Ford Mustang Mach-E Exclusive Review

Seldom does one car generate so much buzz. When that buzz is positive, it's great for the brand, especially when there's so much at stake with it. The blue oval put its reputation on the line when it brought out this car - the Ford Mustang Mach-E. This is an EV or electric vehicle. But it is also an SUV or crossover. And it is exclusive to us! There was a lot of talk when Ford decided to put the Mustang badge on this car. A lot of critics feel it dilutes the muscle-car's legacy. Others feel it is the Mustang family for the modern buyer. From a marketing perspective, it was a master stoke! We can talk endlessly if its performance lives up to the Mustang moniker. But that pony up front, the car's own dynamics and performance, and it's efficiency and pricing - have made this a blockbuster in its own right.

The demand has been through the roof in the United States, and many other markets want it too. Throw in the current semiconductor shortage situation and the Mustang Mach-E is looking even more desperately desirable. Waiting periods have touched 7 months. And it's not all hype. The most potent variant of the Mustang Mach-E is faster to 100 kmph than the most powerful Mustang muscle car ever was.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E we got to drive came in this bold Rapid Red metallic paint job

Design

The car looks the part of a modern compact SUV or crossover. The Mach-E looks great in Rapid Red metallic. The proportions are very coupé SUV. The sloping roofline is very on-trend, and the face is a reminder of the Mustang from the 1990s. Yet it has no grille, sports modern LED head and daytime running lights (DRLs), and that Mustang logo nice and prominent up front. The styling of its taillights are a more obvious nod to the Mustang family, and depending on the variant you get a two tone rear skid plate. The doors have no handles, just a touch button release and small recess to help with opening. This takes some getting used to - but is a cool feature that the majority of owners would likely grow to love. There is a good sized boot with 402 litres - extendable to 1420 litres with the rear seats folded down. And then the small frunk up front with 81 litres capacity.

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The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes with the signature Mustang taillamp design, and depending on the variant you get a two tone rear skid plate

Cabin and Tech

The modern look continues inside, though it is really thanks to the two screens - the 10.2-inch digital cluster and the massive 15.5-inch touchscreen panel. Both are also standard. The animation on them, when you enter the car is pretty cool. The car has the latest fourth generation Sync system with voice control; and Sirius satellite radio is also built-in. My test car also had the optional B&O sound system with 9 speakers. Smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is par for the course. As is a wireless phone charger pad below the screen. That screen is intuitive and easy to use and navigate. It also gives you access to the settings like ambient lighting or climate control. The screen allows you to customise your driving preferences. This includes the drives modes, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), one pedal mode, and more.

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The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes with two screens - the 10.2-inch digital cluster and the massive 15.5-inch touchscreen panel

It also houses the exterior camera views, as well as the drive modes of course. The graphics and animation are very clean, and the screen stays in white during the day and turns dark grey at night. The instrument cluster is slim and shows you a minimalist view. It always shows you the drive range though, which is a good thing. The touchscreen will also help you find charging stations near where you are, in case you need a battery top-up. The cabin comes across as well-built, with material quality and technology really shining through on its user experience interface.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E gets a well-built cabin with high quality material and smart tech features

The Mustang Mach-E is available in many variants. All of them have all-wheel-drive as optional though it is standard on higher variants. The model line begins with the Select at around $44,000, which has 211-230 mile range. Next is the Premium that stays under fifty grand. Its range goes up to 300 miles with the extended battery. The extended range battery becomes standard with the California Route 1, and you can choose RWD or AWD. The powerful variants are the GT and GT Performance Edition which top off at just over $66,000. The drive range is 10 miles lower on the GT Performance Edition which also gets more torque.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E we drove was the Premium trim with the extended range battery and all-wheel-drive

Performance

I am driving the Premium with the extended range battery and all-wheel-drive. On the road, the first impression of the Mustang Mach-E is very positive. The car feels ready for action, and nicely taut. I was really looking forward to the handling on the Mach-E. And it does not disappoint - because it handles more like a car than an SUV. The Mach-E is not at all anything like a Mustang muscle car. So get that out of your head. Once you accept the name and don't draw comparisons, it becomes more enjoyable to be honest. The car handles very well, and like most Fords, has a sporty and deft cornering capability. Being an EV it also takes off quite quick, but also maintains that profile when already cruising at speeds in excess of 50 mph (80 kmph). This means overtaking and making quick lane changes is a breeze.

Ford Mustang Mach-E handles really well and like most Fords, has a sporty and deft cornering capability

The Mustang Mach-E has three drive modes viz. Whisper Eco mode that is also nice and silent), Engage (which is like the 'normal' or 'comfort' mode that balances dynamics with efficiency), and Unbridled (which is like what other cars would call Sport or Sport+). I love that last one - just the word unbridled conveys so much - and also connects so perfectly with the Mustang badge, doesn't it? And it lives up to its name! The Mach-E has a 70 kWh battery as standard, and the extended range is a 91 kWh pack. There is an electric motor on the rear axle in standard variants, and the AWD has one on the front axle too.

The top-end Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance trim comes with a top-speed of 124 mph and goes from 0-60 mph in 3..5 seconds

Power output varies from 265 bhp to 288 bhp for the RWD models, and 265/344/470 bhp on the AWD models depending on the variant. Peak torque goes from 430 to 580 Nm in the lower variants, and up to a whopping 860 Nm on the GT Performance Edition. Top speed on the GT is a very impressive 124 mph. 0-60 mph that's about 97 kmph takes just 3.5 seconds on the GT Performance Edition. On the lower variants it takes 4.8 - 6.1 seconds. Wheel sizes vary from 18 to 20 inch and you can opt for adaptive damping too. Like many EVs, the Mach-E has a simulated spaceship like sound, and then that propulsion sound adds a virtual vroom to the proceedings. I mentioned the one pedal drive mode. Those of you who have been regularly reading my EV reviews know that I like single-pedal driving. So even though the Mach-E does not have the paddle shifters to adjust brake regeneration intensity, it does have that one pedal mode. As always, I love it.

Safety

Ford Co-Pilot 360 is what Ford calls its ADAS. You get everything standard with features like blind spot warning, cross traffic alert, lane keeping and centring, auto dimming lights, emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E also has 9 airbags as standard, along with stability and traction control and child seat restraints. The Ford Pass Connect app lets you setup your car before you get to it - from saving navigation destinations to temperature settings. So yes, the Mach-E is also a connected car, and also offers over-the-air updates.

Also Read: New Ford Mustang To Launch In India Next Year; Mustang Mach-E Coming In 2023

Ford has done a great job of making the Mustang Mach-E desirable, capable and even fashionable

Verdict

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a lot cheaper than the likes of the Tesla Model X or Audi e-tron, slightly lower priced than the Tesla Model Y, and dead-on with the VW ID.4 or Volvo XC40 Recharge - cars from which it will face stiff competition. Cars like the Mazda MX-30 or Hyundai Kona Electric are smaller, and cheaper though. These are all comparisons here in the US market context of course. On the whole this is a well-rounded package, and I totally see why so many are impressed. Ford has done a great job of making the Mustang Mach-E desirable, capable and even fashionable. That it is also an EV makes the whole thing work perfectly. Now that Ford has decided to be an import-only operator in India, I do hope this car is on the top of the list for what we will get starting 2022. And even though as an import it won't be cheap, it will still beat the likes of the premium brigade electrics we have been seeing off late - since they are all priced around or well-above the Rs. 1 crore mark.