There’s no denying that in its short time in existence, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has seen its fair share of controversy. It started off when the name was officially announced, and to be honest, even a year in, not everyone is convinced that Ford’s first important EV is worthy of the Mach name. Is the Mustang Mach-E a true Mustang? Is it worth the price? How does it stack up against its non-Tesla competitors like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Audi E-Tron? The answers to these questions will probably surprise you.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E - Driven
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- Model: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E - Driven
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Ford Mustang Mach-E Powertrain and Performance
Since the Ford Mach-E is a thoroughbred electric vehicle, its performance is on point with instantaneous torque delivery and sporty acceleration. Unlike some of the competition, however, the Mach-E can be had in several states of “tune” and can be had in a RWD or AWD application.
| Charging Time From Empty | 7-33 hours (22-3 kW) | 7-34 hours (22-3 kW) | 7-31 hours (22-3 kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging 20-80% | 30-60 Min (150-50 kW) | 20-60 Min (150-50 kW) | 30-60 Min (150-50 kW) |
Ford Mach-E Exterior Design
The Ford Mach-E is, honestly, this weird blend between an overly aggressive EcoSport, a Mustang, and whatever other random crossover that you can think of. The long hood gives it more of a muscular look despite the fact that there’s actually no traditional muscle under there while the bubbly nature of its design offsets the few overly aggressive cues. As for the front “grille”, it’s still clear that Ford – like other automakers – still isn’t sure what to do with the nose of a car when it isn’t dominated by a big grille, but overall it looks decent. The rear end is where the rear Mustang design comes in, as you can’t mistake the taillights for anything but a Mustang. The rear hatch has an uncomfortably high loading height, which does take some getting used to, but the long slant of the rear glass does help visibility from inside the cabin.
Ford Mach-E vs competition interior dimensions
| Ford Mach-E | Volvo XC40 Recharge | Audi E-Tron | Front Headroom | 38,9 | 37,6 | 38,1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Shoulder Room | 57,6 | 56,7 | 58,6 | ||||
| Front Hip Room | 55,4 | 54,7 | TBA | ||||
| Front Leg Room | 41,7 | 40,9 | 40,8 | ||||
| Rear Headroom | 38,3 | 38,3 | 39 | ||||
| Rear Shoulder Room | 55,9 | 56,3 | 57,2 | ||||
| Rear Hip Room | 53,3 | 54,6 | TBA | ||||
| Rear Leg Room | 38,1 | 36,1 | 39,1 |
Ford Mach-E Pricing
The Ford Mach-E starts out at the $42,895 and climbs to as high as $59,900 for the range-topping GT Performance model. Finding one at MSRP, however, has proven to be difficult for consumers as of recently due to excessive deal markup. Contacting Ford directly, however, can get you assistance in finding a dealer that will sell to you at MSRP. In terms of the competition, the Mach-E actually has the cheapest starting point, as the XC40 comes in at $53,900 while the Audi E-Tron will cost you at least $65,900. The XC40, however, is also only sold in one trim level, so outside of options, it starts out at the same price it maxes out at. The E-Tron, however, maxes out at $79,100 before any extra options.
Final Thoughts
So, is the Mach-E a true Mustang? Well, yes and no. It doesn’t exactly exude the sporty feel that you get from the Mustang we’ve all grown to love, but it does offer a sporty driving dynamic, sporty seating position, and the performance is on point. One could easily argue that the Mach-E is the true evolution – and the next evolutionary step – of the Mustang muscle car. If the Mustang must die as a car and will continue on in the shape of the Mach-E, then it’s a fair trade-off if it means progress to a greener future. It takes some getting used to, but the Mach-E is fun to drive, offers instant acceleration, and it’s build quality is impressively good.
FAQ
Q: How Much Power Does the Ford Mach-E Have?
The Mustang Mach-E is available with anywhere between 266 horsepower and 480 horsepower while torque ranges from 317 pound-feet to as much as 634 pound-feet. In comparison, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is available in just one configuration with 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque while the Audi E-Tron is offered with a similar arrangement that includes 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque.
Q: How Big is the Ford Mach-E’s Battery?
The Ford Mach-E is offered with a 75.7-kWh battery in its most basic form or a 98.8 kWh battery in its long-range form. Meanwhile, the Volvo XC40 Recharge comes in at just 78 Kwh and the E-Tron is only available with a 95 kWh battery.
Q: How Much Range Does the Ford Mach-E Have?
On a single charge the Ford Mach-E can for for anywhere between 211 miles in its most basic form and up to 305 miles when equipped with a larger battery and in powersaving mode. In terms of range, the Mach-E – when properly equipped – can easily outpace the competition with the XC40 being good for just 208 miles and the E-Tron offering up just 222 miles.
Q: How Fast is the Ford Mach-E
Since the Ford Mach-E is an EV, being fast is in its nature, but the fastest of the bunch, the Mach-E GT Performance, can hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and the way to a top speed of 130 mph. This makes it faster than most of the competition, with the Volvo XC40 Recharge hitting the same benchmark in 4.7 seconds and the Audi E-Tron getting there in 5.5 seconds. Those two competitors top out at 112 mph and 118 mph, respectively.
Q: How Long Does It Take To Charge the Mustang Mach-E?
As is the case with all EVs, the amount of time it takes to charge from empty to full depends on level of charging that you’re using. At 22 kW, [Pod-Point says the Mach-E-> https://pod-point.com/guides/vehicles/mustang/2020/mustang] can charge to full in just 7 hours – the same figure you’ll get for the [Volvo XC40-> https://pod-point.com/guides/vehicles/volvo/2020/xc40] and the [Audi E-Tron.-> https://pod-point.com/guides/vehicles/audi/2020/e-tron-50] Meanwhile, charging at just 3 kW will take charing time up to 33 hours for the Mach-E, 34 hours for the XC40, and 31 hours for the Audi E-Tron.
However, on public charging networks or higher-level home charging boxes, you can charge the Mach-E from 20-percent to 80-percent in as little as 30 minutes with 150kW fast charging. In comparison, the XC40 will get to the same state of charge in 20 minutes, while the E-Tron will also take 30 minutes. With 50 kW charging, the time to charge from 20-percent to 80-percent takes just one hour.
Q: How Big is the Ford Mach-E?
The Mach-E sits in the middle of the competition as a midsize(ish) crossover at 185.6-inchs long, 74.1-inches wide, and 74.1-inches tall. It also rides on a 117.5-inch wheelbase. This makes it longer than the XC40 Recharge and taller than the Audi E-Tron, but the Mach-E isn’t as wide. It does sit a little lower to the ground, though, at 5.7 inches vs. the Volvo and Audi’s 6.9 inches. In terms of garagability, you’ll definitely need at least a 1.5-car garage, especially if you’re going to run a 240-volt electrical connection and step up to a high-speed charger.
Q: How Much Cargo Room Does the Ford Mach-E Have?
The Ford Mach-E offers up 34.4 cubic-feet of cargo room with the rear seats in place, but that expands to 64.4 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded down. This makes the Mach-E a bit more practical than bother the XC40 and the E-Tron. The XC40 offers up 25 – 57.5 cubic-feet while the E-Tron will get you 28.5-56.5 cubic-feet.