The Ford Mustang Mach-E is off to a rocky begin in Australia.
Its costs have been slashed previous to launch in 2023, and hasn’t set the gross sales charts alight to this point in 2024 with simply 181 delivered up to now. That’s in comparison with virtually 7000 examples of the Tesla Mannequin Y, or virtually 600 examples of the Kia EV6.
On paper, it’s arduous to see why. Our expertise with the Premium and GT has proven it’s a punchy factor to drive, with a stable inside, and aggressive electrical vary.
What we haven’t accomplished but is expertise the bottom Choose.
With a smaller battery and fewer energy than its dearer siblings, it’s not fairly as Mustang… however it’s additionally not fairly as dear, with a sticker that throws it straight into battle with the Tesla Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary, together with mid-range variations of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Is the best Mustang Mach-E additionally the perfect?
How does the Ford Mustang Mach-E evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Ford Mustang Mach-E in opposition to equally sized autos.
Ford
Mustang Mach-E
How a lot does the Ford Mustang Mach-E price?
Value rises are the order of the day in 2024, however the Mustang Mach-E is likely one of the few automobiles to be handled to a value minimize.
The Choose on take a look at right here was hit with the most important minimize previous to its launch, with Ford dropping the sticker from $79,990 to $72,990 earlier than on-road prices.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing:
- 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Choose: $72,990 (-$7000)
- 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium: $86,990 (-$4675)
- 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT: $104,990 (-$2675)
Costs are excluding on-road prices
To see how the Mustang Mach-E compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.
What’s the Ford Mustang Mach-E like on the within?
With an enormous central display screen, open central tunnel, and pared-back instrument cluster, this isn’t like every Mustang we’ve seen earlier than.
There are some nods to the legendary Pony automotive that lends its identify to this mid-sized electrical household crossover.
The dashboard has detailing that calls to thoughts the upright, twin-cowl sprint that’s historically characterised the cabin of the Mustang, and also you’ll battle to discover a Blue Oval anyplace in right here. Though you purchase this automotive at a Ford vendor, it’s being marketed as a Mustang in the beginning.
Sadly, a number of the fundamentals aren’t actually as much as scratch. The seats are trimmed in good sufficient leather-based, however they’re approach too flat and slippery for any SUV, not to mention one sporting a Mustang badge.
I simply couldn’t get comfy, as an alternative perching awkwardly on prime of them, they usually lower than scratch if you wish to discover what this automotive can do within the corners. A minimum of the warmers fireplace up quick, and are so highly effective you would use them to sluggish cook dinner a lamb roast.
Just like the Ranger, the Mach-E contains a vertical touchscreen that’s accountable for all of your infotainment and local weather controls. It seems slick, with an interface that received’t put traditionalists off just like the aggressively minimalist Tesla Mannequin Y, and the format is all very logical.
The massive, click-clack wheel in the course of the show reveals potential. It’s a quantity knob, but additionally can be utilized to regulate the fan velocity, your seat heaters, or the temperature relying on the place you’re within the infotainment system, and customarily responds as you’d count on.
There are occasions the place it simply lags for a beat or two although, which actually undermines the automotive’s pitch as a high-tech electrical flagship in Australia.
A minimum of the wi-fi Apple CarPlay connects rapidly and doesn’t drop out, which hasn’t at all times been our expertise with the Everest and Ranger.
Whereas we’re griping, the little digital speedo will sometimes present 1km/h as an alternative of 0km/h at a standstill, and the actual fact your velocity is offset and there’s a driver help show in the course of your imaginative and prescient is difficult to grasp.
Storage is in abundance up entrance. Together with two slots for a telephone on the base of the dashboard, there are usable cupholders on the central tunnel, a spacious (and safe) slot beneath the armrest, and a neat little pocket beneath the telephone holders that’s good for a small purse.
USB-A and USB-C ports function to maintain units juiced up, each entrance and rear.
Rear seat house is on a par for a mid-sized SUV. When you’re previous the sloping roof (there are not any door handles, which can idiot some passengers) headroom is stable for youths or common adults, and also you’ll be capable to sit totally grown women and men again there with out criticism.
Air vents are available to maintain the children cool in summer season, and the fold-down central armrest is helpful as a approach to separate rear passengers on lengthy journeys.
Boot capability with the rear seats upright is 402 litres, which expands to 1420 litres with the second row folded.
The rear bench folds in a 60/40 cut up configuration. As is widespread in EVs, there’s no spare tyre – you’ll discover solely a mobility package under the boot flooring.
All fashions embody a 134L house below the bonnet. The storage cavity is washable, drainable and waterproof, making the Mach-E supreme for tailgate (bonnet?) events.
For US regulatory causes, there’s additionally an inside launch so you will get out in case you’re sufficiently small to suit and in some way get caught.
What’s below the bonnet?
The bottom Choose has a 71kWh battery pack, in comparison with the 91kWh battery on the Premium and GT.
| Mannequin | Ford Mustang Mach-E Choose |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 71kWh lithium-ion |
| Energy | 198kW |
| Torque | 430Nm |
| Pushed Wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 2104kg (kerb) |
| Power effectivity (as examined) | 18.0kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 470km |
| Max DC cost charge | 150kW |
To see how the Mustang Mach-E compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.
