THE Mustang Mach-E was Ford’s first foray into the fully-electric SUV market and I can’t help but wonder why they decided to give it the name “Mustang” – because it clearly isn’t a Mustang.
The Mach-E Mustang is about as close to the V8 muscle-car as a Linda McCartney Veggie Burger is to a Wagyu Beef Burger. One is trying to match the desirability of the other – but using totally different ingredients, textures and, yes, taste. “Fake” would be too strong a word to use, but at least Linda doesn’t give her plant-based burgers the same name as the original (which would break all sorts of copyright laws; but you get my drift).
Instead of introducing a fresh mixture of ingredients, textures and tastes and coming up with a new name to shout from the rooftops and advertise accordingly, Ford appears to have had a bit of a wobble and decided to slap an iconic, emotive moniker onto it – no doubt hoping it would help raise the car’s profile and credibility.
If you think I’m being a bit harsh, try this experiment: Meet up with a group of friends and announce you’ve just bought a new car. Inevitably, they will ask which car you’ve bought. Tell them it’s a “Ford Mustang “but pause slightly before adding the “. . . Mach-E”. I guarantee that those friends who have even the slightest of interest in cars will raise eyebrows and be about to ask you more – until they hear the “Mach-E” part – at which point they will look deflated or simply confused. When you confirm that “Yes, it’s the electric one”, their newfound respect for you will vanish.
Of course, you can always justify your choice of Mustang by quoting its green credentials, at which point most of your friends will probably fall into line; nodding, sagely.
This is a great shame as the Mustang Mach-E is a terrific, family SUV that happens to share its name with another vehicle from the Ford stable. The Puma and Capri have a similar issue but neither name is as iconic and as steeped in motoring folklore as “Mustang”; and neither have the original model still in the showrooms.
But let’s take the Ford Mustang Mach-E for what it is – a mid-sized SUV electric vehicle that has a decent range and, in GT format especially, has some sporting qualities.
The Mustang Mach-E is available is a variety of trims and with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, standard range or extended range. It all depends on how far/fast you wish to go, and which best suits your needs.
Prices start at £43,330 for the single-motor Select model with RWD, a 72 kWh battery giving you a range of 292 miles (combined), 268 PS and 525 Nm of torque. That’s enough to throw you at 62mph in 6.7 seconds – which will be quick enough for most.
The Premium model (from £59,380 OTR) has an extended range of 372 miles thanks to a larger 98 kWH battery. It has slightly better performance figures, with 294 PS and a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds.
If you want to go quicker, then the twin-motor AWD Premium version will be necessary (from £67,905 OTR) which boosts power to 370 PS – reducing the sprint time to a neck-jerking 4.3 seconds and the range to 341 miles.
For top bragging-rights you’ll need the 487 PS Extended Range GT model (from £74,540 OTR) with AWD and a massive 950 Nm of torque which can throw you seamlessly at the horizon in just 4.1 seconds. Its combined range takes a hit though, at 320 miles.
All come with a single-speed automatic transmission and a maximum DC charge rate of 150 kW, meaning a 10% to 80% charge can take as little as 32 minutes.
My test car was a RWD Premium model with the added options of Vapour Blue body colour (£1,150) and the Tech Pack Plus (£2,500 for Hands free tailgate, B&O Sound System with 10-speakers and dashboard sound bar, plus a full panoramic sunroof), bringing the total price to £63,030 OTR.
Looking around the Mustang Mach-E, I was impressed by how Ford had managed to make this 2-tonne family SUV look quite sporty. It certainly has a swoop to its lines, especially when viewed from the side.
I like the handle-less doors which helps give the Mustang Mach-E a clean look and the black, floating roof effect which culminates in a subtle spoiler over the rear window. 19in. alloy wheels are standard on all but the GT model which gets an extra inch.
You won’t find a Ford badge anywhere; such is Ford’s determination to convince you that this is all Mustang and nothing lesser. The rear lights do a give a nod to its V8 stablemate, but that’s where any comparison ends.
Inside the Mustang Mach-E is very modern and pleasantly minimalist. Dominating the cockpit is the 15.5-inch touchscreen in Tesla-style portrait mode. Unlike the Tesla offering, this one has a large rotary dial at the bottom of the screen, which is useful for altering volume levels.
At first, the large screen appears to have an overwhelming amount of information for your fingertips to navigate but after only a few minutes you figure out it’s quite easy to find your way around. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless and, usefully, don’t take over the entire screen when activated. It’s all clear, well-laid out and responsive.
There are no physical buttons for the likes of climate, heated seats and the heated screen, but there are permanent icons on the bottom of the large screen for these items, so they’re relatively easy to access while on the move.
The 10.2-inch digital dash is also clear and configurable to your own liking.
The red-stitched faux-leather (Sensico) upholstery is typical Ford – it looks decent and supports very well. Both front seats are heated and have 8-way powered adjustment, including lumbar support.
