2021 Ford Mustang Mach-e SUV

Pricing starts at $42,895 for the Mustang Mach-E and climbs up to more than $50,400 for the top-end variants. The battery packs on offer include a 75.7 kWh one in the Standard-Range variants and a 98.8kWh battery in the Extended-Range variants. The Mustang Mach-E delivers a respectable range and provides impressive performance for the price range. The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E competes with the Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model Y, and Hyundai Kona Electric. Let’s see how it holds up against other electric competition.

The 2021 Ford Mustang GT is available in three trims excluding the GT version. The Select model comes in the standard-range configuration and is available in both RWD as well AWD. Next comes the Premium trim which also is available in a similar configuration along with an Extended-Range version also. The California Route 1 model that comes next comes only in an RWD configuration with the extended range battery pack. 

The standard battery pack is a 75.7 kWh Li-Ion battery pack whereas the Extended-Range models get a 98.8kWh one. The available packages include Comfort, Appearance, and Technology Packages. We will discuss the trim-wise performance as well as fuel economy and range further on in the review. The following table shows the different trims, their price, and their features-

We Recommend

The California Route 1 trim would be the ideal choice as it gets the Extended-Range battery pack offering more power and range compared to the base Select variant while the price is just slightly better than the Premium trim with the standard battery pack. The features offered are also worth the price and it is the ideal choice to opt for.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is available in different powertrain configurations Select 266 hp and 317 lb-ft in RWD model and 428 lb-ft in the AWD model, California Route 290 hp and 317 lb-ft, Premium same in the standard range model whereas the extended-range model puts out 290 hp in RWD and 346 hp in the AWD version. All of these variants are pretty powerful and we have taken the base Select variant with the standard powertrain in the RWD configuration for comparison along with the base models of other competition. 

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select trim takes 5.8 seconds to reach 60mph and 14.0 seconds to cross the quarter-mile mark in the RWD configuration. The AWD version does 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and the Premium trim takes the same time to achieve the same feat with the standard range variant but the Extended-Range variant takes 6.1 and 4.8 seconds in the RWD and AWD configurations respectively. The California Route 1 trim which is RWD only, also takes 6.1 seconds to gain a speed of 6.1 seconds. Overall the performance of the Mustang is impressive and there's a variant available for all needs.

Tesla is definitely the best-performing in the segment, but then its price is a lot more than the rest of the competition. All of the cars in the competition come with a similar engine setup consisting of a single electric motor in RWD variants and a dual-motor setup in AWD variants. Within the price range, the Mustang is definitely the best-in-class performing vehicle. Keeping the expensive Tesla aside, the Mustang Mach-E is the fastest as well as the most powerful. It is also just a second slower than the Tesla while being $10,000 cheaper which is a huge achievement.

How well does the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Drive and Handle?

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E has been tuned by Ford to be more like a - a Mustang obviously as the name suggests. So the characteristics of an RWD sports car can be expected from this crossover SUV, which is a good thing as the handling is better than an SUV with minimal body roll. The Mach-E handles very well in corners and is maneuverable in urban environments. The ride quality is impressive and the car won’t tire you in long rides and the suspension setup is smooth and composed. 

The handling is among the best in the segment and can be comparable and holds up well against the Tesla Model Y. The car is composed around corners delivering sports car-like driving dynamics while also providing the ride quality and comfort of a crossover. The Mustang Mach-E is truly one of the best drivable cars in the segment offering impressive handling and an overall engaging driving experience. It surely takes the cake in terms of handling and drivability. 

How efficient is the braking performance of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E? 

The 2021 Mustang Mach-E is equipped with 18"/4 piston ventilated discs in the front wheels and 17"/1 piston sliding solid disk brakes in the rear. The brakes do a decent job of stopping the vehicle efficiently. But the braking distance is not available for comparison as of now. The regenerative braking in the Mach-E is so aggressive that one-pedal driving is also possible with this car. They can actually be brought to a stop by just taking your foot off the accelerator. The brakes are a bit grabby and lack a smooth stopping feel and this could need some getting used to. Other than that the braking department of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is excellent.

