Ford Mustang Mach-E review

What did you think when you first heard of the Ford Mustang Mach-E? That it was a new muscle car, maybe? Unless the "E" in the name was a giveaway, you probably didn't expect a new Mustang to turn out to be an electric SUV.

And why would you? For more than half a century, the Ford Mustang formula has remained virtually unchanged: macho styling, a big lumbering V8 engine and a simple rear-wheel-drive lay-out. The Mustang Mach-E you see here is a very different pony though. It was Ford's first real foray into the electric car market, leading the way for the all-electric Ford Explorer.

If you decide you want a Mach-E, you can choose from two battery capacities (Standard Range and Extended Range). The amount of performance you get depends on which version you go for, and the Extended Range has the option of rear-wheel drive (RWD versions) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

Ford Mustang Mach-E video review

At the top of the range, there's the performance-focused Mustang Mach-E GT. It gets the larger of the two batteries, four-wheel drive and a big increase in pace. That makes it a rival to faster non-electric SUVs, as well as quick electric SUVs including the Tesla Model Y Performance.

As well as the Model Y, the nearest price rivals include the Kia EV6 plus plenty of electric cars wearing premium badges, including the Audi Q4 e-tron, the BMW iX3 and the Genesis GV60. For less money, you could get a Kia Niro EV, a Toyota bZ4X or a VW ID 4.

Read on to find out how we rate the Ford Mustang Mach-E in all the important areas and how it compares with the best electric SUVs...

Our favourite version of the Ford Mustang Mach-E is the entry-level Standard Range RWD (rear-wheel drive). Its 264bhp motor delivers a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds, which is plenty of power for most situations and about the same time as a similarly priced VW ID 4 Pro.

The Standard Range RWD's official range is 292 miles, but in our real-world range test with an earlier model, it managed 211.

The Extended Range RWD model has 290bhp, but with a bigger battery to haul around it's only fractionally quicker (by 0.3 seconds) than Standard Range models. Its official range is 372 miles – in our range tests it covered 302 miles in summer weather and 247 in winter.

The four-wheel-drive version, the Extended Range AWD, packs 365bhp from its dual electric motors, so acceleration is super brisk (0-62mph in 4.3 seconds) in exchange for a little less battery range, dipping to 341 miles.

If performance is your main concern, the Mach-E GT is the one to go for. Ford has fitted the GT with more powerful electric motors for a combined 480bhp and a 0-62mph time of 4.1 seconds – impressive, if not quite as quick as a Tesla Model Y Performance or Kia EV6 GT. It's official range is 310 miles, against 319 for the Model Y Performance and 263 miles for the EV6 GT. 

The Mach-E is no lightweight, hitting the scales at more than two tonnes. You really feel its mass shifting on to the outside wheels when you turn in to a corner with any zeal, but it’s still easy to manage. While the Audi Q4 e-tron and VW ID 4 are set up to feel grippy and "safe" when pushing on, the Mach-E feels more playful in bends.

A deliberately heavy right foot can have rear-wheel-drive models exiting bends with a little sideways slip if you turn off the traction control. Even the four-wheel-drive versions direct plenty of power rearwards to help prevent the nose from running wide.

That’s all well and good but the ride and handling balance are only average for an electric SUV. You can find yourself struggling to connect with the quick but inconsistently weighted steering, plus, there’s not a great sense of grip from the front tyres.

Current models come with a revised suspension set-up that improves ride comfort. Instead of bucking along bumpy roads or undulating motorways, it's now much more settled and controlled at high speed. However, it’s still far from perfect. At low speeds the suspension absorbs the initial hits of potholes and ridges pretty well, but there’s a firmness to the impacts that makes driving on broken roads a bit of a chore.

Occupants still get jostled around in their seats when dealing with larger bumps. The Kia EV6 is much more agile, while the Q4 e-tron, the Toyota bZ4X and the Genesis GV60 are calmer and more relaxing to drive quickly.

The Mach-E GT model gets adaptive suspension and a lower ride height than other versions. It feels more tied down when cornering and settled over undulating roads, giving you more confidence to push on. However, in the firmest Untamed drive mode the low-speed ride becomes brittle, amplifying every small lump and dimple on the road.