How does the Ford Mustang Mach-E drive?
Prod the beginning button and the Mustang Mach-E involves life with a man-made signature, presumably to fill the void left by the characterful V8 that’s characterised the coupe for the final six many years.
We’re not holding the actual fact this automotive isn’t petrol-powered in opposition to it, however there’s one thing odd about taking a look at that Pony on the steering wheel in a automotive with none engine noise after years of conditioning.
There’s a sure Mustang-ness about a number of the controls although. There’s extra weight to the steering than in rivals at low speeds, and the accelerator requires a extra deliberate prod than may in any other case be needed. Efficiency is first rate given that is solely the bottom mannequin.
Traction isn’t a problem off the road, which implies you possibly can bury the accelerator and let all 430Nm free basically from standstill. It’s a sleeper within the site visitors mild grand prix, and also you received’t draw the eye of the police (or judging passers by) with an obnoxious exhaust.
Then once more, it’s additionally on a par with what you’ll get in most electrical rivals in 2024; this isn’t a stallion by these requirements.
This isn’t an ideal metropolis automotive, although. The heft within the steering means it is advisable to work more durable than in some rivals when parking, and the Mach-E at all times feels large and heavy over bumps. Though the physique is sort of tightly managed, you’re conscious of its two-tonne mass on each velocity bump – or pothole, which may ship a noticeable thud by way of the cabin.
Ford isn’t the one model struggling to make its electrical automotive experience with the polish of its petrol or diesel fashions, however even by these requirements the Mach-E wants some work.
It’s impressively quiet although. The skin world fades away once you’re sitting in site visitors, with no hum from the motors and minimal noise from the skin world sneaking into the cabin.
At larger speeds, even the bottom Mustang Mach-E has a grown-up feeling. It’s properly planted, and nonetheless has sufficient poke to really feel fast once you’re eager to overhaul on the authorized restrict. It doesn’t bounce round over the type of crests and dips widespread on Australian nation B-roads, though the trade-off is a busy feeling on pimply tarmac.
Ford’s driver assists are glorious. The adaptive cruise management is easy, and the energetic lane-centring is ready to maintain you between the white strains with out attempting to tear the wheels out of your fingers.
It’s additionally clearly communicated within the sprint when it is advisable to maintain the wheel otherwise, or when the system is turned off.
That hefty steering pays dividends in case you’re in a rush, combining with that tight suspension tune to imbue what’s an enormous, heavy automotive with a formidable entrance finish. It darts into corners determinedly, and there’s much less physique roll than you may count on.
There’s finally no escaping its weight although, which places the Mach-E into the class of “surprisingly good within the bends” as an alternative of “genuinely enjoyable to drive”.
What do you get?
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is at the moment out there in three trim ranges. On take a look at right here is the entry-level Choose.
Mustang Mach-E Choose highlights:
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Ford SYNC 4A infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- B&O 10-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi telephone charging
- Black Onyx Sensico leatherette upholstery
- Sensico-wrapped steering wheel
- 8-way energy entrance seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated entrance seats
- FordPass connectivity
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Automated reflector LED headlights
- 19-inch alloy wheels with Aero covers
- Keyless entry and begin
- Panoramic glass roof
- Energy tailgate
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Energetic grille shutters
- Whisper, Energetic and Untame drive modes
- One-pedal drive mode
Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E secure?
The Ford Mustang Mach-E was awarded a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on Euro NCAP testing – this is applicable solely to the Choose and Premium, although.
It obtained an grownup occupant safety score of 92 per cent, a toddler occupant safety score of 86 per cent, a weak highway person safety of 69 per cent, and a security help score of 86 per cent.
Customary security gear consists of:
- Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
- Autonomous emergency braking with intersection help
- Auto high-beam
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Evasive steering help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane centring
- Lane maintain help
- Pre-collision help
- Publish-collision braking
- Park Help
- Rear-cross site visitors alert
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Pace signal recognition
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- 7 airbags (Choose, Premium)
How a lot does the Ford Mustang Mach-E price to run?
The Mustang Mach-E is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre car guarantee and an eight-year, 160,000km battery guarantee.
The Mustang Mach-E requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres.
Ford gives capped-price servicing for the primary 10 years or 150,000km of possession, with service costs alternating between $135 and $180.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Ford Mustang Mach-E
Though it reveals promise, the Mustang Mach-E Choose isn’t the electrical SUV we’d have on the prime of our consideration listing in 2024.
It’s considerably dearer than the bottom Tesla Mannequin Y, however can’t compete relating to vary.
That legendary Mustang badge carries some enchantment however the Mach-E seems blobby and under-wheeled in base Choose guise, whereas its cabin reveals promise however finally presents like an Escape EV doing its very best to imitate its cooler older brother.
Sure, there’s a sporty undertone to its steering and suspension setup once you’re pushing arduous, however it’s not carried by way of the entire expertise; the Choose feels heavy in regular driving, and the weighty steering undermines its credentials as a metropolis automotive.
None of those flaws are deadly, however layering them atop one another makes for an electrical SUV that’s extra middling than it’s Mustang.
At one level, middling might need been sufficient to seek out favour in Australia’s nascent electrical automotive market, however the recreation has moved on.
Hopefully the refreshed Mach-E revealed abroad will be extra aggressive when it hits Australia.
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