2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford revolutionized mobility over a century ago when it brought the horseless carriage to the masses. Breaking the internal combustion engine (ICE) mold with its first expansion of the Mustang lineup in 56 years, the automaker is angling to ride the wave of transformation to electrification. Gone is the guttural growl of the V8 ICE engine, and in its wake a brand-redefining luxury ride that is smooth and silent—a hallmark of the electric engine—with performance worthy of the Mustang badge. In addition, the latest-generation Ford Sync infotainment system shows how far the company has come in its connected-car capabilities. Ford is no one-trick pony and the 2021 Mach-E proves it, earning our Editors' Choice award.

Mach-E Pricing and Design

Available in five trims—Select, California Route 1, Premium, GT (late summer 2021), and First Edition (sold out)—the Mach-E offers a variety of battery and electric motor configurations to customize power output and range. All trim levels are equipped with an 88.0-kWh battery pack and two electric motors, one on each axle, sending power to all four wheels. 

All also come with a portable 120-volt or 240-volt charging cable and DC fast-charging capability. The DC fast charger reaches a maximum of 150 kilowatts and boosts 52 miles of range in 10 minutes. The Mach-E Premium trim we tested can charge its battery from 10% to 80% in 45 minutes.

Ford’s charging network of 13,500 third-party stations can be accessed through its proprietary app. At stations that support the Plug & Charge protocol, the vehicle starts charging within seconds of plugging in, once payment information is preloaded in the app. The Ford mobile charger, included with the vehicle, can add an estimated average range of 20 miles per charging hour on a 240V outlet. Ford is teaming up with Amazon for home installation by a licensed electrician.

Charging aside, the Mach-E comes standard with 18-inch wheels, keyless entry and ignition with smartphone access, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, and simulated leather upholstery. Standard tech includes a digital instrument panel, a 15.5-inch touch screen featuring Ford’s next-gen Sync 4A infotainment interface, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, navigation, remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a six-speaker audio system. Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced safety features comes standard on every trim.

The Select trim starts at $42,895 and comes with rear-wheel drive (RWD) with 230 miles of range, 266 horsepower, and 317lb.-ft. of torque, or all-wheel drive (AWD) with 211 miles of range, 266hp, and 428lb.-ft. of torque. 

The California Route 1 trim sells for $49,800 and adds an extended-range battery with RWD topping off 300 miles of range, 290hp, and 317lb.-ft. of torque. This trim adds black-painted wheels and exterior trimlines, power-folding mirrors, a panoramic fixed-glass roof, a cargo cover, an automated parking system, driver's seat memory settings, and a surround-view camera.

The Premium trim starts at $47,000 and comes with three options including the standard-range battery, an extended-range battery with RWD, and an AWD option with an extended-range battery that drops to 270 miles of range but adds 346hp and 428lb.-ft. of torque. The Premium pre-production trim we tested came with AWD and added to the above features 19-inch wheels, a hands-free liftgate, acoustically insulated front windows, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel and front seats, interior ambient lighting, and a nine-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The sold-out First Edition trim mimics the Premium AWD.

The GT trim tops out at $60,500 and comes with an extended-range battery, AWD, and peaks at 480hp, 600lb.-ft., and 250 miles of range. A Performance Edition sheds some range but adds an extra 34lb.-ft. of torque and is equipped with a MagneRide damping system, performance seats, and 20-inch Pirelli summer tires.

Another standout attribute on the Mach-E is the amount of convenience and technology provided across all trims. Just as the original Ford Sync set industry standards, this latest generation sets a benchmark for what will be expected of software-defined vehicles and how they interact with the broader mobility ecosystem. All software updates will be over the air (OTA) to upgrade vehicle performance, provide maintenance updates, and, for upper trims by this fall, to activate Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 hands-free semi-automated driving system.

The Mach-E comes with a $7,500 federal credit, making it one of the more affordable options compared with the Audi e-tron, the Tesla Model Y, the Volvo Polestar 2, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Cutting-Edge Tech

Standard technology features on the Mach-E include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and, like its Model Y rival, a 15.5-inch touch screen placed above the center console. Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system is easy to operate via the touch screen, but there are also some physical controls, such as a volume knob.

The menus are intuitive, with a shortcut bar that's continually customized as the system learns your preferences. Ford's onboard navigation system is functional and feature-rich. In addition to four USB ports, two in the front and two in the back, the front console houses a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist features include adaptive cruise control, front-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and a surround-view camera. 

The Bang & Olufsen sound system available on the Premium trim sounds stellar and is seamlessly integrated across the front, positioned above the air vents like a soundbar. 

A smartphone digital key makes its debut on the Mach-E. Using Bluetooth, the vehicle can detect your smartphone as you approach, unlocking the doors and allowing you to start driving without getting your phone out or using a key fob. There is also a keypad on the B-pillar and a fob in case your phone isn't on your or powered up.

The Ford app provides information and services such as charge status, trip planning that highlights battery level and available charging stations, and it allows for certain vehicle functions such as opening the windows or liftgate. 

The jury is still out on the button-actuated doors that add subtle styling and elongate the exterior line, but take some getting used to when accessing the vehicle. First you have to find the button, and then there's a delay between pushing the button and the door opening. Another unique element is the front trunk storage unit. Providing 4.8-cubic feet of storage space, it can be packed full of ice and beverages and drained when done.

Mach E Performance

While placed in the luxury SUV segment, with its long hood, hindquarter design, aggressive headlights, and tri-bar taillamps—trademark Mustang elements—the Mach-E edges more into crossover-wagon territory in terms of utility and performance.

With three drive experiences—Engage, Unbridled, and Whisper—you can align driving dynamics with a distinct sensory experience. Features include custom-designed driving elements such as stiffer steering controls, ambient lighting, sounds that create an authentic all-electric experience, and dynamic cluster animations that react to driving behavior. 

The Mach-E AWD system we tested delivers torque instantly to the front and rear axles for seat-pressing acceleration and corner-gripping fun. We used the L position on the gearshift to activate a deceleration mode for descending steep hills.

The hefty battery located on the floor between the vehicle’s two axles provides gravity-gripping results on asphalt and delivers a standard 68.0-kWh pack of 230 miles for RWD and 211 miles for AWD Mach-Es. While the Mach-E's intermingling of regen and friction brakes has some kinks, the one-pedal function is smooth. Couple the regen with sportier handling and engrossing performance, and the Mach-E delivers a Mustang-credible experience.

For purists missing the more traditional merits of the vintage Mustang, Ford’s GT trim is targeting 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds, making it faster off the line than a Porsche Macan Turbo. The GT Performance Edition, meanwhile, is targeting 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. 

A New Kind of Mustang

The Mustang brand is known globally, but beyond North American males perhaps, coupes don’t sell. Crossovers do. The potential market for the Mach-E is much broader, and polishing off the Mustang brand is a brilliant move. We appreciate Ford's crack at diversifying the concept of power to go beyond the testosterone-informed, incorporating today’s connected, electric reality. 

The 2021 Mach-E refurbishes the Mustang mystique of freedom, progress, and performance into a powerful electric future. And it boasts cutting-edge technology such as OTA updates and machine learning that continue to improve the vehicle and the driver experience. While trailing the Tesla Model Y in a few key metrics, these will be resolved with the introduction of the GT trim in late summer. That places the Mach-E at the head of the pack, and earns it our Editors' Choice award.