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GTPlanet Quick Drives: Ford Mustang Mach E GT
What is it?
The controversially named Ford Mustang Mach-E is an all-electric crossover SUV, styled to resemble the famous Ford Mustang pony car. It was introduced in mid-2021 in Ford's major markets, including the USA, Europe, and the UK.
What makes it go?
It's a battery-electric car, available with three power/range options and rear- or all-wheel drive. The car we've driven here is the range-topping GT, with a 480hp (359kW), dual-motor setup and all-wheel drive. There's also an 88kWh "extended range" battery pack as standard (which has since seen a software update to increase usable capacity to 91kWh), giving an on-paper 304-mile driving range. It's compatible with 150kW rapid chargers, though Ford's figures suggest it draws around 100kW on average, with a 10-80% charge taking 45 minutes.
What's it like to drive?
Pretty brisk. Despite a rather hefty 2.3-tonne weight -- so only just breaking through 200hp/tonne -- the AWD Mach-E springs to 60mph in under four seconds. It's certainly enough to worry most of its petrol-powered brethren; even the Mach 1 would struggle to keep up on that initial launch.
The rear-biased setup of the GT (only available on the GT Performance in the USA) makes it surprisingly fun to chuck about, up to a point, particularly in the "Untamed" driving mode with the sharper steering and throttle response.
You can definitely feel the MagneRide suspension working overtime to control body roll if you're making a lot of direction changes on a back road, while the big Brembo brakes - 19-inch/385mm discs all round - are up to the task, if a little digital at lower speeds. In terms of the general ride it deals with the nastier bits of the UK's pock-marked road surfaces pretty well even on those 20-inch wheels.
And on the inside?
This might be one of the weaker areas of the Mach-E. It's not the greatest cabin you can buy for the price, even though Ford touts it as being clad in the vegan-friendly "Ford Performance Sensico" fabric. The issue is that it's a rhapsody in grey; this is a range-topping performance model, and there's not a splash of colour anywhere - and the only hint is a "GT" emblem on the centre arm rest.
Technologically it's about what you'd expect, albeit with a very large, 15.5-inch, portrait-mounted touchscreen (and a neat floating dial) housing the latest version of Ford's SYNC system. It's a familiar, tried-and-tested system, although you can also use Apple CarPlay/Android Auto if you prefer. You also get wireless (Qi) phone charging, the usual suite of cameras, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise, ambient lighting (paired to the driving modes), and a 10-inch digital dash screen.
Cabin room isn't poor but it's not spectacular either; legroom in the back is comparable to a particularly roomy C-segment hatchback, while the headroom is good enough for six-footers. That sharply plunging roof line means the boot is only just over 400 litres with the rear seats in place, but there's plenty of cabin storage and a 100-litre "frunk".
How much does it cost?
In the UK the Mach-E starts at £50,830, with this GT model in optional Grabber Blue coming in at £75,690. For the US market, the range begins at $46,895, and our GT would weigh in at $75,895.
What are the main rivals?
There's no shortage of alternatives, but probably the most cross-shopped would be the Tesla Model Y. Premium alternatives include the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX3, but we'd also look at the Kia EV6 GT and - for a left-field choice - the Genesis GV60.
What's the verdict?
For car enthusiasts, the Mach-E does three things wrong: it's a BEV, it's a crossover, and it wears a badge they think it didn't earn.
However, for those who'll actually buy the car, it's a relatively engaging drive and a comfortable, spacious, and pretty handsome family car. We wouldn't say that, even in the hot GT form, it's the Mustang of battery-electric crossover SUVs - if only because every brand that makes one also makes it go this quickly - but then we're not sure what that would even be.
Either way, it does stand out in a sea of largely bland (or hideous) entries in the sector as a remarkably coherent design enhanced by some classic colours. The price is pretty steep for the GT though, and you get better range from the £15,000 cheaper Premium model without much of a performance penalty.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
