2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Is A Modern Day Pony Car, For Better Or Worse

Ford has finally unveiled the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, a dedicated electric SUV.

Putting the aside the obvious sullying of the Mustang name, the Mach-E is a relatively stylish crossover with an aggressive front fascia and a fully enclosed grille. The latter is surrounded by slender LED lighting units and a sporty lower bumper.

The aggressive design language continues further back as the Mach-E has a rakish windscreen, a coupe-like roofline and softly curved surfaces. The model also boasts bulging rear fenders, a dynamic greenhouse and hidden door handles that bring a touch of class to a mainstream brand.

Unfortunately, the rear end isn’t as lucky. It features a bloated tailgate with Mustang-inspired taillights that appear to have been tacked on with little thought to aesthetics. Putting those criticisms aside, the crossover also has a rakish rear window, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a black lower bumper.

While the exterior has hints of Mustang, the interior says Explorer. However, it’s not as bad as that reference would suggest as the Mach-E has higher quality materials and an improved design.

Drivers sit behind a Mustang-branded steering wheel and find themselves looking at a freestanding 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. To their right is a 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a portrait orientation.  Other notable highlights include a stylish dashboard with slender air vents and aluminum-like trim.

An assortment of options will be available including a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a panoramic glass roof and ambient lighting.  Customers can also get a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and alloy pedals.

In terms of space, the Mach-E has a front trunk – or frunk – that provides 4.8 cubic feet (136 liters) of storage.  The rear luggage compartment has a capacity of 29 cubic feet (821 liters), but that can be expanded to 59.6 cubic feet (1,688 liters) by folding the rear seats down.

Five different variants will be available including an entry-level Select grade that starts at $43,895 before tax credits (up to $7,500). The model is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, and both feature a 75.7 kWh battery pack and a output of around 255 hp (190 kW / 259 PS). The rear-wheel drive variant will have around 306 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque, while the all-wheel drive model will up that number to roughly 417 lb-ft (565 Nm).

The rear-wheel drive model will accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in the low six second range and have an overall range of approximately 230 miles (370 km).  The all-wheel drive variant drops the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time to the mid five second range, but the range also falls to 210 miles (338 km/h).

Moving up the trim ladder is the Mach-E Premium which starts at $50,600. It will be offered in standard and long range configurations, with and without all-wheel drive.

The specs are a mouthful, but the standard range variant will have the same powertrain as the Mach-E Select. However, the big news is the extend range Mach-E which has a larger 98.8 kWh battery.

The extended range variant also has more power as the rear-wheel drive model will have around 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) and 306 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque. This will enable the crossover to run from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in the mid six second range, and have an estimated range of 300 miles (483 km).

Likewise, the all-wheel drive variant will have approximately 333 hp (248 kW / 338 PS) and 417 lb-ft (565 Nm) of torque. This lowers the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time to the mid five second range, and also drops the overall range to around 270 miles (435 km).

Things are less confusing from there as the $52,400 Mach-E California Route 1 is simply an extend range variant with rear-wheel drive. As a result, it uses the aforementioned powertrain that develops 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) and 306 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque. The model also has a range of around 300 miles (483 km).

The $59,900 Mach-E First Edition is the opposite as it’s a long-range model with all-wheel drive. This means it has 333 hp (248 kW / 338 PS) and 417 lb-ft (565 Nm) of torque, as well as a range of around 270 miles (435 km).

The last of the five models is the high-performance Mach-E GT which starts at $60,500. The company is keeping detailed specifications under wraps, but said the crossover will have around 459 hp (342 kW / 465 PS) and 612 lb-ft (830 Nm) of torque.

The model will be available exclusively with all-wheel drive and the 98.8 kWh battery.  The focus on performance lowers the range to around 235 miles (378 km), but the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time falls to the mid three second range.

Putting aside the performance specs, owners will need to recharge their vehicles.  In order to do this, each Mach-E comes with a mobile charger than can deliver 22 miles (35 km) of range for every hour of changing when connected to a 240V outlet.

Customers can also purchase an optional Ford Connected Charging station.  It uses a 240V outlet, but delivers 32 miles (51 km) of range for every hour of charging.

When traveling, customers can use a growing network of DC fast chargers.  Ford says the standard-range Mustang Mach-E can go from a 10 to 80 percent charge in approximately 38 minutes using one of these 150 kW chargers.

People interested in the 2021 Mustang Mach-E can make a reservation for a $500 deposit.  However, they’ll have a bit of wait as the first vehicles won’t arrive until late next year.  Fans wanting the entry-level Select and high-performance GT will need to wait even longer as a launch isn’t scheduled until 2021.

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