Ford Mustang Mach-E | Test Drive

18 October 2022 Redazione News, Tested

Words Marco Mancino / Photos Gian Romero

Imagine a Monday morning meeting at Ford’s boss floor. They are all seated around a large oval table, probably blue. It is the day when the name for the first all-electric car will be chosen and no detail can be overlooked. Suddenly, the a marketing guru comes out exclaiming “Let’s call it Mustang!”. You know the rest of the story and we are about to see it in the next few lines, like on everyday roads. Maybe this hasn’t happened quite like this – I don’t have certain proof – but actually won’t be too distant either. After all, when it comes to attracting the attention of journalists and customers, there are a whole series of possible moves, but no one would have dared to go and borrow the name of the brand’s sports car par excellence, that model that it is not only loved by generations of motorists, but represents one of the last bastions of pure and authentic devotion to internal combustion: the Mustang.

Forget everything you know about the Mustang of your dreams, the ideal one to unleash its V8 on some off–beaten path and make room for the new Mach-E, a completely new project that does not absolutely deserve to be judged without proper knowledge. Personally, I consider myself a true SUV lover, but if I had to choose just one car for the rest of my life, I know it would be noisy and certainly not attentive to CO2 emissions. That said, the Mustang Mach-E is the cunning idea that Ford adopts to introduce on the market an SUV with multiple skills, first and foremost the technological package offered by a dedicated platform and by versions that range up to the GT, unveiled during the weeks of our test drive.

The dimensions of the Mach-E are those that define it, with a length of 4.7 meters, a width of 1.88 and a height of 1.62. The GE1 platform is brand new and created specifically to accommodate a 98.7 kWh battery pack, while in the case of the model of our test we find two electric motors, one positioned close to the front axle and one on the rear one, each of which cares to provide power and traction to the respective axle. All-wheel drive therefore and single-speed transmission, for a total power of 351 horses and a maximum torque of 580 Nm, all available always and instantly, despite a weight that exceeds two tons and stops the scales at 2,182 kg.

The electrical landscape is in constant turmoil, continuously evolving and leading brands to a ferocious war for the latest gadget, which often is an ambitious as well as superfluous attempt to make us believe we’re on board the Millennium Falcon. As for the Mustang Mach-E, we have a soft line, like that of a big hatchback with a sloping tail which seems to sacrifice roominess in height for those who sit in the back. The front is rounded and despite the front bonnet hiding a second luggage compartment, it is also successful thanks to the covered grille that proudly displays the big Mustang, another exclamation point to underline the strong identity of the car. At the back, on the other hand, we have optical groups borrowed from the pony car, almost as if to chase away any criticism that wanted the two cars to have only the name in common.

We were talking about unusual solutions and therefore we cannot neglect the buttons that open the doors, the front ones provided with a sort of handle that to tell the truth is false. On the other hand, the numerical combination of the locking system that you can set via the dedicated app – Ford Pass – is interesting, with which you can evaluate the car’s state of charge and other notifications. Once on board I am greeted by an extremely large and bright environment, with comfortable leather seats in perfect USA style and a gigantic 15.5″ vertical display that includes everything: from the navigation system to the multimedia, from the car info to the air conditioning, the latter unfortunately without physical shortcuts to make certain actions faster and safer, especially with the car is moving. In front of the driver we then have a second display, this time horizontal and minimalist, which shows only the basic driving information.

Where the Mach-E surprised me the most is driving. Carrying such a high-sounding name I would not have accepted any kind of compromise and thanks to a suspension system that manages to be very comfortable in Active or Whisper mode and more responsive in Untamed (the sportiest one), getting in tune with the big electric Ford SUV is a matter of a few curves. It must be said that the steering is still mellow and that the tires fitted on our specimen – Continental Premium Contact 6 with 55 shoulder and 19 rims – prefer not sudden direction changes, thus causing a bit of imbalance. This does not mean that a series of bends worries the Mach-E and I am sure that the GT will know how to eliminate this gap and make the driving experience even more precise and engaging.

Keep going smoothly in any context, in the complete silence guaranteed by the two electric motors and with an average range calculated at approximately 431 real kilometers. I say and stress real, because after the numerous electric cars we tested – especially SUVs of the same size – the Mustang Mach-E has been the one we had to recharge less frequently. Amazing. While at it, it is good to know that the average consumption declared at 20.5 kWh/100 km is, as always, bound by the driving style and that the charging times vary according to the chargers used. A few examples? From home you will recharge 11 km in 1 hour, while using a wallbox you will reach 22 km every hour. Using a Type 2 socket, 54 kilometers will be recharged in an hour, while 365 in the case of a 100 kW DC socket. Finally, keep in mind that the Mach-E’s maximum charging power is 150 kW.

How many words need to be spent to convey the idea that the Mach-E is absolutely not to be compared to the Mustang we unconditionally love. Rather, it is a product that could accompany a Mustang GT, perhaps for boring home-work journeys and yet always have that pony unleashed in front of the eyes. It would still be more consistent than choosing a more sober Mondeo, right? The Mustang Mach-E does not declare war to its own family, but exhibits the effigy and challenges an increasingly numerous competition. The acceleration is lightning fast, at least in the first 200 meters, then the weight begins to be felt. We have a 0-100 kph in just 5.8 seconds – remember we are talking about 2.2 tons – and a maximum speed limited to 180 per hour, in order to preserve the residual charge, a fundamental aspect for which petrol, diesel and hybrids don’t have to care.

I observe it and I must say that aesthetically I like it a lot, as I love the fact that less car-minded people just can’t understand what car it is. We need to explain, starting from the basics and deepening why the Mustang name is so important to enthusiasts. Finally, let’s talk about prices. The Standard Range with a single 269 hp engine and a range of 440 km starts at around € 62,000, while the Extended Range with a power of 295 hp and a range of 610 km costs almost € 70,000. The next step is our Extended Range with all-wheel drive – 351 hp and 431 km of range – with prices starting at € 75,000, while the top of the range belongs to the GT version, which enjoys a more aggressive aesthetic, a set-up which supports the performance side offered by its 487 hp and a range of 500 km. Price? Just over € 84,000. What about the verdict then? It is not the classic Mustang we are used thinking of, but an excellent electric SUV and it is enough to make it a more than valid alternative to its competitors, both European and overseas.

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E 4X

Engine 2 Electric Units Power 351 hp Torque 580 Nm

Traction All-Wheel-Drive Transmission Single-Speed Gearbox Weight 2.182 kg

0-100 kph 5,8 sec Top Speed 180 km/h Price from €75.300 Range 431 km ca.