2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium Review

This week we’re looking at the much-anticipated 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric SUV. Let’s get this over with early: whether you like the name or not, there is a lot to love about this EV and the greatness of the vehicle, not the name, should be the main issue.

Exterior

With that said, you get a true Mustang vibe when you look at the front end and especially the rear end with the taillights and sequential turn signals. It rides on beautiful 19” wheels and notice that there are no door handles, there are illuminated buttons to push that pop the doors open. It appears to have a very swooping roofline, but this is an optical illusion, the roof is actually level inside.

Powertrain

Since there is nothing to look at under the hood, let’s talk about what powers the Mach-E. It is available with a standard-range 68-kilowatt battery, which is what I show you here, or an extended-range 98-kilowatt pack, which is the one I would recommend. The batteries feed an electric motor mounted on the rear axle, which is what my tester has since it is rear-wheel drive only. On the available all-wheel version, there is another electric engine that drives the front axle.

This configuration puts out the equivalent of about 266-horses and will take you from 0-to-60 in about 5 and a half seconds. Soon, there will be a GT version available with the equivalent of 480-horses and a 0-to-60 of 3 seconds flat. I am certainly looking forward to driving that one.

Interior

The Mach-E comes in four trim levels. The Select is the base model, then you move up to the Premium, which is what you see here. Next comes the California Route 1 edition, and finally the upcoming GT.

Pop the door open and you find attractive simulated leather seating, and then you see the massive 15.5” touchscreen that literally operates everything and doubles as a terrific 360-degree backup camera.

The screen operates the sound system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Waze app, and the owner’s manual can be read digitally. During research, Ford found out people like a volume knob for their sound system and they integrated a huge one at the bottom of the screen, or you can adjust volume from the steering wheel control.

Touch the Mach-E logo at the top left of the screen and you’ll find all the Mach-E’s settings including the drive modes of Engage, Whisper, (which preserves the most battery), and then there is Unbridled, the performance setting. You can also turn on simulated engine sounds called Propulsion and a lot more.

The screen will also allow you to set driver profiles for up to three people, find the nearest charging station to you through the navigation system, and you can operate Alexa through voice commands.

You can also sync your smartphone to use it to lock and unlock the SUV, remotely start it, open the trunk, and even roll the windows up and down with just your cell phone.

From behind the wheel there is a 10” screen that gives you information like your speed, the battery range, and what gear you are in. This is a huge advantage over the Tesla Y where you must look at the center screen for basic info. It amuses me that where the speedometer reading is, it says GROUND SPEED.

Atop the steering wheel is a camera that will monitor the driver once the autonomous driving feature is available. It will be available to download over the air in a few months.

Leg and headroom are good for both front and rear passengers and Mach-E has a nice center console with a built-in phone charger and a rotary gear shifter. I found getting in and out of the Mach-E to be easy, despite there being a little bit of a floorboard lip to get past.

Utility

There is a good amount of storage in the cargo area, especially with the rear seats folded down, which folds very flat. There is also an organized “frunk”, a trunk in front as it is called. It has a drain plug if you want to use it as a cooler for your beverages.

Standard Equipment and Options

Mach-E Premium comes standard with heated seats and steering wheel, a keyless door pad, a power liftgate, and a massive panoramic moon roof that is stationary. Beware, there is no cover for the glass roof which could be a problem in the hottest of summers. There are no options on this car except for a $400 charge for the Rapid Red paint.

Charging

Let’s talk about charging for a moment. Unless you have a very short commute, don’t rely on the charger that comes with the Mach-E, especially plugging it into a 110 outlet. You only get 3 miles of range per hour charged.

If you have a 240-volt you can plug into, you can get 20 miles of range per hour, which is much better.

The smart move is to buy the optimized charger from the Ford website, for $799 plus installation. That will give you 30 miles of range per hour and will typically give you a full charge overnight.

Ride and Drive

The Mach-E drives and rides great. It truly has a Mustang feel about it with sharp handling and precise steering. All in all, it is a real joy and a technological marvel. You just don’t get the feeling you are in an SUV, yet you have the room of a midsized SUV.

What You’ll Pay

MSRP as you see this one is $48,500 and there is no negotiating that figure, the pricing is set, but that is before the $7500 federal tax credit is applied, plus some states have an additional $2500 tax credit.

Verdict

Electric vehicles are not for everyone at this point, but if the thought of never going to a gas station again appeals to you, the new Mustang Mach-E, in spite of the name, should be at the very top of your shopping list.

If you decide you want to order one of these, you have to do it through the Ford.com website, then assign it to a dealer for delivery and paperwork completion. Choose one of our Car Pro Certified Ford Dealers, and they’ll help you prioritize your order for your new Mach-E.

Credit: Ford