The Ford Mustang Mach-E is one of the most controversial modern vehicles not just because it is an electric vehicle but because it carries the legendary Mustang nameplate in a completely different format. It is a crossover meant for families, and you only need to visit gas stations to check the tire pressure or buy snacks. We all know that the original Mustang’s days are numbered, but the question is still the same – Is Mach-E a worthy successor to the Mustang nameplate?
The Looks – Exterior and Interior
Unlike the EVs from a decade ago, most modern entries have unique and attractive looks. The Mustang Mach-E stands out as it represents the Mustang family, therefore it must look like a Mustang. Ford did a phenomenal job, especially with the front fascia. The menacing looks, sleek headlights, and Mustang logo are the things you would find in the original Mustang, and it is also here. Of course, there are important differences, as there is no front grille for cooling.
Things get more interesting as we walk around the Mustang Mach-E. It is not a controversial EV just because it is an EV, but it also carries a lot of design features that make it look like a crossover, hatchback and a coupe. The black roof along with glossy black claddings hides a lot of lines, but it underlines the coupe-ish silhouette. There are also design gimmicks like the buttons that open the door, meaning that there are no door handles visible unless you get close. Even though it is technically a crossover, there aren’t a lot of unpainted plastics, it is meant to be on paved roads all the time.
Just like the front fascia, the rear end also looks very much like the original Mustang, with a different body layout. The taillights with three vertical stripes are the main reason why it carries the same design language, and this is the main reason why the Mustang Mach-E stands out compared to the other EVs where they have to look like nothing else, the Mach-E must look like a Mustang and delivers in a completely different body style.
The trunk space is decent, but falls behind compared to a Tesla Model Y, mainly due to the sloping roofline and coupe-like silhouette. It comes with a powered tailgate and extra storage space under the trunk floor, and seats can be folded down for maximum storage space. Like the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E also offers a usable frunk which makes the Mach-E stand out against the other entries like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Volkswagen ID.4 and the KIA EV6.
The interior design of the Mach-E is unique without trying to reinvent the wheel, despite having a large infotainment screen in the middle of the dashboard just like the Model Y. There is no Ford badge anywhere in the interior, but you will find the Mustang logo on the steering wheel. The build quality is where it should be for this price range, but the most impressive part is the diversity when it comes to the material choice. The Mach-E aims to provide more of a living room experience with simplicity, and a nice mix of different materials laid out throughout the interior.
Unlike most EVs, the Mach-E offers actual physical buttons to operate the vehicle, including the rotary knob, electronic parking brake, emergency lights, and lighting controls. The steering wheel also comes with physical buttons, so even though the screen size and tech are still there, it offers a more analog experience in general.
Some important features make the Mach-E more user-friendly like the small digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, which shows the most important information like the speed, the gear and the adaptive cruise status. For anything else, there is a huge 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, and Ford’s special SYNC 4A interface that offers over-the-air updates to make the Mach-E more future-proof. In our tests, we have seen one OTA update and it allows the driver to schedule it when the car is not in use. The infotainment system works well for the most part, but it can sometimes be annoying due to the occasional input lag, and intermittent connection issues, especially with wireless Android Auto.
The seats are just as comfortable as the Model Y but in a different way. The Mach-E’s bottom cushion is longer supports taller people, and offers a decent amount of adjustment and range options for the front seat occupants. The rear seat also has plenty of legroom for taller adults or even for a front-facing child seat. The rear seat passengers also get nice creature comforts like air vents and USB ports to charge electronic devices. The biggest limitation for the rear seat passengers is the limited headroom for very tall adults, getting in and out takes significantly more effort, and due to the higher belt line, the Mach-E feels slightly more claustrophobic than the competition.
The Drive: Specs and Experience
The Mustang Mach-E comes with two different battery packs, and you can choose a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive option with both battery packs. The standard 72 kWh battery pack offers 266 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque with the RWD option, which can go up to 311 horsepower and 427 lb-ft of torque if you choose eAWD. Our tester has the larger 91 kWh battery with eAWD which pushes around 346 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. If you want the maximum performance, the GT Performance Edition generates around 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque.
Just like any other EVs, the horsepower and torque figures look impressive, but what’s more important is the overall usability and the range. The lithium-ion battery packs do not like being charged over 80% constantly, but if you do, the Mach-E can offer almost 500 kilometres of range. Of course, it depends on the weather, road conditions, traffic, and the way you drive, and a lot of variations need to be considered. No matter which version or battery pack you choose, the Mustang Mach-E comes with Level 3 DC charging, which can charge from 10% to 80% in under 50 minutes. If you are charging your Mach-E at home, the level 2 charger should be able to charge the Mach-E in less than 10 hours.
The Mach-E may not be the fastest charging option, or the charging infrastructure may not compete with Tesla’s Supercharging system, but it really shines from the driving dynamics perspective. Straight-line acceleration feels just like any other EV, so you won’t be disappointed. However, the Mach-E offers great chassis and steering feedback, even though our tester was not the performance-oriented GT version. The eAWD system is heavily rear-biased which is quite noticeable with more throttle input, even though you cannot fully disable the stability control, it allows you to have the right amount of fun.
The firmly sprung suspension tuning offers sportier driving dynamics, but it is not crashy or punishing the passengers in any way. It does a great job as it also handles a lot of weight. The Mach-E has great road manners when driven normally, it handles small road imperfections exceptionally well. The noise, vibration and harshness levels are quite low, which gives the Mach-E a more premium feeling, especially at lower speeds.
The Verdict
The Mustang Mach-E has big shoes to fill as it carries the “Mustang” nameplate, but it continues to be the most underrated EV that performs well in every category. It is not easy to compete with the Tesla Model Y, which is known to be a global bestseller, and many others in this segment. Despite having a more expensive starting price, it can still be the right choice if you prioritize the driving dynamics, more traditional interior layout with physical buttons, and great looks.
| Engine | 2-permanent-magnet synchronous AC |
| Battery Pack | 91-kWh lithium-ion |
| Transmission | Direct-drive |
| Max power | 346 hp |
| Max torque | 428 lb-ft |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 sec |
| Curb Weight | 4856 lbs – 2202 kg |
| Range | 270 mi – 435 km |
| Price (As tested – CAD) | $83,390 |
| Website | www.ford.ca |
