss of physical controls is just not worth the update. Not a fan of the move everything to a touchscreen ideology that seems to be the current trend.

I'd have to take some time to play around with the system and see what it "feels" like before condemning it completely.

What's included on the larger driver's info screen, is the voice interface improved. Again, I'm not at all a fan for losing the manual HVAC controls.

I guess back to my original question, can someone who has used Sync 4 on another vehicle, newer Escape, etc. give us some real-world impressions of the system.

 

[NoOneHereYet]

I'd have to take some time to play around with the system and see what it "feels" like before condemning it completely.

What's included on the larger driver's info screen, is the voice interface improved. Again, I'm not at all a fan for losing the manual HVAC controls.

I guess back to my original question, can someone who has used Sync 4 on another vehicle, newer Escape, etc. give us some real-world impressions of the system.

Basic overview

 

[wireman]

Basic overview

Thanks, I guess I should have thought of You Tube as a go to reference.

 

[DWG]

I had a 23 Escape Platinum with Sync 4. I know there are many looking forward to having Sync 4 and initially I thought this is great but the more I used tithe more I missed the buttons. Most everything was a touch on the screen. There is definitely a learning curve. The screen on the Escape was much longer and bigger overall and I found it to be distracting having to take my eyes off the road in order to find what I was looking for on the screen. One example I can think of is the recirculate button on the dashboard. No button on Sync 4. The toggle is buried in the climate section of the menus of the screen. With the button on the dash you know exactly if the recirculate air is on or off. Pushing the button doesn't keep recirculate on until you turn it off so at least with the button you can glance over and see if recirculate is still on. With Sync 4 you have to go into the screen menus to get to the toggle to even see if recirculate is still on.

Another issue I found is with built in navigation. In Sync 4 there is an annual subscription of about $80 per year to keep the navigation working. Without the subscription the navigation map will not work. At least with Sync 3 it is still your choice to update the maps and even if you do not the navigation will still work. With sync 4 I believe there was a disclaimer that I read that indicated there is no guarantee the navigation will be supported by changes in technology or something like that.

I guess we are just old school. I wouldn't mind a screen that is a little bigger but I do not want to lose my buttons and be forced Into an annual subscription in order to use the navigation feature which I do use regularly. I know there are navigation apps but I actually like the built in navigation.

 

[wireman]

I had a 23 Escape Platinum with Sync 4. I know there are many looking forward to having Sync 4 and initially I thought this is great but the more I used tithe more I missed the buttons. Most everything was a touch on the screen. There is definitely a learning curve. The screen on the Escape was much longer and bigger overall and I found it to be distracting having to take my eyes off the road in order to find what I was looking for on the screen. One example I can think of is the recirculate button on the dashboard. No button on Sync 4. The toggle is buried in the climate section of the menus of the screen. With the button on the dash you know exactly if the recirculate air is on or off. Pushing the button doesn't keep recirculate on until you turn it off so at least with the button you can glance over and see if recirculate is still on. With Sync 4 you have to go into the screen menus to get to the toggle to even see if recirculate is still on.

Another issue I found is with built in navigation. In Sync 4 there is an annual subscription of about $80 per year to keep the navigation working. Without the subscription the navigation map will not work. At least with Sync 3 it is still your choice to update the maps and even if you do not the navigation will still work. With sync 4 I believe there was a disclaimer that I read that indicated there is no guarantee the navigation will be supported by changes in technology or something like that.

I guess we are just old school. I wouldn't mind a screen that is a little bigger but I do not want to lose my buttons and be forced Into an annual subscription in order to use the navigation feature which I do use regularly. I know there are navigation apps but I actually like the built in navigation.

DWG, did you ever use the voice commands for the HVAC or were they pretty much useless?

How about the digital driver's screen, did you find it had more info that was useful?

The navigation subscription would be an issue for me also.

