Ford adds some green into an iconic classic Tested: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-e Premium AWD

By William Jinkins

What’s New:

All new, first of its kind for Ford's future EV lineup.

Pros:

A take off of the iconic Mustang, more character than the Tesla Model 3, with a better price point.

Cons:

A take off of the iconic Mustang, so some Mustang purist do not appreciate it.

Being an automotive journalist, as well as a tree hugger, has allowed me the pleasure to sample most of the popular EVs. past and present. This includes several Tesla models, the Jaguar I-Pace, the short-lived Mitsubishi “egg”, the BMW i3,the Chevy Bolt, the Kia Niro, and Nissan Leaf. Others that are my to do list include the reengineered Ford Lightning and GMC Hummer, Cadillac Lyriq, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Nissan Ariya.

But of all the EVs I’ve sampled so far haven’t excited me as much as the Mustang Mach-e. And the one I had the pleasure to spend time with was the Premium edition, which falls mid-range between the Select and California Route 1 and below and the GT above. Base prices are $42,895 for the Select, $48,100 for the premium (which take rate makes it the most popular), and $59,995 for the GT and GT Performance.

Apples to apples the Mech-e and Tesla Model Y are almost an exact match, both with similar stickers. However, with the Mach-e you’ll still be eligible for the $7,500 tax rebate. Since Tesla has now become the benchmark as far as EVs go, they longer qualify for the rebate, as well as the Chevy Bolt.

Ford Claims maintenance costs savings of $431 and fuel savings of $832, $14,620 over 5-years of ownership.

First impressions: Even though I’m an admitted tree hugger, I still love performance as well as a meaty sounding motor. I’m not a Mustang diehard, but love Mustangs to death, except for the Mustang II. So, to put that into perspective, I love the Mach-e’s theme as opposed to the Model 3 generic design. I also like that, beside character, the Mach-e is an extension of the Mustang brand. As we boomers age, we need a vehicle that’s easier to get in and out of, accommodate our grandkids, and can seat more than two adults, not to mention the parfenalia that we need to haul.

The reports I’ve so far heard on obtaining a Mach-e can be a mixed bag Since the vehicle is mostly ordered online there’s no incentive for the dealership or salespeople to go out of their way, unless they just want to help buyers. Yes, a few larger dealers can have a Mach-e to test drive, however all they get out of it is $650 for the paperwork, which that commission may or may not be filtered to the salesperson. After all, the more Ford dives into EV technology, the more dealerships are going to have to learn about the products.

It’s probably a good hunch that service departments still haven’t been versed in what to do if a Mach-e needs attention. However, it is a good thing that there are several dealerships across North America. Something that can’t be said for Tesla, though Tesla has the best infrastructure across the land for charging.

Getting down to the nitty gritty of the car, my tester came in a Rapid Red Metallic, an upcharge of $400 and the Comfort /Appearance Package ($5,000). Base sticker was $49,700, adding $1,100 for designation charges puts it at $56,200. Although paying list would be sweet, some dealers might put a markup as high as $1,500 over. After all, they feel the need to make some profit off it somehow.

Ford designed the Mach-E for quick and easy charging on the road through Electrified America. Through DC fast chargers and the Blue Oval™ Charge Network, you can recharge your Mustang Mach-E in minutes.

The Mach-e will be one of the first Fords to offer BlueCruise, which is a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system (ADAS). It pairs a vehicle’s adaptive cruise control system with a lane-centering assistance system and provides hands-free driving capability on over 100,000 miles of divided highways in the United States and Canada. Ford BlueCruise works similar to the Super Cruise from GM.

Ford’s system uses data from a forward-facing camera and radar units combined with information from the navigation system’s GPS and map database. Thanks to the GPS and map data, the technology knows when the vehicle is traveling on one of the approved sections of a divided highway, which are called Blue Zones. When the vehicle is in a Blue Zone, it communicates that status via text and blue lighting within the instrumentation.

Elegant design and unbridled performance have found their meeting place; the Bang and Olufsen sound system in the Mach-E is magnificent. A fabric covered speaker array takes center stage as the focal point of this premium in-car sound system. Inspired by B&O’s Kvadrat textile-covered speakers, the system seamlessly integrates principles of interior design into the vehicle. Anodized aluminum badges identify the B&O sound system, which elegantly spans the dashboard and surrounds passengers with beautiful sound. 560 watts teamed with efficient speaker technologies deliver superior performance to compliment the driving experience.

The Panoramic Sunroof doesn’t have a sunshade and is of fixed glass. Like the Jaguar I-Pace I tested a while back, it’s heavily tinted, but I still question how it would work in desert climates, as well as the frozen tundra spots like North Dakota.

Over the air updates.

Ford has launched its new over-the-air software update scheme for the Mach-E, called “Power Up.” The program will be rolled out across the US first, although Ford has said that the features will eventually make their way onto European EV vehicles. Shortly, European Mach-E drivers will recieve Ford Sketch, which is an application for the EV’s infotainment system which allows touchscreen drawing and simple gaming when the vehicle is parked. The infotainment system will get a digital owner’s manual, too.

Ford says its new update program will target customer preferences and key system bugs, to provide the most relevant improvement to the Mach-E’s infotainment system. The updates will be “invisible” to drivers. Minor software tweaks will take place in the background, while major updates (which require system reboots) can be scheduled to take place overnight. If the car needs to be used when an update is ready to be installed, it will continue to operate on the old software until a convenient time for the update arrives.

Ford will also introduce a couple of new remote services, including a remote vehicle setup function, which will allow drivers to preset radio stations and navigation instructions, as well as tracking battery usage and journey logs.

The Mustang Mach-E’s infotainment system will also get an improved navigation system with conversational voice recognition and an internet-based search function. The screen’s Apple CarPlay gets a revamp, too, with turn-by-turn navigation for the instrument cluster.

There’s a new Sync 4 15.5-inch display which dominates the dashboard, but there's far more than this then just a gigantic screen. For up-to-the-moment traffic data, this system offers cloud-sourced maps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included. Both systems wirelessly connect to the Mach-E for maximum convenience. Above the steering wheel is a horizonal digital display the shows speed as well as range. This arrangement beats the heck out of Tesla’s display screen located in the middle of the instrument panel.

Drivers who don't pay attention to the road could be a major concern, although this is something Ford has addressed. This includes things like blocking certain menus when the vehicle is in motion, limiting the number of lists that show up on screen and using appropriate font sizes. it will be part of the brand's Sync 4 family. A smart, in-vehicle digital assistant will also be offered in the Mach-E.

One of the biggest surprises was when I had run the car dry, down to 30 miles left, an overnight charge on my 110v outlet provided 70% of charge. This is very significant since a full charge is considered 80%, to extend the battery life.

One of the better features of the Mach-e is the sound of the vehicle. It allows you to use either silent mode or a sound emulated like an ICE car.

The Mach-e includes a unique “Frunk”: not only can you fit a rolling bag in its compartment, but you can also use it as a cooler since there is a drain plug. Then there’s the cargo area, like all crossovers in which the rear seats fold down for an extra cargo area of….

What’s new for 2022

Performance and design language remain unchanged for the 2022 Mustang Mach-E. The major update for 2022MY comes in the form of bigger batteries and more range. This is a crucial update since the last MY has been undercut by the rivals quite badly in terms of driving range. The bump is minor, but an improvement over last year.