Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD – long-term review

There are certain cars, according to the unwritten code of motoring journalism, that under no circumstances are you allowed to openly enjoy. Large, fast and thirsty SUVs are definitely in there, as is a swoopy electric family SUV with Mustang badges plastered all over it. I jest, but the backlash when Ford first revealed the Mach-E was swift and clear – this was a misuse of a nameplate forged in the fire of over-engined muscle cars, and to use it on a silent, jacked-up crossover was heresy. 

Amazing how time softens opinions, isn’t it? Because a few short years on and all but the most strident ‘Stang fans have calmed down completely. There are several reasons why that I can fathom: because social media has given us all the platform to be incredibly opinionated from the safety of our keyboards… and the attention span of goldfish with ADHD, but also because the Mach-E is fundamentally an extremely good car, and nothing warms people up faster than a proper piece of product design. You might not like the idea, but the execution is hard to argue with.  

The Mach-E, originally in extended range AWD spec and latterly in overkill GT guise, slipped into our life like an Olympic diver breaking the water’s surface. The claimed range of 300+ miles (250-ish real word) was enough for everything from a week’s worth of shuttling around London, to a proper slog down to Cornwall, despite our average miles per kWh languishing around 2.5. That's not great efficiency. Very Mustang. 

It has proper neck-jarring acceleration, especially the GT, which while largely useless was great for amusing the kids. Despite clear priority given to form alongside function in the design, it managed to swallow an impressive amount of stuff. On a recent trip to see friends in Cheltenham we picked up a slow puncture, but get this – the on-board compressor filled with tyre slime actually worked and plugged the hole. Big tick for that. 

On the other hand, the steering feel is a bit gloopy (the engineers were clearly searching for heft and sportiness but ended up with stodginess) and the parcel shelf is flimsier than one of Boris Johnson's public apologies (remember him?), but you’ll forgive it those faults because there’s genuine character here. Unusual for an EV, that.

The styling, the performance, the slab of screen in the middle of the dash – it’s all a bit OTT, but that’s what makes it feel authentically American, and vaguely connected to the Mustang bloodline. 

Ultimately, it’s a sensible family car that’s comfortable and capable in all the ways you need it to be, but people will want to stop you and ask questions and discuss its pros and cons. And when you’ve spent almost £70k on a shiny new Mustang, that’s how it should be. I’ll miss it, hats off to Ford for feeling the fear and jumping anyway.