Disappointingly, a lot of the switchgear appears to have been lifted from existing models. The instrument stalks and the gear shifter could have come from any Focus or even Fiesta. An opportunity missed for Ford to make the Mustang Mach-E a more premium offering with details to match.
The tech isn’t disappointing though. Especially the B&O sound system that has a sound bar positioned just behind the mesh of the dashboard. It works well and the sound is one of the best I’ve heard in any motor.
Likewise, over-the-air updates should keep your systems, including the built-in nav, up to date without you having to lift a finger, while the latest Sync 4 provides music, maps and messages straight to your screen. You’ll also find a wireless phone charger in the centre console.
The doors, as mentioned, are handle-less which means they are powered to open slightly at the touch of a button on the outside of the car and by a gentle pull on a handle inside. You can also use an app on your smartphone to unlock the door, meaning you don’t need to have the key with you. A numbered grid lights up on the B pillar of the Mustang for you to tap in your code . . . all clever stuff.
The driving position is very good; sat up high with decent visibility through all but the rear window – but that’s the price you pay for such a swooping, almost coupe design.
Interior space doesn’t appear to have suffered despite the Mustang’s sporting lines. Up front there is plenty of headspace and the cockpit area feels generously proportioned.
In the back, I was surprised that headroom was still good and legroom is better than good. Thanks to a flat floor, even the central rear passengers can get comfy on all but the longest of journeys. That panoramic roof lets in plenty of light, making the rear space feel even more airy and it doesn’t adversely affect headroom either.
The boot space is okay at 402 litres and if you pack the charging cables in the 100-litre “Frunk” then it’s more than enough to cope with family life. If you need to shift a chest of drawers, then dropping the rear seats will give you 1,420 litres of space.
Driving the Mustang Mach-E is a totally different experience to driving the Mustang Mach 1 (see my Mach 1 review here) despite only the single-digit difference in name. However, that doesn’t mean the Mach-E can’t get the juices flowing. The quickest Mach-E is faster to 62mph than the Mach 1. It just doesn’t have the same sense of occasion.
Still, it is thrilling to feel the acceleration building in an uninterrupted surge of power that only an EV can provide. My test car was a couple of seconds slower to 62mph but it felt quicker, nontheless.
Overtaking, pulling out at junctions and onto roundabouts is a confident, un-hesitating affair with no fear of getting bogged down in gears or lack of power. It just works. Every time.
The Mustang Mach-E may not have “Raw” power but it has plenty of refined power that makes driving around town or trapping-on along a dual carriageway an absolute doddle. You can have some synthesised engine sounds pumped into the car if you wish, but, as my teacher always used to say: “Your only cheating yourself!”
I liked the Mach-E’s ability to allow one-pedal driving. I’m a fan of using lift-off from the accelerator to engage braking force. It soon becomes instinctive and oh, so easy to decelerate smoothly for tight bends without having to shift your right foot across. Anyway, the brake is always there if you really need it . . .
I’ve heard the RWD Mustang Mach-E is better balanced than the AWD version, which has an extra motor to drive the front wheels. I certainly didn’t feel the car struggling for grip in any way and the Mustang felt well planted and balanced in almost every scenario. A long trip up to the Glenshee Ski Centre involved, as you would image, a lot of climb and a lot of twisty, mountain roads. The Mustang Mach-E ate it all up easily and the round trip of just over 200 miles meant we didn’t have to stop to charge. It was a very enjoyable journey and I warmed to this “pretender to the throne” quickly enough.
It may weigh around 2 tonnes but the Mustang Mach-E has enough core strength to make it seem a lot lighter from the driver’s seat. It drives like a Fast Ford in so much that the steering is predictable and sharp, the chassis handles the twisty stuff well and you find yourself smiling on empty A and B roads.
Body-roll is well-controlled for such a large SUV and ride quality is better than I’d imagined – especially over some pretty awful road surfaces around Edinburgh.
Is it a sporty ride? Not entirely – but then neither is the V8 muscle-car. Both are too heavy to be called true sports cars; they sacrifice nippiness for power. If you want a sports car feel in an EV you’d be better going for the Cupra Born.
However, overall the Ford Mustang Mach-E delivers on looks and yes, performance too. There’s more than enough power to keep you happy in the RWD version and silly amounts in the GT model. It’s definitely one to consider if you’re after a quick, family SUV that looks the part and doesn’t sacrifice interior space.
Ford have produced a very good family EV in the Mustang Mach-E. It’s just a shame they didn’t have the confidence to give it it’s own identity. It’s certainly worthy.
- AT A GLANCE:
- Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium RWD
- OTR Price (from): £59,380
- Battery: 98 kWh Extended Range
- Power: 294 PS
- Transmission: single-speed Automatic
- 0-62mph: 6.4 secs
- Top Speed: 111 mph
- Range (combined): 372 miles
