Testing the Mustang Mach-E: EV SUV That Immediately Attracts Attention

This week I am testing the pre-production Ford Mustang Mach-E and I absolutely love it. It's got great power, great handling, 285 miles of range per single charge and a reasonable price for the category.

With the Mustang Mach-E, Ford wanted to score a big blow and place its pawns on the chessboard of the electric car, even if it meant shaking the feelings of die-hards Mustang fans. For them, attaching the Mustang name was a big no-no! But the name Mustang Mach-E grew on them and on all of us.

As seen with the Volkswagen ID.4 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Mach-E is a mid-size vehicle, which doesn't look so much like an SUV. It looks more like a big car.

2022 Mustang Mach-E Trims and Pricing

• Select - Starting at $43,895
• Premium - (Currently Not Available for Order) Starting at $49,100
• California Route 1 - (Currently Not Available for Order) Starting at $52,775
• GT - Starting at $61,995

Exterior

The Mustang Mach-E comes with a modern design, sleek and muscular curves. As I was parking this electric SUV on my garage, my neighbor, who was passing on the street, stopped and complemented the beauty of the design. She was pleasantly surprised it was from Ford. I think the Mustang Mach-E will turn many Ford naysayers to yes-sayers.

Ford designers applied gloss black to the rear roofline of the Mach-E, while the pillars are painted in body color. This makes the Mach-E appear to have a low, receding topline, when, in fact, that isn't entirely the case. All this is done in order to maintain better head clearance behind. Moreover, we notice that the crossover takes inspiration from the Mustang here and there, namely a relatively long and sculptural hood, curved rear fenders and the inevitable three-line sequential taillights.

The roof is panoramic and fixed glass. It's a little dimmed, which gives you plenty of light, but the sun doesn't pressure you with its rays. Ford has applied a special protective coatings for seasonal heat and colt. The front grille is also an interesting piece.

Interior

The singular aspect of the Mach-E is even more evident as you get in the car. It is denoted from the opening of the electronic doors, which is done by a button placed on the front and rear pillars. This is a rather futuristic element. Once seated inside, one discovers and appreciates the refined presentation embellished with various plastic materials and pieces of fabric similar to those found on loudspeaker enclosures.

I am testing the pre-production model of the 2021 Mustang Mache, which is offered with 285 miles of range per single charge. The 2021 model is carried over to 2022 and almost nothing has changed with the base Model in 2022. However, today I am getting the Mustang Mach-E GT, which I am planning to review in the next few days. Thus, please keep an eye on Torque News for the latest 2022 Mustang Mach E GT review coming up.

But still, in order to allow the Mach-E to remain attractive to consumers, Ford is making a few improvements for 2022. The most substantial change affects the usable capacity of the two batteries offered. The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E gets a batter batteries. They go from 68 to 70 kilowatt hours, and from 88 to 91 kilowatt hours. Thus, you can assume that this slight increase in usable capacity would allow the vehicle to register an additional 10 miles on a full charge.

The other new feature is the addition of the 2-motor 4-wheel drive option for the California Route 1 version. This version also comes standard with heated seats and steering wheel.

One thing that really immediately stood out for me once I got into the car, was the vast interior space. I don't remember test driving a car that had as much head room as the Mustang Mach E.

Inside there is enough space for five people. We also notice the very American finish, as seen in the brand's SUVs, such as the Explorer or the Edge. Possibly inspired by Tesla, a large vertical screen sits in the center of the dashboard. That huge vertical Tesla-like central screen controls all the controls a priori and is doubled by an instrumentation screen. Some reviewers of the Mustang Mach-E denote the large button at the bottom of the screen and find that it has no place, but I like it and find it very practical.

The Mustang Mach-E accepts fast charging on 150 kW terminals, with a maximum power of up to 125 kW. I charged it at home on a 110 V outlet and got 3 miles for every charging hour. So if you charge about 10 hours using a 110 V outlet that will give you about 30 miles of range, which perfectly meets my daily commune of 20-plus miles. However, if you charge from a 220 V outlet or a mount a fast-charging device on your garage wall, you will get about 20 miles per charging hours. But if you charge with charging locations like Electrify America, the 52 minute charge session can add 116 miles range.

The Driving Experience of Mustang Mach-E

Mustang Mach-E is a powerful SUV. Ford didn't settle for a flatly generic composition here when it comes to the driving experience.

In the absence of a thundering V8 to express itself musically, the crossover does so dynamically. The first curve taken confirms the great acuity of the direction which transmits enough information to ensure the connection with the driver. The body leans slightly and the vehicle negotiates extremely well with strong re-acceleration, a convincing demonstration of the precision of the torque distribution. Above all Mach-E feels very solid. No creaking disturbs the serenity of the driving experience. The decibels produced by wind and road noise are also limited. The suspension can still feel dry at times, but the vehicle's long wheelbase mitigates the effects.

Our impression of the Ford Mustang Mach-E is more than positive.

There are different ways to approach bringing a brand new vehicle to market. Ford has taken the emotional marketing route here by employing a self-established brand Mustang that is sure to strike the emotional chords of many Mustang fans. It is undeniable that the Mach-E has no technical affiliation with the Mustang. But, one thing is certain, its release caused a stir, arousing multiple opposing reactions, which Ford probably wanted. This strategy is further supported by a product that is in itself very impressive in its approach.

What are your thoughts of the Mustang Mach-E? Which of the trims do you prefer? Let us know, please, your opinion in the comments section below.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Reference: La Presse, Torque News Mustang Mach-E review.