When Ford axed the Fusion back in 2020 and said goodbye to the Taurus a year before that, plenty of sedan fans mourned the end of an era. The Blue Oval seemed firmly committed to trucks, SUVs, and the Mustang. Now, with new car prices hitting record levels, Ford’s leadership is singing a slightly different tune about those four-door models they left behind.
- Ford CEO Jim Farley told Automotive News he’s not ruling out sedans, saying “Never say never.”
- Average new vehicle transaction prices hit a record $50,326 by late 2025, squeezing many buyers out of the market.
- A four-door Mustang, potentially called the Mach 4, isn’t expected until at least 2028 or later.
Why Ford Left Sedans Behind
Ford hasn’t sold a sedan in the United States since the Fusion was discontinued in 2020, a year after the larger Taurus was axed. Other beloved nameplates, like the Fiesta and Focus, have also been retired, leaving the Blue Oval without a traditional car in its lineup, apart from the Mustang.
In an interview with Automotive News, CEO Jim Farley explained why Ford decided to exit the sedan segment. He said the move wasn’t driven by a lack of demand, but by the company’s inability to compete profitably: “The sedan market is very vibrant. It’s not that there isn’t a market there. It’s just we couldn’t find a way to compete and be profitable. Well, we may find a way to do that.”
Farley said the brand’s recent pivot to trucks and SUVs required the money that would have been spent producing its previous sedans. “If you like Maverick and you like Bronco, those would have never happened if we kept making Focus and Fusion,” Farley claimed.
The Affordability Crisis Pushing Ford’s Hand
Right now, the cheapest vehicle Ford sells is the $30,535 Ford Maverick XL, and that is a very basic truck with steel wheels, a physical key and more hard plastic than a Lego set. It makes sense that the Dearborn-based automaker is looking for ways to bring cheaper cars into the fold, because just about every one of its main competitors sells at least one or two vehicles that undercut it.
According to recent reports, the average monthly payment for a new vehicle in the US is now hovering near $800. Analysts are projecting a downturn in US auto sales for 2026, after three straight years of growth, driven largely by rising prices that are pushing more consumers out of the new-car market.
Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford emphasizes that the focus on affordability isn’t just about stripped-down trims: “Can you engineer vehicles that are fundamentally lower-cost so that you can pass that on to the consumer? And that’s what we’re working on.” The hope is that this approach will make a return to sedans and more traditional cars financially viable.
Could an Electric Sedan Be the Answer?
Ford could return to sedans through its upcoming electric vehicle platform. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently hinted at the possibility of sedans making a comeback in the United States. Asked whether there’s still a market for sedans and a future where they’ll return to Ford, Farley said there’s “definitely a market for sedans, a huge market.”
When asked about sedans in Ford’s future, Farley mentioned Ford’s skunkworks affordable EV project, saying that “the sedan silhouette turns out to be very clean aerodynamically.”
As for why a new four-door might have to wait until the EV architecture is ready, Farley cited the current primary challenge in bringing a sedan to the U.S. as being a lack of platform. Currently, the only remaining Ford sedans are produced outside the US; American buyers not only want an American-made car, they are generally unwilling to pay a premium for a Ford sedan.
Rumors continue about a four-door offshoot of the Mustang, potentially adopting the Mach 4 nameplate. Ford filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2025 to register the name “Mach 4.”
Sedans Still Sell for the Competition
People still want sedans, even in SUV-obsessed America. In 2025, Toyota sold 316,185 Camrys, up two percent from the previous year, while Corolla sales rose 6.5 percent to 248,088 vehicles. Honda moved 238,661 Civics and 150,196 Accords. Hyundai’s Elantra rose eight percent to 148,200 cars.
For now, the American sedan market is largely being carried by Asian automakers, particularly as domestic brands such as Chevrolet and Buick have already pulled out of the segment.
A Long Road Back for Four-Doors
Obviously, if Ford were to bring back sedans, we are a long way away from them hitting showroom floors, but these comments from Farley and Ford should provide some hope to sedan lovers everywhere who feel lost in a world of high-riding crossovers.
The Taurus name hasn’t disappeared entirely. A new generation of the sedan continues to be sold in the Middle East and China, where it’s known as the Mondeo. The Chinese-built version debuted in 2022 and has already received a mid-cycle update, bringing fresh styling to the model.
Whether Ford brings back traditional cars or sticks exclusively with trucks and SUVs, one thing’s clear: the pressure is building. With prices climbing and buyers looking for alternatives, the sedan door might just crack open again.
