2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT: Boring Gay Car Review
The people's EV is here...but does it bring enough value?
If you haven’t already, head to my Instagram and check out my Story highlight for the 2022 Mustang Mach-E GT to see my live review.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is arguably one of the most important EVs in the game right now. The early days of EVs were dominated by luxury options, but when Ford comes to market with a relatively affordable EV in crossover form, Americans listen. It’s important to make American families feel comfortable with the prospect of going electric, and the one car that can do it best is probably the Mustang Mach-E. Let’s get into why…
First - some interesting history. The Mustang Mach-E actually started life as an electric lifted version of a Ford Focus. The story goes that Ford execs told the design team to go back to the drawing board and make something more exciting, and the Mustang Mach-E was born. Some muscle car loyalists are upset that the Mustang brand has been slapped on an electric crossover, but I personally think it was a smart marketing move (admittedly, I was also mad at first). But now it makes complete sense - the Mustang name gave this car a ton of buzz in the media and likely made many more consumers curious about it.
Who Would Drive It?
This brings me to who might drive a Mach-E. I think this car is going to attract a lot more American families than something like a Tesla or Polestar. That could be due to cost but also due to the “bougie factor” that comes with those cars - some people just want to avoid that type of attention. Beyond that, crossovers remain extremely popular, and I think the Mustang Mach-E is one of the best-looking options available. If you look at it from the side (below) it looks like a high-end European car - and that’s a very good thing. In that sense, the car might also attract some bougie types who want the “alt-factor” of not driving what’s expected of them. I can see some BMW, Lexus, and Audi converts coming to this car.
Stats
Let’s get into the numbers. Brand new for the 2021 model year, the Mach-E GT comes in four flavors - Select, Premium, CA Route 1, and GT. The basic stats break down as follows:
Select: $44K | 266 HP 428 LB FT | 0-60 in 5.2 seconds | 247 mile range
Premium: $49K | 346 HP 428 LB FT | 0-60 4.8 seconds | 303 mile range
CA Route 1: $52K | same stats as the Premium but with a 314 mile range
GT: $62K | 480 HP 634 LB FT | 0-60 in 3.5 seconds | 270 mile range
On pricing, you should be able to get a lease on a Select model in the low $500’s presumably with $4K or so down. I use vague words because Ford is actually sold out of 2022 Mach-E’s for custom order. If you want one this year, you’re stuck with inventory already on dealer lots or used models. And in this market, a used Select is probably going to be a bit more than a new one so I’d stick to new. One great thing is that Mach-E’s qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit (unlike Tesla’s, because too many of them were sold and they no longer have that benefit). So that $7,500 credit could be a nice break to offset the cost when you file your taxes next year.
For my review, I tested the top-of-the-line GT model in Grabber Blue (also known as Smurf Blue, in my opinion). For better or worse, the color turns a lot of heads so definitely choose it if you want attention. My favorite part of the day was when an older woman walked up to me and said the car was “beautiful!” Beyond the color, one thing that stood out to me on the GT model is that the electric range does not suffer based on the added horsepower and torque, which is really nice. For competitors such as Tesla, the electric range decreases slightly on higher-performance versions. Since you have to pay more for those versions anyway, they should at least have decent ranges. The GT delivers on that front.
Competition
Let’s talk about the Mach-E GT’s competition. To me, there are five core options buyers are likely to cross shop. I include media screen sizes for the base model of each competitor because in the EV game, screen size matters:
Tesla Model 3: $47k, 267 range, 283 HP/302 lb-ft, 0-60 in 5.8 - 15” screen
Tesla Model Y: $63K, 318 range, 456 HP/497 LB FT, 0-60 in 4.8 sec - 15” screen
Polestar 2: $46K, 270 range, 231 HP/243 LB FT, 0-60 in 7 sec - 11.2” screen
VW ID.4: $42k, 280 range, 201 HP/229 lb-ft 0-60 in 8 sec - 10” screen
Bolt EUV: $33.5K, 247 range, 200 HP/266 LB FT, 0-60 6.7 sec - 10.2” screen
Hyundai Ioniq5: $44K, 220 range, 225 HP/258 LB FT, 0-60 6.7 sec - 12.3” screen
Kia EV6: $41K, 232 range, 167 HP/258 LB FT, 0-60 8 sec - 12.3” screen
On the Tesla front, the Mach-E GT is most comparable to the Model Y crossover in size, but not in price. Even the cheapest Model Y is still $1K more than the starting price of the top-of-the-line Mach-E GT ($62K). The Mach-E GT beats the Model Y in price, power, and 0-60 (but not electric range, where it comes short by a hefty 50 miles…so you really have to decide if Mach-E’s added power is worth the range sacrifice). Both Tesla’s have a 15” touch screen which is trumped by the Mach-E’s 15.5” screen - take that Tesla.
