2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Launch Review

The latest version of the Mustang is still a pony by name, but is it a pony at heart? Today we delve into the different versions of the all-new 2024 Mustang Mach-E Electric SUV that will be hitting dealerships in Australia in the coming months.

We’ll be looking at the completely redesigned interior, the totally new electric drivetrain and even testing it out in full-fat all-wheel-drive GT guise on the track, to see if it retains some of that old Mustang DNA we know and love.

How much does the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E cost?

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E will be launched in three different trim levels:

• 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select: $79,990* 
• 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium: $91,665*
• 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT: $107,665* 

*Note all prices are exclusive of on-road costs

This means the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is significantly higher priced than the current Tesla Model Y, which starts at just $65,400 before on-road costs, and $91,400 for the top trim.

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What do we think of the exterior looks of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

It’s no exaggeration to say that the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is a radical departure from what most people would consider to be a “Ford Mustang”, but upon closer inspection, there are some familiar design touches that hint at its heritage. Starting up front, all models receive the classic prancing pony in the middle of an oversized grille which has been plugged up in typical EV fashion. The GT version of the Mach-E comes with an interesting 3D tinted effect on the grille which adds some aggression and character, excellent if you’d like to remind everyone that you bought the most expensive Mustang at over $100k. Another way to flaunt your wealth would be to get the Mach-E in the new ‘Grabber Blue’ paint which as Matt pointed out is ‘grabbing his heart’. I have to say it’s grabbing mine too, Matt.

The daytime running lights, turn signals and headlights are all bright LEDs and have been newly designed, ditching the triple-forward-slash design of the previous GT.

Aerodynamics have also clearly been a consideration for Ford during the electrification of the latest Mustang, with some functional aero on the sides to streamline air across the wheels, as well as active aero slots beneath the grille to allow for cooling of the battery and electric components when required.

Select and Premium grades of the Mustang Mach-E will get 19-inch alloys, with and without aero covers respectively, while the GT gets larger 20-inch alloy wheels along with some red Brembo brake callipers for stopping quick - very useful when taking your 358kW electric family SUV on a race track. The GT trim also comes equipped with a set of grippy Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

An interesting quirk on the side of the new Mustang Mach-E is the complete lack of door handles, Ford has come up with a trick electronic system that allows entry through a simple button press, which pops open the back doors but you still require a small handle for the front doors… It’s cool concept that admittedly adds a bit of a unnecessary complexity in order to shave a hair off the drag coefficient.

The side profile of the car is also where you can see just how “swoopey coupe-y” this electric SUV Mustang is, with the back half of the passenger windows at quite an acute angle, and the black roof creating a sharp cutting angle with the body paint - it is quite a cool look. The rear windows are factory tinted, and the black roof also houses a large panoramic sunroof.

At the rear of the Mach-E are some ‘Mustang-ey’ looking tail lights with the triple-slot design carried over from the previous model. The GT spec also gets a distinguishing ‘GT’ badge on the back which replaces the prancing pony on the Select and Premium. From the back you can see how low and ‘coupe’-like the new Mustang is with its narrow rear window and sporty stance.

I don’t think this new Mustang is going to be everybody’s cup of tea, but given Ford’s history of transforming the Mustang from a small sports car in ‘64 into the previous incarnation as a grand tourer, and now an electric family SUV, at least they are consistent in their radical transformation.

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What’s the interior and connectivity like of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

The previous generation of the Mustang GT had some questionable quality in certain places of the interior, and we are happy to report that the Mach-E does away with pretty much all of those issues. The quality across the entire range is elevated from that of the last generation, with the addition of comfort features such as acoustic glass to prevent road-noise, a massive treated panoramic sunroof that stays cool, and of course, a completely new design. To say that Ford has completely done away with the hard, scratchy plastics would be misleading however, as there are still some parts of the dash that feel a little cheap, even on the top-spec GT.

