2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
When Ford introduced the Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle to the world, there was a mix of praise and questionable faces among the crowd. While the praise centered on how well Ford created a good battery-electric crossover coupe, there were some that questioned the use of the Mustang name for such as vehicle.
For the past 58 years, the Mustang was the quintessential American sports coupe. It embodied an iconic status that spanned the globe. The formula is simple: Two doors, high horsepower, and fun-to-drive. Anyone who has a deep love for the Mustang has refused to acknowledge the Mach-e as one of its own.
However, the Mustang Mach-E can be seen in another light. That is why we had one to explore and find out whether it is worthy of the galloping horse badge it wears or not.
Ford shaped the Mach-E like a Mustang. It has several elements seen on the current gas-fueled coupe and convertible: The shape of the grille, the three vertical taillight design on each side of the rear end, and the fastback roofline.
From there, it is a completely different vehicle altogether. This is the first Mustang to wear four doors. Getting into one of those doors may seem tricky, until you notice a button on each pillar to press. For the front doors, there is a small “handle” to open them up.
There had been hatchback Mustangs in the past, but not one as big as on the Mach-e. It also has a spoiler on top of the hatch for improved aerodynamics. Actually, it looks like a spoiler, but it is a part of the extended roofline for the cargo hold. An optical illusion, if you will.
Inside of the Mustang Mach-E is an interior that is appears to be more of a practical electric crossover than iconic sports coupe. The instrument binnacle is a small screen behind the steering wheel with only the key information you need – “Ground Speed,” driver assist system graphics, and the range/battery life. Oh, and yes, there is a shifter – the rotary dial kind – to manage the transmission.
If you’re looking for more functions, most of them live in the 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen driven by Ford’s Sync 4A infotainment system. This screen will give you access to some vehicle functions, including the three drive modes: Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled. You can set up the one-pedal driving function, as well.
Seating is for up to five people with great access from all four doors. Ford uses an upholstery called ActiveX which looks like leather. The seats are OK with the front ones offering some support and comfort. Rear seat space is fine for two adults and up to three children. There is also near-infinite vision above you with a full glass roof that does not have any shade to cover up or a panel that opens for fresh air.
Rear cargo space starts with 29.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expandable to 59.7 cubic feet. There is a “frunk” available underneath the hood for another 4.7 cubic feet of space.
Our model is equipped with all-wheel drive and extended use battery. Which means it has an electric motor driving each axle. Combined, both motors turned in a peak power rating of 316 horsepower with 428 pound-feet of peak torque. The extended use battery packed 88-kilowatt-hours. In turn, we got a range of 245 miles from a 100% charge. When charged up to 80% battery capacity, we saw that it returned about 206 miles.
The Mustang Mach-E has a lot of what you will see in other electric vehicles. You have one-pedal driving, which enables the driver to not use the brake pedal all the time. It is safer than you think, as long as you measure your stops at lights and signs well. Power take-off is excellent, no matter if you use one-pedal driving or not. If you put the Mach-E into Unbridled mode, it does increase power take-off, but it returns a more aggressive form of one-pedal driving.
The ride quality is good. You do feel the bumps on rougher road surfaces. Handling is superb, exhibiting flatter turns in the corners and through evasive maneuvers. In Engage mode, the steering feel is very good with great on-center feel and weight. Once in Unbridled mode, the steering weight becomes much heavier. There is a good turning radius in any of the modes – including Whisper.
Pricing for the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E started at $42,895. Our Premium all-wheel drive equipped with the extended use battery came with a sticker price of $56,200. 2022 model year prices increased by $1,000.
The Mustang Mach-E carved out its own segment among electric crossovers and SUVs. Ford’s EV is being compared to the Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ5, Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota bZ4X, and Tesla Model 3 and Y.
Whether you see this as a Mustang or not, it is Ford’s best electric vehicle – until the F-150 Lightning arrives to meet its new owners. Yet, the Mach-E offers a lot an EV that is practical and fun to drive. That means something more than just the galloping horse badge on this EV.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