The Mustang holds up with the competition on the braking front. The Tesla, however, is the best in terms of braking distance and also while being the most powerful car in the segment competes with the Kona which happens to be the least powerful one with the smallest battery pack. This shows the efficiency and seniority of Tesla in the EV category. Compared to the competition the Mustang is a vehicle delivering impressive braking and regenerative braking performance.

This is where things get complicated as there are different powertrain, drivetrain, and battery capacity combinations that deliver a different range in each case. The base Select trim and the Premium trim with the Standard range are equipped with a battery pack consisting of 288 Li-Ion cells, rated at 75.7 kWh out of which 68 kWh is usable. This version delivers a range of 230 miles in an RWD configuration and 210 miles in an AWD configuration. The Premium Extended-Range as well as the California Route 1 models are equipped with a larger battery pack made up of 376 Li-Ion cells delivering 98.8kWh out of which 88kWh of energy is used. 

The Premium trim with Extended-Range delivers a range of 300 miles in the RWD model and 270 miles in the AWD model whereas the California Route 1 trim which is RWD only comes with a range of 300 miles. All models are capable of DC fast charging at a maximum speed of 115kW, which can top up the battery in under an hour whereas home charging takes around 9 hours. The eMPG figures of the vehicle, as well as other efficiency details, are provided in the table below-

The Tesla Model Y is the best in terms of eMPG figures as well as range. However, for the price paid the Mustang delivers an impressive fuel economy. The Hyundai Kona also performs impressively, even with a weaker battery pack, and is a great performer. The charging times of all of these machines are in similar territory and all of the vehicles in this comparison charge up in around an hour when the proprietary fast charger is used. Whereas the slow, home charging times are mentioned in the table.

The interior of the Mustang Mach-E is of premium quality and all of the elements and materials inside are of premium quality. The visibility outside is also impressive and there is an ample amount of space on the inside. The seats are comfortable and covered in ActiveX Black Onyx in the base trim and there are other options available including perforated seats in Balck Onyx as well as Light Space Grey color options. Multicolor ambient lighting is also an available option while many other options are included in packages.

The available Comfort Package adds some features including the heated steering wheel and front seats whereas the Comfort/technology Package further includes a 6-way manual front-passenger seat. The seats are comfortable and won’t tire you during long journeys. Space on the inside is adequate and adults in the rear seat won’t feel cramped or uncomfortable. There is also plenty of space for luggage including a class-leading 29.7 cu-ft cargo capacity in the rear and a small 4.7 cu-ft space in the front for your groceries.

The Mustang Mach-E has one of the best cabins in the segment delivering a more premium feel compared to the Tesla which has always been too simple in terms of design. The Tesla Model Y, however, does dominate in terms of rear row space and also offers the best headroom also. The Mustang is the second most spacious option in terms of space and it also delivers the most room for luggage. The most important interior features of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E are-

• ActiveX Black Onyx trimmed upholstery
• Soft Vinyl wrapped heated steering wheel
• Ambient Lighting
• 8-way power front-passenger seat
• Acoustic-laminate front-row side windows
• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control

How intuitive is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E’s infotainment unit?

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E comes equipped with a huge 15.5-inch vertically mounted touch screen infotainment unit along with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen system is intuitive and also supported by buttons for ease of use. Although the vertically mounted screen comes with its own limitations in maximum utilization of space, it is still very user-friendly and comfortable. The audio unit consists of 6 Speakers in the base trim whereas the Premium trim boasts a B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen that includes 9 Speakers and a subwoofer.

