What’s in a name?
To vaguely paraphrase a Ford advert I recently heard, they took the original head turner and made it emission-free. Or something like that. Initially, the Mustang Mach-E may turn heads for the wrong reasons. To share the name of the Mustang – one of motoring’s most legendary badges – is no small feat. Expectations are ridiculously high, and to give an electric crossover the same name as one of America’s most iconic sports cars is borderline heresy. But if you can look past the name, the Mustang Mach-E is a winning breed and a hopeful sign of the almost inevitable electric future.
The prominent Mustang badging throughout the vehicle, the ‘stang-style taillights, and visual tricks to give the vehicle a low-down, coupe-like appearance really hammer the idea that Ford wants us to think of this as a Mustang. I don’t know if I personally could. It feels so wildly different and seems to be a polar opposite – except in one regard. It is downright exciting to drive. Like a V8-equipped Mustang, launching the Mach-E from a stop kicks you into the back of your seat, makes your hair stand on end and leaves you with a breathless wave of elation. The instant torque of an electric vehicle does not get old, nor does the surprised look on your passenger’s face as this comfortable, quiet cruiser turns into an thoroughbred in a seamless blink of an eye. The 0–100-time clocks in at 5.6 seconds, which isn’t bad at all given its weight. But thanks to the 428 lb-ft of torque served up right away – it feels so much faster.
One lovely feature of many EVs is the so-called Frunk. A front trunk, if you will. You’ll see similar setups on vehicles like Lamborghinis or Porsches. But while this isn’t a supercar, it’s still a super car. It drives beautifully, handles with confidence and stops smoothly and predictably. It feels like the future, but it also feels so traditional. There’s nothing alien about it. Anyone who knows how to drive a regular car can get the hang of this one easily. Unlike other EV’s, you don’t need to compromise on cargo space or practicality either. Sure the back seats are a bit small, but nothing unbearable or uncomfortable. The trunk is incredibly spacious, made even more so when you fold the rear seats. Plus you get some extra room with the frunk up front.
Range anxiety is something any electric vehicle driver will experience. It’s that ever-present worry that you might just run out of charge and get stranded on the side of the road. Our Mach-E, the basest trim, left me with virtually no anxiety whatsoever, featuring a rather impressive 370km of usable range. Depending on your commute, that’s more than enough to go a few days without charging. Canada’s EV infrastructure is still not quite there yet, but in some provinces like Ontario where high-level chargers can be found along major highways, the idea of a gas-free road trip is more than feasible – provided you’re willing to wait about 15-20 minutes per charging stop.
Inside, the Mach-E is (to our chagrin) taking a page out of Tesla’s design ethos – with two tablet-like screens acting as the gauge cluster and infotainment system. It’s not that it’s terrible or anything. It’s quite easy and intuitive to use, though a bit awkward when driving given that it’s all a touchscreen. But given that the car is named after a horse, one might expect it to buck certain trends. But I digress. It’s a clean, simple design and still looks quite nice – and the sound system, even at base trim, is beautifully balanced. The interior is roomy, comfortable and sleek – much like the exterior. The lack of door handles adds gives the car a spaceship-like smoothness – especially in the silver shade of our tester. Silver’s an underrated colour!
It’s not quite a Mustang, and yet it is. Like the original pony car of the 60s, the Mach-E represents a new chapter in Ford’s long and storied history. It’s an important turning point for the company as it ramps up electric efforts, and proves they still have it. The Mach-E feels like a sturdy, quality product. There’s really not much to dislike about it, and with higher trim levels offering more power and capability, plus an upcoming GT edition, they also present a serious contender for Tesla, who arguably paved the way for the EV to finally become mainstream. The Mach-E starts at just over $50,000 – which is actually very fairly priced compared to its competition. Even in its most base form, it is a capable, practical, fun and exciting taste of the future. If you can get past the name, that is.
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