This little publicity stunt by Ford is frankly brilliant. By attaching the “Mustang” name to their latest all-electric vehicle, Ford has generated a ridiculous amount of buzz, both positive and negative. While the return of historic names like “Galaxy” could have been interesting, I personally think that this move was just perfect. Regardless how you look at it, this 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium isn’t just a big step for the Mustang name – it’s a thoroughly incredible car.
With many automakers making strides towards electrification, it’s important for each of them to make sure their entries stand out. The vast majority of all-electric vehicles we have tested feel largely the same, with some very rare exceptions. The Porsche Taycan is one of these outliers, genuinely exhibiting traits that help it stand out to the enthusiast. The Mach-E looks like your average aggressively-styled crossover, but with some very neat traits to help differentiate it from others.
The fascia is very obviously Mustang, with the iconic logo and a headlight design that mimics the legendary muscle car. The proportions are fairly generic, though the styling is swooped, with a low roofline, and a rear end that’s also very reminiscent of the regular Mustang. It’s handsome, and we had multiple Mustang owners approach during our test week. Their impressions were also very positive, and they all wanted to know more about it. Let’s put it this way – if Ford had called it anything else, most would have glossed right over it.
Stepping into the Mach-E, things are extremely modern and futuristic. A 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen houses SYNC 4, Ford’s latest infotainment setup. Of course it can handle Apple CarPlay wirelessly, and the interior is very well designed. Materials are eco-friendly, but everything still feels high quality. Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assistance suite is standard, and the Mach-E also offers new features like the ability to use a smartphone as a key to operate the vehicle.
This model of the Mustang Mach-E packs 346 horsepower and 428 lb-ft. of torque from two AC motors. It’s more than fast enough, sprinting to 100km/h in roughly 5.3 seconds. It feels faster than it is thanks to the instantaneous torque delivery, but the real beauty in how the Mach-E drives is how well it handles highway speeds. Where many other electric vehicles seem to run out of breath and very quickly deplete range on the highway, the Mach-E is right in its element. It hauls ass without any fuss, and holds speed without fail.
Chuck the Mach-E into a corner and it shows off the same level of confidence that it has in a straight line. Our tester is equipped with all-wheel-drive, which we anticipate most Canadians will opt for. The steering is obviously electrically assisted, but has some degree of feel to it. There is no dead zone on-center, which is impressive, and no overcorrection is required. The chassis is balanced with exemplary ride quality. Those wanting more performance can opt for the faster Mach-E GT, which also comes with aggressive tires and will be a blast at the local autocross.
Total driving range varies depending on the model chosen. In all-wheel-drive form with the bigger battery as equipped here, the Mach-E Premium is good for about 425 kilometers. Skip out of the all-wheel-drive and it’s possible to squeeze 475 kilometers out of a single charge. It’s well within what the mainstream competition is offering, and substantially more than premium rivals like the Polestar 2.
Our Mach-E tester came with an 88-kWh battery that comes at a $7,000 added cost. We actually observed more than 440-kilometers on a charge without any real effort to conserve energy. We used a Level 2 charger to juice up the car, and observed a six to seven hour period to get to a full charge. Those who have the ability to charge at home or office will really find their groove with this car.
Pricing for the 2021 Mach-E starts at $50,495 for the rear-drive “Select”, which comes pretty well loaded with a 266-horsepower motor and roughly 355 kilometers of battery life. The Premium model tested here starts at $59,495 and can be had in either all-wheel-drive or rear-drive, with two battery sizes. Fully loaded with just about every available option, our Mach-E Premium came to $70,245. There’s plenty of room for four on board, with tons of rear legroom and headroom even with the lower roofline.
However it’s looked at, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is a total game changer. It brings with it an EV personality that was previously only seen in six-figure cars, and interior quality that reflects a price point substantially higher than it is. The Tesla Model Y is roughly the same amount of money, and while it offers more real-world range, it’s likely to be less reliable. The Mach-E is about as easy to operate as an iPhone, and will make for a spectacular commuter for just about anyone. This is one for the books.