The following are the most important infotainment features-

• B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen with 10-Speakers, 
• FordPass Connect, Next Generation Sync with Connected Navigation, 
• Phone as a Key (PaaK), 
• 10.2" Digital Cluster & 15.5" Touchscreen infotainment unit
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay

The exterior of the Mustang Mach-E looks impressive compared with other EVs and still not as beautiful as the gas-powered machines we are used to seeing. The Mach-E has a design language that has incorporated both sharp cuts as well as sleek lines very beautifully. The front end has a different look in different models. The Select and California Route 1 models look quite dull compared to the front-end of the Premium trim as it features a better-looking actually more traditional-looking grille and not like the masked-up face of normal EVs. 

The Mach-E can be opted in 10 different color options and comes with a beautiful panoramic fixed-glass roof which lets in a lot of light while also enhancing the looks and outward visibility. The wheels options include 18" Carbonized Gray-Painted Aluminum in the select trim, 18” High Gloss Black-Painted Aluminum with Low Gloss Black Aero Cover in the California Route 1 trim, and larger 19" Machined-Face Aluminum with High Gloss Black-Painted Pockets in the Premium model. The front end also features LED projector headlamps with LED signature lighting which look dope with sharp detailing. 

The Mustang Mach-E is definitely the most beautiful one from the outside followed by the Volkswagen ID.4. The Tesla and the Kona are not very pleasing on the beauty side. The Volkswagen is the heaviest among these and the Kona obviously is the lightest. The Tesla with the improved performance and better range has still managed to keep the weight down than the Mustang. The Mach-E has also done a pretty good job in weight management although not as good as the Tesla. The Tesla Model Y is the longest and widest while also providing the best ground clearance which makes it the most practical one in the competition. Some standout exterior features of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E include-

• LED Projector Headlamps with Auto High Beam, 
• Foot-Activated Power Liftgate
• Acoustic Laminated Glass - Front-row side windows
• Panoramic Fixed-Glass Roof with Infrared Reflective (IRR) Windshield
• 19" Machined-Face Aluminum with High Gloss Black-Painted Pockets
• Available 19” Shadow Silver-Painted Aluminum Wheels with High Gloss Black Aero Cover

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E comes equipped with a set of impressive safety features which first of all includes a very strong regenerative braking system. The regenerative system is very aggressive and can bring the car to a stop. The Mach-E also features a lot of advanced safety features including Reverse Brake Assist, Reverse Sensing System, Post-Impact Braking, and a Lane-Keeping System. The Mach-E has not yet been crash-tested and rated by any of the agencies, so these scores are not available for comparison. The following are the rest of the standout safety features incorporated in the Mustang Mach-E- 

• Active Park Assist 2.0 and 360 Degree Camera
• BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Pre-Collision Assist with AEB
• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, 
• Lane Centering, and Speed Sign Recognition
• Evasive Steering Assist

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the overall better option in this comparison. It offers more power along with better handling and drivability. It is also the overall better-looking one and the more engaging to drive. The Volkswagen ID.4 however, delivers more range and takes less time to charge up. But overall the Mach-E would be the ideal option.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y now starts with the Extended-Range model and the standard-range model has been discontinued, which means that it starts at a much higher price now. The Mach-E is around $10,000 cheaper than the Model Y which gives the Mustang a price advantage. But the Tesla does come with improved goodies for the price paid. It is more powerful, delivers more range, and has a more spacious interior. So if you have more money to spend, the Model Y would be the better choice.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric

Here, the Mustang again is the better choice, as it gets more power, better handling, and a more spacious interior. The Hyundai Kona Electric comes with more range on offer than the base battery pack version of the Mach-E but the Extended-Range Mustang delivers a lot more range than the Kona. It also comes with a better-looking interior and a beautiful exterior making it the overall better choice for the price paid.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is a very capable contender in the recently getting crowded segment of crossover electric SUVs and actually EVs in general. The Mustang Mach-E comes in various powertrain and battery pack combinations in both RWD as well as AWD drivetrain configurations. It offers enough power on offer along with great handling and driving dynamics. It also gets a spacious interior with comfortable seats and a usable cargo area enough to carry your luggage. Overall it is a superb option in the market in the segment and price range.