In fact, the design and inclusions inside the Mustang Mach-E are identical across the range, the only difference being the colours and materials across the dash, doors, and seats. All Mustang Mach-E’s come with an enormous 15.5-inch vertical infotainment screen with a rotary dial cut into the display, it is a very snappy, responsive system and allows for wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, in a similar implementation to what you will find across the Ford Ranger models. That being said, it seemed to operate more fluidly, and with fewer stutters than a Ford Ranger which suggests some internal upgrades.

The climate controls have been relegated to the screen which won’t win everyone over, but even if you aren’t a fan of the ‘touchscreen everything’ philosophy sweeping the industry, you won’t be complaining about these because you have your physical rotary dial to adjust the temperature on the fly. The additional controls are well laid out, responsive, and intuitive to use.

In stark contrast to the infotainment display is an interesting digital instrument cluster, it’s a normal width but about half the height of a standard display, and as such it shows a small amount of information with some limited customisability.

The seats are another unique design aspect of the interior of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the GT spec benefits from larger, more bolstered seats up front with a grippy suede-like material, they feel comfortable and supportive, though a weird omission is adjustable leg support. Most normal-sized people will have no issue with the electric adjustment that is provided, including lumbar support.

Storage is great in the Mach-E, making full use of the lack of transmission tunnel running down the centre, resulting in a large open storage section beneath the centre armrest, with heaps more storage beneath a rubber roller door, as well as some central phone holders, including a wireless charger. Connectivity is also good with a USB-A and USB-C port and 12V socket.

Finally, sound quality is great with a powerful Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker sound system that even features a soundbar in front of the front seat passenger, adorned with a high-quality cloth material.

What about the Back seats of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

In the back of the Mustang Mach-E is, expectedly for a mid-sized SUV, plenty of space. It certainly isn’t segment-leading and you do have to tolerate some snugness in exchange for the sporty demeanour of the car, but overall, it can seat two adults and three kids easily, and if stretched can accommodate a third adult in a pinch. Leg room is huge, toe room and head room are also really good.

One common concern in the back seats of EVs is seating angle, due to the battery being beneath the floor, thankfully the Mach-E manages this well, allowing for even adult legs to sit at a comfortable angle.

The quality of materials is the same as the front, with the seats continuing the suede-like material and interesting pattern in the GT, with soft leather in the centre and a fold-down leather armrest.

Amenities are also good with a couple of airvents, and a USB-A and USB-C port, though there are no mat pockets on the back of the front seats.

Notably, Ford have included electronic latches inside the Mustang Mach-E to get in and out of the vehicle which might take some getting used to.

How much can it fit in the boot of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

The spaciousness is good in the back seats, but the boot space is where the Ford Mustang Mach-E stumbles slightly compared to the competition such as the Tesla Model Y. It has around 400L of luggage capacity with the second row in place which is definitely not bad, but far from segment-leading. This can also be extended to over 1400L with the second row folded.

It does have some under-bonnet storage, at 134L, which is enough for small items.

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What are the features and specs of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Select:

• Single Electric Motor
• 198kW Power
• 430Nm Torque
• Rear-wheel drive
• 71kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery
• 115kW Maximum charging speed
• 470km claimed WLTP

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium:

• Single Electric Motor
• 216kW Power
• 430Nm Torque
• Rear-wheel drive
• 91kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery
• 600km claimed WLTP
• 150kW Maximum charging speed
• 0-100km/h (Tested): 6.82 seconds

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT:

• Dual Electric Motors
• 358kW Power
• 860Nm Torque
• All-wheel drive
• 91kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery
• 490km claimed WLTP
• 150kW Maximum charging speed
• 0-100km/h (Tested): 4.23 seconds

How does the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E drive?

At the launch, we tested out the Premium (mid) spec on the road, and the GT spec on track.

Mustang Mach-E Premium on-road impressions:

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium comes with the same size 91kWh battery as the GT, however, it is a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery which is lower quality than the Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery you will find in the GT spec. That being said, the Premium actually has the highest range of the pack at 600km WLTP, due to the fact that it has a single Electric motor that sends all of its power to the rear wheels, as compared to the duel Electric motors and all-wheel drive of the GT.

