Banking on the credibility of the Mustang name, Ford introduces the Mustang Mach-E -- an all-electric four-door wagon with rear- or all-wheel drive. Roughly the same size as a Ford Escape, Mach-E blends typical crossover proportions and electric underpinnings with some undeniably Mustang styling cues. Key rivals include the Audi e-tron, Hyundai Ioniq5, Kia EV6, Polestar 2, Tesla Model Y, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Volkswagen ID.4
Mach-E went on sale in early spring in Select, California Route 1, Premium and First Edition Trim. While the First Edition models are sold out, a new GT trim is just arriving at dealerships now. In terms of range and performance, things an get a little confusing. Here's a chart of how battery, range, drive wheels and performance shakes out.
Select * Rear-wheel drive: 230 miles of range; 266 horsepower
* All-wheel drive: 211 miles of range; 266 horsepower
California Route 1
* Rear-wheel drive: 305 miles of range; 290 horsepower
Premium
* Rear-wheel drive: 230 miles of range; 266 horsepower
* All-wheel drive: 211 miles of range; 266 horsepower
Premium (extended-range battery)
* Rear-wheel drive: 300 miles of range; 290 horsepower
* All-wheel drive: 270 miles of range; 346 horsepower
First Edition (extended-range battery)
* All-wheel drive: 270 miles of range; 346 horsepower
GT (extended-range battery)
* All-wheel drive: 250 miles of range; 480 horsepower* All-wheel drive Performance Edition: 235 miles of range; 480 horsepower
All models come standard with digital instrument panel, 15.5-inch touchscreen, Sync 4 infotainment system with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, remote monitoring and control via smartphone app, wireless charging pad, portable 120-volt or 240-volt charging cable and DC fast-charging capability. Standard safety features include Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and mitigation, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and rear parking sensors with automatic emergency braking. Pricing ranges from $48,000 to $61,000.
Fear not performance fans, Mach-E is no Mustang II. Even the least expensive model will run from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds and Ford claims GT Performance Edition can make that run in 3.5 seconds. However, driving an electric vehicle provides a different sensation. It is eerily quiet when accelerating and there's no shift shock because there's no transmission. Simply stomp on the gas and the Mach-E takes off. Acceleration is most impressive from a standstill, but midrange punch is strong as well. There's a bit of a drop off in highway passing power, especially at speeds above 60 MPH.
Mach-E offers several drive modes: Engage, Whisper and Unbridled. They don't change how the Mach-E accelerates only the sensation around that acceleration. It also offers one-pedal driving, which is can be very useful. Though it takes some time to master, one-pedal driving maximizes battery energy capture under braking. In essence, drivers don't utilize the brake unless necessary for emergencies. Lifting off the accelerator engages maximum brake-energy regeneration and slows the vehicle swiftly. It's not for everyone, but it does help extend battery range.
Speaking of range, the EPA gives the Mustang Mach-E MPG3e ratings of 90 to 101, depending on model. That compares favorably to its traditional competition but trails the Tesla Model Y by a fair margin. But before you get into a discussion about theoretical range, it is more important to understand real-world range and more importantly charring speed. As with a gasoline-powered vehicle, your range between fill-ups is mostly dependent on driving conditions (air temperature), driving type (highway or city) and load (1 passenger or 5 passengers). Then, of course, you have to factor in how you drive. Are you a lead foot, are you're a hyper miler or somewhere between?
With the Mustang Mach-E it is fairly easy to replicate the advertised range provided you are diving in temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees, mixing a bit of city with a bit of highway and are using modest energy-saving techniques (like one-pedal driving). More important is charge rate and the Mach-E can be DC fast charged. That's the new tech that you keep hearing about where you get a 100-plus miles of range in about 15-20 minutes. Reasonable, but requires the right kind of charger and the infrastructure to support that rate of charge (meaning you can't do this at home). Still, with a Level 2 charger, which you can have installed at home, you can charge from 0 to 100 percent in 11 hours.
Despite its portly 4,500-pound curb weight, the Mach-E is surprisingly fun to drive. The batteries are packed in the floor of the vehicle, giving it a very low center of gravity. No, it isn't as agile as a regular Mustang, but it is surprisingly nimbler than a typical compact crossover. The suspension is also a bit firmer than you might expect, though it never grows busy or annoying. The electrically boosted steering has a natural feel and tracks easily on the highway. Brakes don't have any sponginess that's so typical of traditional hybrids and transition smoothly from energy-capture braking to friction braking. In all, the Mach-E provides a sporty driving experience without being overly firm.
Partly because it's electric and partly because of great sound isolation, the Mach-E is very quiet at all times. Even on the highway, noise levels in the Mach-E are significantly lower than you'd expect. Selecting Unbridled drive mode adds some artificial engine noise under acceleration. It's strange and necessarily appealing.
Mach-E's interior is a clear departure for Ford and a huge step away from the Mustang's driver-focused dual cockpit design. The wide and sweeping dashboard falls away from front-seat passengers and is dominated by two large digital displays. One, replacing a traditional instrument cluster, is fairly straightforward. However, the center display might have some new owners scratching their head for a minute. It's beautiful and nicely integrated into the interior. However, you'll need a moment of two to familiarized yourself with operations and menus. Thankfully, Ford has done a great job of creating a fresh and new infotainment interface that deftly blends traditional functions like audio and climate control with the myriad of electric-vehicle functions. Great job by Ford of offering traditional controls for lights, wipers and other basic functions as well (another all-EV automaker might want to take notice of how much easier the Mach-E is to drive on a daily basis).
Though it is a Mustang in name, the Mach-E's front seats are more traditional crossover fare, with ample soft padding and not a whole lot of lumbar support. They are comfortable, but larger adults might find themselves squishing about a bit. The rear seat bottoms are a bit flat and low, but overall comfort is good. Despite a low roofline, there's ample head room and plenty of leg room for front-seat passengers. Rear-seat passengers have enough room, but larger adults might wish for a bit more space.
So, you might have been hearing the term "frunk" when people talk about EVs. Basically, that's slang for a front trunk. Mach-E has one, albeit small. It's also got a drain hole, so you can use it as a mobile cooler if you like. In terms of cargo capacity, Mach-E offers 29 cubes behind the rear seats. That's less than some compact crossovers, but still quite usable. The rear seats fold to increase space as well. There's a flimsy cargo cover that seems like a design oversight. Thankfully it can be removed. Interior storage is great, thanks to the open and airy cabin. Lots of open and covered bins throughout.
Bottom Line - Say what you will about using the Mustang name, Mach-E is an outright winner. It's a very traditional crossover that just happens to be a battery-electric vehicle. There's no learning curve -- a perfect transition from gas-engine to electric for most buyers. Of course, there's a mindset adjustment in terms of range and re-fueling. But once you get past that, owners will find that Mach-E is a perfect replacement for that Escape or Edge.
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