2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD Extended: Review (Hagerty)
Let’s get this out of the way first: This electric SUV is absolutely a proper Mustang — but it’s a Mustang in the “1964-1/2 showroom riot” sense, not the “Mystichrome Terminator/GT500KR/Intercooled SVO” sense. Think for a minute about what the Mustang was on its debut. It was a fancy Falcon, a way for people to buy compact cars without the unpleasant societal and stylistic connotations that typically attended the purchase of such a car in the mid-’60s. All that stuff about winning SCCA races and grudge matches on Woodward Avenue and big-block Cobra-Jets? That came later.
What we’re looking at, therefore, is a Mustang “reboot,” returning to the original concept of “stylish everyday vehicle for everyday people.” In that respect, the Mach-E is a smashing success, delivering all the electric-SUV qualities of its competitors with none of the nerd-chic that puts so many people off Teslas and the deliberately strange General Motors electric cars. It’s the first EV that doesn’t feel compelled to scream “HEY EVERYBODY, I’M SAVING THE PLANET!” There’s just one not-so-little fly in the ointment, and we’ll cover that later on in the review.
The Mach-E range is fairly simple at the moment, with two basic trim levels, two range levels, and your choice of AWD or rear-wheel drive. A loaded-up First Edition model is already sold out, the loaded-up California Route 1 should be available shortly, and a GT is on the way. For now, however, you’ll want to pick between Select (basically Honda EX level of equipment) or Premium (panoramic glass roof, buffed-out sound system, active parking). The two battery levels are 68 kilowatt-hours and 88 kWh. Our road test vehicle was a Premium Extended AWD, but we were also given a chance to autocross a Select RWD.
(photo credit: Jack Baruth - Hagerty)