 

[DWG]

I only used the voice command for making phone calls. I never really used it for HVAC or other things like changing radio stations. Over all I was ok with the digital driver screen. It did take some getting used to compared to my 20 Escape. The screens are different depending on which level trim you buy. I had Escape Actives as loaners when my Escape Platinum was being serviced. I definetly did not like the lower trim screen. If I remember correctly one thing I did not like was the gas gauges on the Escape. Instead of a normal gas gauge with a needle it was a horizontal row or bars on the side of the screen on the lower trim and a much less noticeable vertical line of dashes on the platinum trim. The bar/dashes would stay at one level until the gas would reach the next lower level. I felt it was not as precise as a gas gauge with a needle. This may have been an Escape thing but I think Ford tends (Other manufacturers too) carry features through out their lineup as they update the vehicles. What ever trim level you are considering I would definitely try and spend time with the vehicle before buying and make sure you are happy with the driver screen that it comes with.

One thing I really liked was the 360 camera that came with the Sync 4. I used it when parking the car. For instance when parking between lines in a parking lot, after parking I would check the camera to see if I was parked straight. I am terrible at parking straight between the lines. The 360 camera allowed me to see how I did without getting out of the car. Also if parking along a street curb I could see how close I was to the curb. When activated after parking it gave you white dotted lines on either side of the car that you are able to see along with the painted lines of the parking space.

A lot of manufacturers are going the way of subscriptions for the navigation. On one hand I get it. It keeps the navigation up to date and creates another opportunity for an income stream after you buy your car. But if you do not do the subscription you navigation does not work and I feel like it is something you paid for in what ever package it is bundled into and as the consumer it should be up to you to decide to take the subscription or not. If not at the very least the nav map should still work as it does on Sync 3. After my free map updates were used up on my Sync 3 Nav System I would only update the maps every couple of years.

 

[beaudointl]

With the possibility of Sync 4 being available in the 2025 Sport, I have a couple of questions.

If you have a Ford vehicle with Sync 4, what are your impressions of its software and actual operation compared to Sync 3?

With no physical buttons for HVAC controls, do you find that an issue?

My opinion is Sync 3 is getting long in the tooth.

Appreciate any feedback you may have about both systems.

It's a work in progress but overall it's nice. The wireless android auto/carplay is nice. Not all models with sync4 eliminate the manual HVAC controls. The new Ranger has manual and on screen controls. Not sure what the 25 BS will have.

 

[wireman]

I only used the voice command for making phone calls. I never really used it for HVAC or other things like changing radio stations. Over all I was ok with the digital driver screen. It did take some getting used to compared to my 20 Escape. The screens are different depending on which level trim you buy. I had Escape Actives as loaners when my Escape Platinum was being serviced. I definetly did not like the lower trim screen. If I remember correctly one thing I did not like was the gas gauges on the Escape. Instead of a normal gas gauge with a needle it was a horizontal row or bars on the side of the screen on the lower trim and a much less noticeable vertical line of dashes on the platinum trim. The bar/dashes would stay at one level until the gas would reach the next lower level. I felt it was not as precise as a gas gauge with a needle. This may have been an Escape thing but I think Ford tends (Other manufacturers too) carry features through out their lineup as they update the vehicles. What ever trim level you are considering I would definitely try and spend time with the vehicle before buying and make sure you are happy with the driver screen that it comes with.

One thing I really liked was the 360 camera that came with the Sync 4. I used it when parking the car. For instance when parking between lines in a parking lot, after parking I would check the camera to see if I was parked straight. I am terrible at parking straight between the lines. The 360 camera allowed me to see how I did without getting out of the car. Also if parking along a street curb I could see how close I was to the curb. When activated after parking it gave you white dotted lines on either side of the car that you are able to see along with the painted lines of the parking space.

A lot of manufacturers are going the way of subscriptions for the navigation. On one hand I get it. It keeps the navigation up to date and creates another opportunity for an income stream after you buy your car. But if you do not do the subscription you navigation does not work and I feel like it is something you paid for in what ever package it is bundled into and as the consumer it should be up to you to decide to take the subscription or not. If not at the very least the nav map should still work as it does on Sync 3. After my free map updates were used up on my Sync 3 Nav System I would only update the maps every couple of years.

Not really considering a trade right now, was just curious if the 25 Sport goes that route.

These digital gas gauges suck with the bar graph, AKA sport. At least make the segments smaller and more accurate.

360 cameras are great. The 1st vehicle I had it in was a 2020 Audi Q3 and it's a must in any future vehicle. Bought my 2021 Sport BL even though it wasn't an option. 2025?

If the 2025 comes with the 360, having the feature available for offroad use below 15 mph, just like the front camera is now would be useful.

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