Ford Mustang Mach-E (US) review

Driving the Mach-E from point to point is a very mundane experience, and we’re saying that with the best of intentions. From power-up to power down, the Mach-E makes the act of commuting as easy and smooth as possible, which is welcome if you’re going to spend several hours sat in it week in week out. While this is indeed praise, let’s be clear that this isn’t luxurious, it’s just gloriously… neutral. It is, in a sense, a blank slate for passengers to enjoy sightseeing, podcasts, or conversation.

You’re saying this so-called Mustang drives like a bland table cracker?

Not strictly speaking. What we mean is, don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a proper Mustang. It isn’t. Treat it like a big electric SUV (because it is one) and you won’t be disappointed.

Thankfully, in the right configuration, the Mach-E can be lively when it needs to be, providing stable, weighty control on twisty roads. And while it’s often tricky to feel out the full breadth of what it can do around a corner (how much do you _want to push 2.2 tons of matter around a bend?) it’s one of the better cars in its class for driver appeal.

Ford is very happy to state that the Mach-E GT with its full performance unlocked is faster off the line than Tesla’s Model Y Performance and the Porsche Macan 4 Electric, along with the fact that it’s managed to run an 11.8-second quarter mile. That’s very encouraging, and on the open road this translates to an EV that’s fun to drive and incredibly stable.

Might take a little time to get used to the feedback it provides, mind you. All that neutral-ness from before gets in the way of sussing out just what the car is trying to tell the driver through the wheel and seat. Even on wet roads, the AWD EV is assuredly planted onto the road, though it can be difficult to gauge when it might give way, discouraging you from carving a few corners. Of course, now there’s a model specifically for breaking the tail out. Yup, the Rally version. We’ll get to drive that real soon.

How about charging this thing?

Ford claims it has made improvements to both the range and charging speed of the Mach-E, adding between 10 to 20 extra miles on the EPA-rated range, depending on the model. With a DC fast charger, the Mach-E with the extended range battery can go from 10 to 80 per cent in around 36 or so minutes, which is eight minutes faster than before. The standard range setup can do the same in 32 minutes.

As for where you can charge the Mach-E, owners have access to the BlueOval charge network, which now includes Tesla Superchargers. You simply need to set up an account with your car’s VIN and you’ll have access to a number of plug-and-charge stations across the country. For the use of the Tesla network, Mach-E drivers get a chunky adaptor to bring with them that snaps onto the NACS plug and slots into the Mach-E’s outlet. In practice it’s fairly seamless, though we can see people getting annoyed with it over time. Though probably not as annoyed as the Tesla folk seem to be when a bunch of Fords roll up to their once-exclusive fast charging clubhouse.