2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E review

The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in three models. Image: Supplied

Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing and features

The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in three variants in Australia: Select, Premium and GT.

Select and Premium variants have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the GT adds a front motor for all-wheel drive.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has remote connectivity that allows monitoring of the vehicle, as well as locking and unlocking. It also has over-the-air software functionality, allowing upgrades using the mobile connection.

Pricing kicks off at $79,990 plus on-road costs for the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select, which despite its entry-level status, comes generously equipped. Standard gear includes 19-inch wheels, fake leather, a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats (with memory for the driver’s seat), heated front seats and steering wheel, powered tailgate, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. There’s also a slim 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and enormous 15.5-inch central infotainment screen.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium ($91,665 plus on-road costs) adds some red stitching, red brake calipers, and different alloy wheels with Continental tyres (replacing Hankook rubber of Select). There’s also ambient lighting and alloy pedals. Plus, there are also various design changes - including better headlights and shiny black plastic highlights.

At the top of the Ford Mustang Mach-E tree is the GT, at $107,665 plus plus on-road costs. It’s designed to channel some of the (real) Mustang muscle in the more practical EV version.

It gets 20-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero tyres, sports seats, MagneRide electronically adjustable dampers, larger Brembo front brakes, and a front motor, which adds up to a whole lot more power, which we’ll get to. There are also various design changes, including the black grille and unique bumper inserts, as well as various trim elements inside.

Clearly, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a premium price tag that will limit its appeal, but it also has some big targets. Its toughest competitor is the Tesla Model Y, although it will also compete with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Polestar 2 and upcoming Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X.

Ford Mustang Mach-E safety equipment

The Ford Mustang Mach-E gets a partial five-star ANCAP rating tested to 2021 protocols. We say partial because the rating only applies to the Select and Premium models, with the GT unrated.

That’s because the GT misses out on the centre airbag that can prevent a head clash between front occupants. Blame it on the fitment of sports seats, which have body-hugging wings to better hold you in place.

That said, as with other variants, the GT still gets a solid list of active safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse, blind spot warning, speed sign recognition, a bonnet that pops up to cushion pedestrians, lane departure warning, evasive steer assist and post-collision braking.

Ford Mustang Mach-E interiors and design

Even getting inside the Ford Mustang Mach-E is different to other cars. Instead of door handles, there are small buttons that call for a thumb or index finger press to release the door. Small winglets on the front door provide a natural hold, while for the rear doors you can slide your fingers inside to pull them open.

Once inside, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is a mix of traditional Ford and new, albeit with pony logos liberally smattered throughout. It’s all about reinforcing the Mustang branding pedigree.

The steering wheel has bland Ford buttons, yet the portrait-configured touchscreen gets a giant dial to adjust the volume (it can also switch to other functions, depending on what’s selected on the screen). The vast sunroof makes for an airy feel.

Sensico fake leather is convincing, white stitching and perforations nail the details.

Being based on a dedicated EV architecture means a flat floor that liberates more foot room. And while it’s generously proportioned, there are other electric SUVs (Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y at a start) that provide more rear sprawling space.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E’s rear legroom is only just okay, and the side vision for taller folk is stifled by the sloping roof line. Storage space is equally mixed, with slim door pockets the extent of it.

There’s the occasional welcome surprise, such as the pony logo illuminated on the ground from under the mirrors. The 'ground speed' readout below the speedo continues the theme.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E also gets a rear windscreen wiper, which is unusual for an electric SUV; many don’t bother.

Ford Mustang Mach-E battery power, charging and efficiency

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has different battery packs depending on the model you buy. The entry-level Select gets an LFP (Lithium iron phosphate) battery that is similar to those used in BYDs and entry-level Teslas.

The Premium and GT get an NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) battery that’s more common on high performance EVs and most electric cars out of Europe.

It’s important to know which one you’re dealing with when it comes to charging.

LFP batteries like being regularly topped up to 100 per cent, which allows you to use the full EV driving range every day, which for the Select with its 71kWh battery is 470km.

NMC batteries prefer not to be fully charged regularly, with Ford recommending a 90 per cent charge limit. That means with its 91kWh capacity, the Premium would have 540km of everyday range, while the GT would be 441km.

Of course, each can be fully charged for road trips, unleashing the 600km/490km of range.

As for charging, Ford provides a regular home powerpoint charger as well as a Type 2 to Type 2 cable, the latter able to be connected to some wallboxes or utilise AC public charging where you need to bring your own cable.

AC charging can be done at up to 10.5kW, which means a full charge in about seven hours for the Select and nine hours for Premium and GT.

DC charging can be done at up to 150kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in 32 minutes for Select or 45 minutes for Premium and GT.

Interior of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium. Image: Supplied

Ford Mustang Mach-E performance and handling

There’s not much difference accelerating from a standstill between the Select and Premium versions (0-100 in 6.6 seconds vs 6.2 seconds), the additional 18kW of the Premium making itself known as speed increases, but the equal torque of the two the most dominant force for most situations.

Even at higher speeds, the differential is subtle. We can’t imagine too many would be disappointed with the punch of the Select.

There are three drive modes: Whisper, Active and Untame, each stepping up the enthusiasm to throttle response and adding weight to the steering.

The GT ramps things up enormously for those after supercar-like initial acceleration (0-100 in 3.7 seconds).

It pulls strongly, especially in Untame mode. However, during a thrash around a race track, we had it pull back power, apparently due to the battery getting hot.

We later tried it in Untame Plus mode - which mildly compromises outright performance for consistency in power delivery - and it dealt with the rigours of hard track driving more effectively.

On the road, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a taut but controlled demeanour. There’s decent grip, especially in the GT with its high-performance Pirelli P Zero tyres.

Steering is nicely balanced, and gets noticeably weightier as you step through the drive modes.

The rear-drive Select and Premium sit nicely in bends, the tail occasionally twitching if you’re too eager to accelerate out of a tight bend.

But it’s fun and engaging, as a Mustang should be.

That said, park any expectations you have that the Ford Mustang Mach-E drives and feels like a Mustang. It’s more a brisk and engaging EV than anything approaching the visceral and throaty experience of a true Mustang muscle car of old.

The perfect accompaniment for the real thing then?

That could depend on your willingness to embrace the new. At the very least, the Ford Mustang Mach-E provides an electric practical alternative, with some of the design ethos of the (real) Mustang.