Like the EV6 GT, it’s difficult to get into a smooth rhythm down a country road and doesn’t offer the accuracy in its handling that you get from the slower but more confidence-inspiring BMW iX3. If you’re not specifically looking for an SUV, consider the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – it's significantly more fun and cheaper.

Refinement in the Mustang Mach-E is average for the electric SUV class. Wind noise is well subdued at motorway speeds, but there’s a bit more road noise on the motorway than rivals while four-wheel-drive versions generate a bit more electric motor whine.

There's also a lot of thudding from the tyres and suspension over broken surfaces, although still not as bad as it can be in the Tesla Model Y. We suspect the car's heat pump causes the brake pedal to buzz and vibrate when working as well.

The response of the accelerator and brake pedal could do with a bit more finesse too. In anything other than Whisper mode (the lowest of three settings), the Mustang Mach-E lunges off the line unless you’re careful with the pedal. The inconsistent brake pedal response makes it hard to stop smoothly, too.

The one-pedal driving mode does what it says on the tin, and will slow the car to a stop in most situations when you lift off the accelerator. Ford also offers the subscription-based Bluecruise driver assistance system, which allows you to use the adaptive cruise control on some motorways without the need to keep your hands on the steering wheel. Its inputs are smooth and it maintains the car’s positioning well. 

"You might be tempted by the GT’s looks and quick 0-62mph time, but the brittle low speed ride is a test of your tolerance in comfort." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang Mach-E the driving position is pretty good, even if the manually adjustable seat that comes with the entry-level trim has a fiddly lever to adjust the backrest angle and no variable lumbar support (it does have height adjustment).

The Mach-E driver's seat is comfortable on a long trip but lacks side support through corners (the driving seat of the VW ID 4 is much better). An eight-way electrically adjustable front seat is standard on all AWD models, and that includes plenty of lumbar adjustment. The range-topping Mustang Mach-E GT models get comfy sports seats as standard.

You don’t sit quite as high up as you do in the BMW iX3 so it has a less obvious SUV feel than that car. Even so, you get a clear view forward that’s helped by a low dashboard, while the chunky front pillars are easier to see around than those in the Tesla Model Y.

Over-the-shoulder visibility isn't great due to chunky rear pillars and small rear side windows, but at least the rear windscreen isn’t too narrow. Every Mach-E gets front and rear parking sensors, plus a 360-degree camera. LED headlights are standard too, and are upgraded to adaptive LED headlights if you go for any version other than the entry-level Select trim.

A number of buttons and switches have been lifted straight from other Ford car models but at least they’re easy to understand. The Mach-E's controls are easier to use than the ID 4's mass of touch-sensitive buttons.

You get physical steering-wheel buttons that are simple to find by feel, and permanently displayed temperature controls that span the bottom of the touchscreen and are big and easy to see. Alternatively, you can use a large dial to control everything, from temperature and fan speed to heated seat settings and sound system volume control.

That dial sits towards the bottom of the big 15.5in infotainment screen, which, as with the Model Y, sits in the middle of the dashboard and controls most of the car’s functions.

Key driving information – such as the speed, battery percentage and the remaining range – is shown on a separate 10.2in digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. It’s not as big as the screen in a BMW iX3 or Kia EV6 and it’s not configurable, but having one at least makes it much easier than having to look across at the main central screen in a Tesla Model Y.

The infotainment software is responsive, with clear graphics and a relatively logical layout. It's not far off the effectiveness of the Model Y's and much better than in the ID 4. The screen also features multiple sections called cards, each displaying a different application, such as the media player or the sat-nav, at the same time.

You get built-in sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone capability (so you can use your phone apps on the screen) and a wireless phone-charger.

The standard stereo is fine, if a little light on bass, but AWD cars and models equipped with the Tech Pack get a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo. That provides a richer, more engrossing sound and comes with a full-width speaker bar that's neatly integrated into the dashboard.

Some of the plastics and faux-leather trim is a bit too shiny and cheap-looking. To the Mustang Mach-E’s credit, its interior features fewer hard plastics than the ID 4 and it’s no worse for fit and finish than the Model Y. That said, it doesn't feel as solid or plush as the EV6, the Genesis GV60 or the Toyota bZ4X, and lacks the panache of the Audi Q8 e-tron and the iX3.

