MUSTANG'S NEW BREED
All new E-SUV — named after the world's most famous pony car — impresses in many ways
Love it or loathe it, Ford's all new Mustang Mach-e has arrived.
For longtime Mustang owners, of course, naming an SUV — an electric one, at that — after the world's most famous pony car is nothing but the cynical misuse of marketing. On the other hand, Tesla has shown us that brand recognition is absolutely essential to succeed in the electric vehicle wars, and no Ford nameplate is more recognizable than Mustang.
If it really bothers you that much, just call it the Mach-e. Pretty much everyone does.
Besides, the long-term success of Ford's first e- SUV will depend on how it can fulfil the performance that the Mustang name promises.
In that regard, Ford gets it mostly right. The Mach-e's finalized ratings are better than initially predicted, the allwheel-drive version of the base Select model boasting some 340 kilometres before running out of power, while an extended-range rear-wheel-drive version claims a far more substantial 483 km.
We calculated that the extended-range, all-wheel-drive version travels about 335 km at Driving's standard 125 km/ h test speed.
We also tested a Tesla Model
S 100D and Porsche's Taycan 4S on the same highway under almost identical conditions, and the Porsche's real-world range was 345 km and the Tesla's but 10 km more. The lesson here: Ignore incredibly optimistic EPA/NRCAN range ratings, the Mustang Mach-e is playing in the same league as both those vehicles — at least, in terms of range.
In the performance sweepstakes, the Mach-e lacks the murderous acceleration of the Porsche or even a top-of-the-line Model Y. The maximum output of our tester's twin electric motors was 346 horsepower and the Mach-e will accelerate to 100
km/ h in about 5.5 seconds.
By late summer of 2021, Ford promises a 480-hp GT Performance version of the Mach-e that should hit zero to 100 km/ h in roughly 3.5 seconds.
One area where the Ford does seem to be lacking is in recharging speed. The most powerful charger the new Mustang can currently handle is 150 kw, which is no longer state of the art. Tesla's Superchargers offer faster charging and the Porsche will soon boast 350 kw. If Ford wants the Mach-e to be successful over a typical four- or fiveyear lifespan, it will need a major upgrade in charging capacity.
Don't be misled into comparing the Mach-e's battery capacity with its competitors. Ford, to its credit, lists its batteries by “usable” capacity rather than the total number of kilowatt-hours stored in its standard 288 cells (376 in the extended-range versions). All automakers maintain a buffer because using 100 per cent of a battery's capacity dramatically reduces its longevity.
So even though Ford's “usable” battery capacities of 68 and 88 kwh don't sound competitive with the Tesla and Porsche, their actual total capacities — the numbers you should be comparing with — are 75.7 and 98.8 kwh.
Big props to Ford for truth in advertising.
Where the Mustang makes up for this lack of a killer charging package is in interior quality.
In fact, our Premium model's interior was far and away superior than the much more expensive Model S.
Better yet, the Ford's infotainment system is much easier to use and more informative.
Even something as straightforward as the trip meter has been made more useful. The Mustang, like most other EVS, lets you know how many kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometres — the equivalent of L/100 km for gas-fuelled cars — you're using and what percentage of total battery charge you have remaining. But it also details how you're using that power, with readouts and a graph for how much energy you're using to heat (or cool) the cabin, drive the wheels, and power any accessories you might be using.
The interior build quality is exceptional — the best ever for a Ford product.
Ditto the materials.
As for nits to pick, the Mach-e suspension seems needlessly firm for what is, despite its nameplate, a mainstream SUV.
It does corner like a Mustang — OK, an SUV wearing a Mustang badge — but the ride is a bit too jarring. We tried changing driving modes — pretentiously named Engage, Whisper and Unbridled — to no avail.
The first batch of Mach-e SUVS is being built now and will be shipped shortly. The base Select versions starts at $50,495 (AWD adds $3,500) and is only available with the standard battery. The Premium is $58,745 ($62,245 with AWD) and if you want the extended-range battery in either RWD or AWD guise, it will cost another $7,000. The California Route 1 (Rwd-only with larger battery) is $63,745. The hot-rod GT Performance version will cost $82,995 when it arrives next summer.