When the first Ford Mustang Mach-E was released in late 2020, it shocked the automotive world. Mustang, a brand centered around its performance muscle cars, decided to shake things up by introducing an electric SUV. While it is a bit of a stretch to call the vehicle a trendsetter, it is undoubtedly part of a long line of performance brands that have unveiled their first SUV over the past few years and one of the first to make it an electric model.
Despite being classified as an SUV, the Mustang Mach-E deserves every bit of the Mustang name. The body of the car follows the traditional Mustang lines, and it maintains the sloping roof and rear windshield that have been characteristic of the Mustang lineup for years.
It also shares the same design for the headlights, taillights and forward-facing grille. Truly, the only aspect of its body style that differentiates it from a traditional Mustang is its height. The car stands around ten inches taller than its sports-coupe counterpart (54.4 inches for the Mach 1 and 64 inches for the Mach-E) with almost identical ground clearance (5.8 inches for the Mach-E versus 5.7 inches for the Mach-1). All of this goes to show that while the Mach-E is technically classified as an SUV, it is “much more sports car than SUV,” as described by MotorTrend’s Jonny Lieberman.
However, the Mach-E line is very clever. With four distinct options that vary in terms of price, performance and luxury options, the line has a little something for almost everyone. At the top of the line, the Mach-E GT Performance Edition puts out an impressive 480 horsepower and 634 foot-pounds of torque, which matches the Mustang Mach 1 for horsepower and handily outstrips it for torque, thanks to its electric powertrain. It also gallops its way to a 3.5 second 0-60mph time, which is certainly no slouch. In less powerful models, you can find between 266 and 346 horsepower in the engine and between 317 and 428 foot-pounds of torque. The line also enjoys a healthy battery range of up to 314 miles with the extended range battery pack but will have to sacrifice a little bit of acceleration as the faster All-Wheel Drive models don’t last nearly as long as their slower Rear-Wheel Drive counterparts.
The interior sports a comfortable two rows of seating with a generous sunroof. The infotainment center features an almost entirely buttonless touchscreen, save for the single knob centered at the bottom of the screen, and the dashboard is entirely digital. The car also supplies ample cargo space, with 29 cubic feet of room with the seats up and up to 60 when the back seats are folded forward. The ample front trunk is made from durable plastics that can be rinsed off and used for messier cargo.
The car is priced modestly, starting at $44,995 for the entry-level “Select” model. For the best range look at the “California Route 1” edition starting at $52,775 and the highest performance “GT Performance Edition” begins at $66,095.
The car is definitely what one would describe as low maintenance in terms of upkeep. It requires routine checkups about every six months for wheel alignments and other basic maintenance items and a battery change every 3-5 years.
The Mustang Mach-E is an all-purpose family-sized Mustang with a little something for everyone. It’s quick for those who want fast, it’s got a good range for those who appreciate a small road trip, and it’s kid-friendly as all midsize SUVs should be. As a Mustang, the only thing that’s missing is the telltale muscle car engine roar, but with a car this quick, this powerful, and this spacious, it’s not a hard concession to make.
