The article was originally produced on November 19, 2019, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Ford Mustang Mach-e

Ford has electrified its iconic model name Mustang and I have experienced the new Mach-E.

Those of you who have followed me may remember the static display in Oslo of the Mustang Mach-E I reported from. Now the car is ready for the street and I have familiarized myself with it for a couple of days when the snow cover spread over our capital.

Bullitt with Steve McQueen

It is predicted that the car model that will sell best next year will be an electric compact SUV. That Ford's first completely pure electrified model is just such a model therefore does not come as a surprise. The fact that Ford chose to use the classic model name Mustang was, however, surprising and for some it came as a shock. Many disappointed and upset comments have abounded and I can actually understand some of them. The Mustang has achieved iconic status through, among other things, the movie Bullitt with Steve McQueen, the racing successes with Carroll Shelby, the muscle versions GT350 and GT500, and above all the smooth sound of the V8 engine. But nothing lasts forever and now Ford has made a move on the matter. The newcomer definitely does not exude the same weight as a classic Mustang.

In terms of appearance, the Mustang Mach-E is a bit round and bloated and the body has a coupe-like shape with a sloping rear window. The front lacks a real grill as air intake is not necessary on an electric car. In the center of the hooded front sits an emblem that surprisingly looks more like a pony-shaped gingerbread shape than a Mustang powerhouse. The rear lights, on the other hand, breathe Mustang all the way out. Having said that, I still don't want to say that the Mustang Mach-E is ugly, but definitely not as tough as a classic Mustang. More like a cute pony in comparison. 

using a code

To step into the Mustang Mach-E, you have to press a button on the b-pillar. Then the door opens a little and then you have to grab a wing-like handle to open the door completely. On the b-pillar there is also a number keypad to be able to unlock with the help of a code. Something that was found on American cars but unusual for us in Europe. 

Once inside the car, I am quickly struck by the giant screen in the middle. If you thought the Tesla S had a big screen the first time you saw it, this one feels even bigger. At the bottom, outside the screen, there is a round physical slider to adjust the volume. Pretty much everything else is controlled via the screen and the physical buttons are conspicuous by their absence. For better or for worse, but something you will probably get used to quickly. 

Ford has been generous

With snow covering the roads, there was no opportunity to explore the performance of the Mustang Mach-E. I don't doubt that it is fast because it is an electric car and the Mach-E in this version has 269 electric horses. According to Ford, 0-100 should be just under seven seconds. The Mach-E comes in both rear and all-wheel drive. In this version with four-wheel drive, slips and snow were never a problem. With the tongue right in the mouth, and the anti-skid system switched off, the car feels playful and easy to handle, even on a skid. In the normal mode, the steering wheel is incredibly easy to steer, but if you select one of the sportier driving programs, it stiffens. 

When I'm done fooling around behind the wheel and just drifting, which in reality is an activity many Mustang owners engage in, the Mach-E works very well. Quietly and softly you make your way along the city's streets. And of course Ford has been generous with a powerful sound system from Bang & Olufsen, something I thoroughly enjoyed.

trips within and around the city

The range of the Mustang Mach-E should be up to 610 kilometers, according to Ford. However, it is possible to order the car with a different battery pack where the only difference is how often the car needs to be charged. The Mustang I test drove is equipped with the smaller battery, which thus has a shorter range of just over 300 kilometers. Something I unfortunately experienced quickly diminished due to the cold. But if you only make trips in and around the city, and have the opportunity to charge at home or at work, the smaller battery should work perfectly. 

The Ford Mustang Mach-E as a whole actually feels really good and the model is guaranteed to be a big seller. Although Mustang sounds a bit wrong for a car like this. Perhaps Ford's loyal Mustang followers would have been more forgiving if they named it the Ponny Mach-E. It would be more appropriate for the character of the car.