The base Polestar 2 is only $2K more the base Mach-E and has a better range, but is generally slower and less powerful. I think the Polestar is a more luxurious feeling “alternative” option to the Mach-E, and they should definitely be cross-shopped in most situations. The Mach-E gets you much more torque, so keep that in mind if fun is at the top of your list.
Then you have the Volkswagen ID.4. The starting price undercuts the base Mach-E by $2K, and for that, you get slightly more range but a much less powerful car with a much smaller screen size. I have yet to review the ID.4, but I personally think it needs an upgrade in performance or a drop in price to be more compelling. It’s still new to the market so we’ll see how it sells and what VW does with it. It looks pretty good, but not as exciting as the Mach-E.
That brings me to the EV cousins - the Hyundai Ioniq5 and Kia EV6. Both are exciting options and the newest entrants to the market, but they are generally going to have less range and power than the Mach-E without being much cheaper (the Kia is $3K cheaper and the Hyundai is the same price as the Mach-E). Both models look pretty cool in different ways (Hyundai is more retro and Kia more futuristic). I do tend to think these will sell well, but I foresee price adjustments will be necessary here (or performance upgrades).
Right now, the market is so out of whack and all EVs are in high demand so manufacturers probably won’t do much to prices anytime soon. Apples to apples, the base Mach-E is a better value than several of its current competitors. Which brings me to the cheapest option - the Bolt EUV. By all measures, this is the most affordable model on the market with a solid range and acceptable power. They don’t look as exciting as a Mach-E, but are $10K cheaper with a similar range (247 miltes). If you just want to get into a sensible EV, I’d definitely go the Bolt route. The EUV also looks pretty good compared to the original Bolt option.
Standard Features
The Mustang Mach-E comes with numerous standard features, including: 18” gray wheels; ActiveX seating material (think suede in feel - plus its vegan); LED headlights and taillights with sequential rear turn signals (which used to be a popular mod for Mustang lights back in the day); E-latch door handles (press a digital button, door pops open); 15.5” touch screen with enhanced voice recognition; 10.2” digital gauge cluster; wireless phone charger; Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0, which includes reverse brake assist, reverse sensing, blind spot with cross-traffic, pre-collision assist, lane keep system, rear camera, auto high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, lane centering, speed sign recognition, and evasive steering assist; over-the-air updates to improve capabilities and convenience over time; phone app tells you battery level and helps you plan trips by finding chargers along your route - the app can also open windows, liftgate, etc.
That’s a ton of value - particularly the Ford Co-Pilot 360 suite of safety features. It’s really nice that Ford doesn’t parcel out any of that.
Standard features on the Premium include a Bang & Olufsen sound system, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The CA Route 1 adds a standard panoramic sunroof.
Standard features on the GT trim include: 20” high gloss black wheels; copper metallic stitching and piping on interior; “unbridled extend drive mode” for track use providing consistent power for longer periods of time; eAWD (electric AWD) using an upgraded secondary electric motor for better torque, grip and handling.
