Two and a half years on, the initial "how dare they's" seem to have died down over Ford deciding to make its electric midsize SUV a Mustang.
The guys who thought it was sacrilege are still out there, of course, but more than 76,000 Mach-Es have found homes in the USA, and it seems to be outpacing the Volkswagen ID.4, keeping up with the Kia EV6, and tailing the darlings of the midsize EV SUV set, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Tesla Model Y.
For the second half of the 2023 model run, Ford switched to lithium iron phosphate batteries for its standard range models, a move that boosts range to 250 miles (226 for all-wheel drive).
Our tester, the Premium model, zips from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and, with an optional battery upgrade, is now rated for 310 miles on a charge. It also offers better fast-charging capability than standard-range models---10% to 80% in 45 minutes.
The longest-range Tesla model Y can go 330 miles on a single charge, and accomplish the recharge at a Supercharger in 15-25 minutes.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5's longest-range model is good for 303 miles per charge and can do the 10% to 80% recharge in just 18 minutes. That puts the Mach-E at a disadvantage to both competitors in one way or another, but it's not severe, and leaves it as a solid contender for folks who don't trust Tesla, don't like its owner, and can no longer get the tax credit for the Hyundai because not enough of its parts are from this continent. However, the Mach-E lost half of its tax credit eligibility this year because of its battery sourcing. The credit has dropped to $3750.
The Mach-E Premium also incudes Ford's Blue Cruise hands-free driving system as standard equipment. I'm impressed. There was never a moment where I wasn't sure it was operating safely. That said, I'm also never going to have my hands more than an inch or two from the wheel nor my eyes off the road, no matter how good the system is.
The base price of the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium is $56,275. At that price, you get power heated folding exterior mirrors, a panoramic fixed-glass roof, a power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.5-inch touchscreen, ambient lighting and illuminated entry, dual illuminated vanity mirrors, dual-zone climate control, power and heated 8-way front seats with memory, a heated steering wheel, a 10-speaker B&O audio system, wireless charging, Blue Cruise and a comprehensive suite of active safety features.
The only extra-cost option on our test vehicle was the extended range battery, boosting range from 250 to 310. That's an $8,600 step up, which makes the bottom line of the window sticker read $64,875.
And that is another disadvantage for the Mustang. The Model Y (which I can't recommend because I've never tested one---Tesla does not offer vehicles for review) can be had for about six grand less, similarly equipped, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 (which I recommend wholeheartedly---review of the '23 coming here in days) comes in a bit less than the Tesla in loaded Limited trim.
But not everyone buys on price. There are almost as many formulas about which is more important---price, who makes it, style, tech, relationships with local dealers---as there are buyers.
The bottom line here is that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is absolutely a solid choice for a mid-size electric SUV and belongs on any such shopping list.
