Sadly perhaps, as I get older there are more and more things I can’t seem to understand. Things like “Bitcoins” and “NFT’s”, “Parkour”, “Influencers” and “TikTok Challenges” where young people do stuff that makes no sense such as eat detergent pods. I place the latter in same group as those who are the reason we need to have warnings on shampoo bottles not to drink the contents and have who we have to give instructions to on how to wash your hair; “Lather, rinse, repeat.”
Of course, I sort of think that if there are people who do such things as jump around on the ledges of buildings, or ingest detergents and soaps aren’t warned, suffer the consequences (and die), that eventually our human gene pool would be that much stronger.
I also didn’t understand why Ford called its first all-electric crossover a “Mustang.” Specifically, a Mustang Mach-E. Launched in 2021, I was okay with what I saw on paper anyway: an affordable decent looking full on electric vehicle meant to compete with the likes of Tesla. I decided to withhold my final judgment until I actually got to spend time with it.
That week finally came recently when Ford send me a 2021 Mustang Mach-E for a week.
While it’s classified as an SUV, it’s really more of a crossover, akin to a puffed-up Ford Escape or Porsche Macan. It seats five and has five trims: Select, California Route 1, Premium, GT and First Edition.
While there’s a lot of nice features starting in the base trim, I’ve learned that when it comes to electric cars it’s really all about power, and range. The Mach-E can be had in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive each of which can affect the range. In the Select and Premium trims, rear-wheel gets 266 horsepower, 317 lb-ft of torque and 230 miles of range while all-wheel drive 266 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, and 211 miles of range. You can option in an extended range battery on the Premium and it’s standard on the California Route 1. The Route 1 the extended range is 305 miles with 290 hp and 317 lb-ft. On the Premium the rear wheel gets 300 miles of range, 290 hp and 317 lb-ft torque and all-wheel 270 miles of range; 346 hp and 428 lb. ft torque.
The GT pretty much mirrors the Premium but gets 20-inch wheels with wider tires (up from the 19 on the Premium and 18 on the Select). The GT also has a sport tuned suspension, a black grill and sport seats in the front.
I had the Premium for my week, which like all Mach -E models had adaptive cruise control, frontal collision mitigation, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and lane centering (which annoyingly can’t be turned off). There was also a hands free liftgate.
My tester also had a panoramic fixed-glass roof which has no cover; it’s actually something that can’t be covered as it turns out. Living in Florida and with the Mach-E sitting in the June sun I was a bit apprehensive about this at first. But it seems the engineers at Ford have added a sort of UV coating so the sun, even the Florida summer sun, is kept at bay. That was a pleasant surprise.
Another nice surprise was the Mach-E interior. Sure, it looks nice on the outside, but the inside is like no other Ford I think I’ve been in. Sure, there is power-adjustable, and heated, front seats and steering wheel, cool looking ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel and a great sounding 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. But the layout itself looks very futuristic, and nicely so. Not in a Jetsons sort of way as in others I’ve seen. There is plenty of room, and a well-designed dash and console all anchored by a new 15.5-inch touch screen.
On the road the Mach-E Is quick and really a lot of fun to drive. The forward view out the laid-back windshield was another nice surprise; the surround-view camera system works well though I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get to try Ford’s BlueCruise system or the automatic parking system.
There is the still the thing about being called a Mustang though. Turns out the Mach-E started life as an electrified and lifted Focus. Then the gang in Ford marketing decided it would sell better if branded as a “Mustang.” Huh.
Perhaps in an homage to the Mustang name, when you put the Mach-E into its sport mode there’s an electronic growl coming out the speakers. Huh.
Maybe it’s because I’m an old gear head; a muscle car lover who would love nothing more than to have a Mustang GT sitting in my driveway (Bullet edition please), but the fact that this is called a Mustang is just something I don’t really understand. Beyond that the March-E is great. It looks good, drives great, has decent range, and is very affordable for what it is.
All in all, it’s a winner in my world. Sure, the growl is annoying, and the name…well let’s just move on shall we. Time to go do my laundry; at least with my kids I know there will be plenty of Tide Pods.
The 2021 Mustang Mach-E Premium
MSRP: $49,700
MSRP (as tested): $55,800
Engine: Single electric: 270 miles of range; 346 hp and 428 lb. ft
Transmission: 1 speed automatic
MPGe: 96 city, 84 highway, 37 kw-hrs per 100 miles
Curb Weight: 4394 pounds
Exterior Dimensions
Minimum Ground Clearance: 5.8 inches
Overall Length: 186.6 inches
Wheelbase: 117.5 inches
Width: 74.1 inches
Height: 64.0 inches
Interior Dimensions
Max Seating Capacity: 5
Front Head Room: 38.9 inches
Front Leg Room: 43.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room: 57.6 inches
Rear Headroom: 38.2 inches
Rear Legroom: 38.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.9 inches
Cargo Capacity: 59.7 cubic feet
Warranty
Full Warranty: 36/ 36,000
Powertrain Warranty: 60/60,000
Roadside Warranty: 60/60,000
Corrosion Warranty: 60/Unlimited
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.