I have to say the 15.5” screen looks amazing in this car, and I really like that they left a physical volume knob. Within that knob is a digital button that turns the system on and off, which was a fun touch. Overall, the interior materials felt very high-end. I always worry when I see these suede-like seating surfaces, but most are made to be pretty durable with staining. I guess that’s something you’d find out over time. I also liked the simplicity of the digital gauge cluster on this car, it’s low profile and out of the way, displaying only the basics you’d want to glance at while driving without needing to gaze over to the media screen. Since I was not driving the CA Route 1 edition, I didn’t have a panoramic roof in my test car which I’ve come to expect in basically all cars in the $40-50K range. The pro of that is that the car didn’t get obnoxiously warm, the con is that the backseat felt a little claustrophobic.
Trims and Options
Given the extensive standard features, the Mach-E doesn’t have too many options to add. But you can get:
Comfort/Technology Package: 360 camera with split-view and front headlight washers; cargo area cover; power liftgate; heated front seats; heated steering wheel; memory driver’s seat; power-folding mirrors; Active Park Assist and Ford BlueCruise (hands-free driving monitored by the driver-facing camera to make sure eyes are on the road - works on major highways covering 130K miles of road in North America).
Performance Edition (GT Models): 20” aluminum wheels on Pirelli summer tires; gray seating surfaces; aluminum instrument panel
The most compelling option to me is the Ford BlueCruise system, which I did not have on my test car. And I think I would have appreciated it because the basic safety suite and self-driving systems were not as impressive as I expected. BlueCruise is similar to a system from GM (Super Cruise). The idea is that on major highways mapped out by the technology, you can genuinely take your hands off of the wheel and the car will drive itself (so long as you still look at the road). This is a different approach than Tesla, which equips its cars with software, cameras, and sensors technically capable of self-driving on any road (mapped or not), but not necessarily perfectly. It’ll be interesting to see if systems like BlueCruise and Super Cruise will eventually expand to city streets, but for my money, I do appreciate the idea of a Tesla-like system where self-driving is possible anywhere and not just on mapped roads. That said, I haven’t tried BlueCruise or Super Cruise and maybe I’d be so impressed by hands-free driving that the limitation of it only working on major highways would be worth it. Most people drive on major highways anyway.
Driving Impressions and Safety Suite
Let’s get to driving impressions. And I have a slight confession to make here. All of the EVs I’ve tested more or less feel the same. As a car nerd, it’s interesting to me how these manufacturers are going to make EVs different enough that they each have their own character and driving style (like we’ve come to expect from gas-powered cars). Subtle things like the difference between an Audi and a Mercedes. I feel like in an Audi EV and a Mercedes EV, those differences in driving feel are harder to notice.
And it’s the same with cars like the Polestar 2 and Mustang Mach-E. Yes, they look different and feel different on the inside - and sure, they have different levels of power based on price points - but they drive similar in that they all have instant torque, are quiet, and have AWD (at least this Mach-E GT and the Polestar I recently tested did). But I can’t complain - they feel great to drive! Just not very distinct. They are extremely fun - tons of power - too much in fact. My 0-60 run on the Mach-E GT literally made my stomach hurt. I think it’s probably more power than necessary for most people and you can probably save money and go for a lower trim. I’m actually curious to try to base Mach-E because it still has 400+ pound-feet of torque which is pretty damn good. The car had very comfortable seats and the ActiveX seating materials might be superior to similar vegan materials in the Polestar (as far as durability).
I used the GT-exclusive unbridled extend drive mode for my 0-60 run and it really ramped up the fun factor (and maybe that’s what made my stomach hurt?) Although, the responsible gay in me takes over when pushing these cars to their limit and I always wonder how my electric range is going to suffer if I stay in the mode and push the car to its limits for too long.
As alluded to before, I was less than impressed with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 system. I hate to keep doing it, but I go back to some of the entry-level cars I’ve recently tested like the Honda Civic and Hyundai Sonata - and I think both of those systems were as - if not more - impressive than this much more expensive Mach-E. The lane-keep assist was inconsistent on anything more dramatic than gentle highway curves. That might be sufficient for most people, but I expect more from a car in the $60K+ range. I definitely could not trust it on city streets (which, granted, it’s not really intended for). I will say the adaptive cruise control component was extremely smooth and better than what you get on the aforementioned budget cars. And the rest of the Co-Pilot safety features are definitely an awesome standard bundle that will make a lot of people happy (i.e. blind spot, reverse brake assist, etc.)
