Mustang Mach-E Road Test
One of the biggest stories in the electric car world this year has got to be the unveiling of Ford’s new Mustang Mach-E. The venerable running stallion nameplate is the stuff of legends, right up there with its rivals the Chevy Camaro and Porsche 911. But this is no steel thoroughbred of days past. Ford has turned the former sports car into a four door, all-electric crossover SUV. What’s it like to drive? Let’s find out.
The New Electric Thoroughbred in Town
Built on an entirely new platform, the controversial crossover offers a 76 or 99kW battery and a single or twin electric motor layout. Depending on the trim level you choose, the Mach-E comes with 250 or 340 horsepower. Base level MSRP starts at $42,895, dropping by $7,500 thanks to the federal tax credit for electric vehicles. The model we chose for this article is the Premium trim that includes the extended battery and all-wheel-drive, with an MSRP of $47,000. The Mach-E will take you an impressive 300 miles between charges and that is plenty for an electric car.
Inside & Out
As you look at the front of the Mach-E you see styling touches of Mustangs past. Tri-bar headlights and rear lighting have been a Mustang signature since 1964. But that’s where the comparison ends. Though it’s odd to see a Mustang without a front grill, we found the electric pop-out door handles a nice touch. The body lines are as sleek and clean as you can possibly make a crossover and it feels more like a coupe. But this is a hatchback with 29 cubic feet of rear cargo space, double that with the rear seats down. More storage may be found up front where the gasoline motor used to be in a conventional ‘Stang.
Bells & Whistles
Inside the high-styled cockpit, there is a massive 15.5-inch infotainment touch screen for secondary controls and a very long list of driver assist wonders. This will include software updates that Ford will roll out later this year to bring the Mach-E closer to hands-off, autonomous driving. The vertical touch screen will take you to ApplePlay, Android Auto, GPS navigation, surround view cameras, and an interesting ‘Unbridled’ mode. This particular feature amps up the performance and also produces the fake but convincing engine sounds you might associate with a V-8 Mustang. Don’t worry, it can be turned off.
The intuitive touch screen system learns as you use it, much like your smartphone, changing suggestions for what it thinks you’ll need or want to use. There is also ‘one pedal’ mode that gives you the most from the regenerative braking system. Just take your foot off the accelerator in this mode and the car will slow to a stop. You can adjust pretty much everything from the touch screen including the climate control, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and the excellent stereo. It even shows you where the closest charging stations are as you drive.
Mach-E Road Test
Out on the road, the Mach-E is extremely quiet. There is very little tire noise or wind roar. You’ll find plenty of room for a tall driver and four tall passengers, even in the back seat, where the floor is flat to give you more room to move around. Now let’s talk about the real reason you’re reading this article. Let’s talk about torque. Acceleration is instantaneous and daunting. We’re talking about a zero to 60-mph time of 4.8 seconds in Premium trim. You can’t help but smile when you put the pedal down in this stylish stallion. This car is plenty quick.
In sweeping curves, the Mach-E stays nicely planted but you get the feeling that Ford’s technicians definitely wanted to retain some of the Mustang’s legendary sportiness in the way it feels to drive. It definitely makes us want to get our hands on the high-performance GT model when it becomes available at the end of the year. The GT promises an astounding zero to 60-mph time of 3.8 seconds. However, the Premium version feels more like a clean and crisp-driving crossover with a nod to Mustangs of yesteryear.
For the second time in Ford’s long history, the new Mustang might just transform the brand. This time with the Mach-E taking it into an all-electric future. For more information, check out the Mach-E on the GreenCars Marketplace powered by Driveway, or visit https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/2021/.