On the road, the Premium rides well with a few drive mode options to choose from, though annoyingly you only get access to these through the infotainment menus which makes changing them while driving a bit laborious. You get Whisper, Active, and Untamed modes, which are essentially the Eco/Normal/Sport drive modes you would find in many cars. They control the responsiveness of the motor, with Whisper being well suited to wet weather conditions, while Untamed unlocks the full 216kW of power and 430Nm of instant torque for spirited driving. The sound pumped into the cabin changes depending on drive mode as well, with the sportier modes providing more of a sporty EV audio feedback. One thing that remains a constant through all the drive modes though, is that flooring the accelerator pedal will instantly unlock the ‘Untamed’ mode, and allow for maximum acceleration.

In ‘Untamed’ mode, the Premium’s steering becomes firmer and the car feels exceedingly stable around corners. In Australia, we get the ‘Irish’ tune on the Premium spec’s suspension and it provides a slightly softer ride than what is offered in other markets, meaning you will have a good balance of comfort and dynamics in this mid-spec Mustang Mach-E. While some will debate about the validity of naming this car a ‘Mustang’, chucking this thing around a corner in ‘Untamed’ mode and feeling the rear end slip out slightly brings us smiles for days and it certainly handles like a Mustang, albeit in a different package, so it really depends on your own personal definition of ‘Mustang’.

We also tested the 0-100km/h launch and timed it at 6.82 seconds. While it felt a little gentle off the line, the single electric motor built power smoothly and kept tyre slip to a minimum.

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Mustang Mach-E GT track impressions:

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The GT version of the Mach-E stands out from the pack in a multitude of ways, firstly, it is the only one to have a duel Electric motor powertrain, and secondly, it sends all 358kW of power, 860Nm of torque to all four wheels. It also benefits from ‘MagneRide’ suspension which is essentially an active damper setup that uses magnets to minimise vibrations and bumps while maintaining a firm, stable ride.

If you are thinking that all-wheel drive and high-tech magnetic suspension will take away from the experience of driving a Mustang however, you are sorely mistaken, because this thing is actually quite tail-happy, and feedback from the tarmac is still there, meaning this thing is absolutely wicked to drive on track.

This definitely doesn’t feel like an ‘electric SUV with a pony badge stuck onto it’, it is a proper thoroughbred, with plenty of playfulness and character, while the all-wheel drive system keeps you from completely losing it. The power and torque from the duel motors feel boundless and on the track, it is a completely transformed experience compared to driving the Premium on the road. 

Is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Safe?

The new Ford Mustang Mach-E achieved a 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating in 2021 that covers all models built from October 2022 onwards. 

It comes with the following safety features as standard:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-keeping assistance
• 360-degree camera
• Front + rear sensors
• Speed sign recognition
• 2 front, 2 side, 2 full-length curtain airbags
• Centre airbag for head collision protection (Select/Premium only)

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How much does the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E cost to service?

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has a warranty of five years with unlimited kilometers and service intervals at every 12 months or 15,000 kilometers, whichever comes first, similar to most of Ford's petrol-powered cars.

The cost of routine maintenance over three years is $450, and over five years, it's $765. For each service visit, the price is $135 during the 'odd' years and $180 during the 'even' years, continuing up to 12 years or 180,000 kilometers.

Final thoughts - should you buy a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

The Mustang Mach-E, for a first attempt at an electric passenger vehicle by Ford, is a genuinely impressive car, and while some of the design aspects inside and out might not appeal to every demographic, there is no denying that Ford has delivered something truly unique in the electric SUV market. Whether you go for the base Select model, mid-spec and longer-range Premium model, or ludicrously performance-oriented all-wheel drive GT model, you will be impressed with the interior quality, handling, and performance of the Mustang Mach-E.

We remain agnostic as to whether or not to define it as a ‘Mustang’, as that simply means different things to different people, though as far as electric SUVs go, in the premium price segment, it is a good offering, with decent range and comfort, great technology and safety features.