Infotainment and Sound System
The 15.5” media screen - as mentioned before - was beautiful. High-quality graphics and a physical volume knob are nice touches. My main issue, however, was with the responsiveness of the touch screen. When linked to Apple CarPlay, I was shuffling through songs and at times noticed a lag of 1-2 seconds, which is unacceptable. I’m not sure if this is something that can be fixed with a software update or has to do with a particular phone-level issue, but I do have CarPlay in my normal car (not touch screen) and it usually works quickly. I am already not the biggest fan of touch screen media systems (because I hate fingerprints), but also because I worry about glitches over time. Seeing this type of glitch on a brand new car makes me worry.
A second issue that I noticed is that the voice control button on the steering wheel only linked to Ford’s native infotainment system, rather than CarPlay. I couldn't figure out a way to click and talk to Siri to do simple things like change my song or ask for navigation via Apple Maps (rather than Ford’s navigation system). I think if CarPlay is going to be integrated, the car should know that users want to talk to Siri (or at least make it an option). The Polestar 2, for instance, has Google Assitant built in so when you talk to the car you can have it turn on your seat heater, get directions (via Android system) - it’s all one thing. Most budget cars with CarPlay operate the same way - if I press the voice button I’m talking to Siri. It was frustrating because I’d have to jump into the media screen to make CarPlay do what I want, which is the opposite of convenient.
My car had the Bang & Olufsen sound system which was great. I’ve experienced B&O in previous Audi models and have always been very impressed with their quality. The only thing I noticed at times was that the volume on the system wouldn’t get as loud as I expected it to. But for most purposes, it gets as loud as most people would ever go and does it at a very high sound quality. I doubt this is the best system B&O makes or puts into cars, but it’s also not a $100K car. Definitely try it out and see how it feels to you, I think most people will be pleasantly surprised.
Maintenance, Warranty and EV Charging
Maintenance on the Mach-E - similar to all EVs - is expected to be minimal. And that’s one cost saver on EVs (in addition to gas) that some people aren’t aware of. EVs have no oil changes and no engine parts to repair. Basically, just filters, tires, brakes, and certain fluids. The brakes are supposed to last a long time due to regenerative braking on EVs. And regenerative braking also helps with range anxiety. For instance, during my test I drove 118 miles in the Mach-E but only used 93 miles of my range, which means regenerative braking added 25 miles of range to my drive.
According to Ford, the Mustang Mach-E will charge from 10-80% in 45 minutes using a DC Fast Charger. Of course, you should look up how many of those are available in your area before relying on public fast charging as your only means of energy. Every Mach-E comes with a free 32 amp Ford Mobile Charger for home use. You have to hire a professional to install it (which might run $1-2K), and it will get you from 0-100% charge in 15 hours (or 20 miles per hour). You can technically plug it into a regular wall outlet but it would take 95 hours to charge your Mach-E from 0-100% that way (or 3 miles per hour). For those with little patience, you can choose to pay $800 to upgrade to a Ford Connected Charge Station - that gets you 48 amps of power which will get you from 0-100% in 11 hours (or 28 miles per hour).
The Mach-E comes with a 3 year/36K basic warranty, 5/60K powertrain warranty, and 8 year/100K battery warranty. I wish the basic warranty was a bit more robust, based on the issue I experience with the infotainment system. Thankfully, the car has OTA updates so things like that might still be improved down the road (outside of warranty).
Three Reasons To Buy or Skip
Wrapping up with three reasons for/against the Mustang Mach-E GT. Three reasons to buy: (1) arguably more attractive than most EVs currently on the market (also, not a Tesla for those with Tesla fatigue); (2) solid value for the price when you consider range, power, and technology included; (3) super fun to drive - tons of power at your disposal.
Three reasons to skip: (1) GT’s range is 48 miles less than the comparable Tesla Model Y (despite having more torque); (2) potential lag issues with the infotainment system; (3) self-driving system could be better (particularly the lane keep assist).