"The icons on the touchscreen could be bigger to make them easier to aim for, but at least having the screen in close proximity makes it easy to reach." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

You’re unlikely to be short of head or leg room in the front of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, even if you’re over six feet tall. For even more head room, try the VW ID 4.

The Mach-E's front seats are mounted a good distance apart to accommodate a wide centre console (with cupholders, the wireless charging pad and some useful cubbies), so you won’t be rubbing shoulders or banging elbows with the person next to you.

Anyone with large hands will curse the front door bins that disappear into a cavity in the door. They’re pretty narrow, making it hard to retrieve smaller items that have rolled to the back.

While there’s plenty of head room in the front, the Mach-E is styled like a coupé and that eats into the height in the rear. The Tesla Model Y and the ID 4 both have more rear head room. However, the Mach-E shades both for knee room in the back.

There's plenty of space for feet under the front seats and a flat floor, which is ideal if you're the middle passenger. That said, if you require even more leg room, you can't beat the space offered by the Kia EV6 and Toyota bZ4X.

In terms of practicality, the main boot space has a useful height-adjustable floor that removes the annoying load lip many rivals have. It has 402 litres of volume, which is big enough to fit seven carry-on suitcases under the tonneau cover, plus a front boot with another 100 litres of space. It's designed to be hosed out and features a drain plug so it's a good place to store muddy boots. A powered tailgate is standard on four-wheel drive models.

Rival electric SUVs can manage more luggage, with the bZ4X taking eight carry-on cases, the ID.4 nine and the Model Y an impressive 10.

The Mach-E's rear seatbacks split and fold down in a basic 60/40 configuration. There’s no ski hatch like you get in the EV6 and ID 4 though. The Model Y has a 40/20/40 split rear bench.

"The storage area under the bonnet is genuinely useful and can store two sets of charging cables in there, with even a bit of room left over." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

When the Ford Mustang Mach-E was first released, the entry-level Standard Range RWD version (our pick of the range) was one of the cheaper electric SUVs on the market.

It didn't take long for some highly capable competitors – the Kia EV6 and Toyota bZ4X for example – to come along and undercut it. Those rivals are predicted to hold on to their value far better, which makes their PCP finance rates even more competitive. You can compare prices using our New Car Deals pages.

All Mustang Mach-Es come well equipped, with entry-level Select fitted with heated front seats, a heated front windscreen, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, 18in alloy wheels, privacy glass and two-zone climate control.

The Extended Range versions get a bigger battery pack and faster charging, 19in wheels, red brake calipers, ambient lighting, adaptive LED headlights, electric front seat adjustment, and piano-black exterior highlights.

The AWD models add a Tech Pack that includes a panoramic sunroof.

The performance-focused GT gets a sportier look, 20in wheels and sports seats up front, as well as performance upgrades.

If you go for an Extended Range model with the 91kWh (usable) battery, the Mach-E will match the 150kW maximum charging rate of the BMW iX3 and the bZ4X. That means a 10-80% charge is possible in less than 40 minutes.

The Standard Range model has the same peak charging speed, but since the 72kWh battery is smaller, it requires a few minutes less for the same charge. At a typical 50kW motorway service station charger, you can expect a 10-80% charge in around 75 minutes.

The Kia EV6 can charge at speeds of up to 239kW, getting from 10-80% in just 18 mins. For long journeys, the Tesla Model Y is an even better bet because they give you access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

More positively, the Mustang Mach-E finished at the top of the electric SUV class in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, with full marks and edging ahead of the BMW iX3 in a table of nine cars. As a manufacturer, Ford was average overall, finishing 14th out of 31 other brands, below Toyota (fifth) and Kia (11th) but just beating Tesla (15th) and above Volkswagen (18th).

Ford’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty will give you some peace of mind, but it’s fairly par for the course. Kia offers a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and Toyota gives you up to 10 years/100,000 miles.

The Mustang Mach-E scored the full five stars when it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP and it did a very good job of protecting adults in a frontal collision. It has plenty of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring.

"If you want to really stand out, the GT model is available with an optional Rally Pack that adds white wheels, racing stripes, a big rear spoiler and a 20mm raised ride height. Hopefully the latter also improves ride comfort" – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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