I had my first experience with the Ford Mustang Mach-E at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2020. That was right before the world went to hell. We were busy walking the floor of the largest U.S. auto show getting excited about all the new vehicles headed our way.
Little did we know that things would change so drastically, so quickly. And two years later, the masks have mostly dropped but we’re facing yet another crisis. Gas prices are going up and everyone is either screaming that you should buy an electric vehicle or walking around smugly talking about how they already DID buy an electric vehicle.
(For the record, I drive a plug-in hybrid that I purchase in January 2021 – good timing on my part! I do not talk about it smugly but I do think about it every time gas prices go up.)
If you’re thinking about going electric and you want to go ALL IN electric, the Ford Mustang Mach-E should probably top your list. And I’ll give you five good reasons why.
1. Range
I’ve been open about feeling range anxiety with all-electric vehicles. If you’re in a pinch, you can’t just pull off, top up, and go. You need to find a charger, preferable a fast one, and wait for some juice to charge your car. That usually requires a minimum of 20 minutes.
However, most electric vehicles are going to and from and happily charging overnight at home (you’ll want at least a Level 2 charger installed in your home for this). And with a maximum estimated range of 303 miles, you’ll be able to go pretty far before ever needing a charge.
You should note that the Ford Mustang Mach-E comes with standard battery on a rear wheel drive model (RWD) offering a 230 mile range. If you upgrade to the extended range battery (approximately $5000), you increase your range to that 303 miles but it drops down to 277 miles if you have the eAWD.
I drove the Mach-E Premium that included the extended range battery and eAWD. But it should be noted that, like gas mileage, electric range is not guaranteed. The way you drive, the type of driving you do, and the settings you choose (like climate control, especially in the winter) all can impact your range.
2. Looks
If you’re satisfied with the range, then you need to talk about the next most important feature: how it looks.
This is a Ford Mustang, so the expectation is that it will look as good as it performs. But is it really a Mustang? Sure, it’s got the horse on the front. And it’s got the signature tail lights. It has hints of a Mustang.
A classic Ford Mustang is the younger brother that eschewed college and instead decided to go into the trades. He liked to work hard and play hard and eventually bought his own HVAC company and now drives his dream car when he’s not relaxing by the pool in his backyard in between brewskies.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the smarty pants older brother that did everything right. He went to college, got a nice job at an accounting firm, lives in an eco-friendly townhouse with a roof garden, and convinces himself he’s fine with soy milk. But he looks at his younger brother’s life and wonders if he made the right decision. He envies that Mustang but wants to make the responsible choice.
Both brothers have a Mustang but they are clearly for very different audiences. No one will mistake the Mach-E for a muscle car. But it’s not nearly as pretentious as a Tesla. And it looks good. Not fancy. Clean lines, aerodynamic hatchback, and just a hint of the bad boy that lies underneath the hood (although not actually the hood).
3. Clean Interior
If the outside looks clean and sporty, the interior looks clean and very Tesla-like. It’s a sparse interior which is one of my chief complaints about electric vehicles. Just because the motor is different doesn’t mean we can’t still have leather seats and wood grain trim (not that that would make sense in this car).
But it did feel very bare bones inside. Everything is minimally done and controlled centrally by a large 15.5 inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard. I don’t love the lack of buttons but I think it’s a trend that will continue. And I will say that the touchscreen and interface are very well executed.
There isn’t much for the backseat passengers but overall, there’s a lot of leg room (no hump on the center floor) and the hatchback offers a lot of cargo space, especially with the rear seats folded flat.
4. Unique Features
I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the details. I love Easter eggs. I like clever features and well thought out design. And there’s some of all of that on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Let’s talk Frunk. It’s a trunk… in the front. There’s no engine there so you get extra storage space! And this frunk is designed to party. Whether you’re putting your grocery up there or filling it with ice and tailgating from the front (frunkgating?). it’s a neat and versatile feature.
One Pedal Driving is another feature that you’ll find in other electric cars like the Chevy Bolt. When engaged, you never need to put your foot on the brake. Press the accelerator to go and ease up when you want to slow or stop.
Need to make some noise? When I attended the Formula E-Prix, I heard race watchers comments on missing the noise of the vehicles. Personally, I love the quiet whine of the electric motor but if you need more, there an option for Propulsion Sound so you can still make a loud (ish) entrance.
And I also discovered (totally by accident), the Active Park Assist. You can watch my video here to see me put this feature to the test.
There’s a lot more to discover too but, hey, I only had a week to explore.
5. Performance
So… looks good, sounds good. Has a decent interior, cool features, nice range. What’s missing? Oh yeah. How does it drive?!?
I definitely saved the best for last. Because this is where the Ford Mustang Mach-E really shines. It is a performance car.
If you’ve driven electric cars, you know what I’m talking about. The horsepower is good, the torque is GREAT. But the Mach-E has the best of both worlds. The model I drive boasts 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, getting you from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Still not good enough? You can upgrade to the GT or GT Performance for a neck-breaking 0-6 in 3.5 seconds.
I typically don’t have the need for speed so I really hesitating pushing this car to the limits. But once I did, I was able to definitely say that this is indeed a true Mustang.
Video Review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD
Here’s what I drove for the week and a more in-depth look at this fast car.
2021 Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD
Rapid Red Metallic
Base price: $49,700
Options: $400 premium paint, $5000 extended range battery
TOTAL PRICE: $56,200
