2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Review

In case you’re yet to realise, it’s 2024 – well, it’s actually closer to 2025 – and with Australia’s first automotive emissions standards on the way, many car makers have begun to [finally] offer more low emissions products. Combining that with the bodystyle of the moment – the SUV – is a no-brainer and it’s no wonder that there are so many electric mid-size SUVs on the market at the moment. Ford is the latest entrant into the segment but with a name from a car that is anything but an electric SUV: Mustang. Is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E the best mid-size electric SUV? Let’s find out.

If you’re searching for an electric mid-size SUV – and, at least according to their sales figures this year, lots of people are – there are plenty of models to consider. The big-selling Tesla Model Y is at the top of the list for many, but there are plenty of alternatives: the Toyota bz4X and its Subaru Solterra twin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 cousins, though buyers could also go a touch premium with the Volvo EX40 (formerly known as XC40 Recharge) or the BMW iX1.

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

For now, there are three variants of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered in Australia: the entry-level Select (priced from $64,990 plus on-road costs or around $72,500 drive away, depending on location), mid-spec Premium ($79,990 +ORC or around $88,000 drive away) and top-spec performance-oriented GT ($97,990 +ORC or around $107,500 drive away).

Mach-E Select standard equipment:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with aero covers and Hankook eco tyres
• Tyre repair kit
• Dusk- and rain-sensing automatic all-LED exterior lighting with scrolling indicators
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Active grille shutters
• Keyless entry and start
• Heated and auto-folding mirrors with puddle lamps
• Electric tailgate
• Panoramic glass roof
• Rear privacy glass
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
• 10.2-inch digital driver’s display
• 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 software and over-the-air updates
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation with live traffic (12-month subscription)
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• 10-speaker B&O sound system 
• Wireless phone charger
• 4x USB charging ports (2x USB A, 2x USB-C)
• Black synthetic leather upholstery with grey stitching
• Heated synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 10-way electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s memory functionality
• Heated front seats
• Whisper (eco), Active (normal) and Untame (sport) driving modes
• One-pedal regenerative braking driving mode
• Ford Pass app connectivity to view the car’s location, charging information, lock/unlock functionality and more from your smartphone
• Auto-dimming rear mirror
• Level 2 mode 3 charging cable
• Digital door lock/unlock keypad on the B-pillar

Mach-E Select standard safety equipment:

• 10 airbags (including rear side, driver’s knee and front centre units – the GT does without the latter)
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, as well as junction assistance
• Lane keeping assistance
• Active lane centring
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Auto high beam
• Driver attention monitoring
• Speed sign recognition
• Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert (both with braking)
• Low-speed rear automatic braking
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree surround camera
• Automatic post-collision braking
• Evasive steer assist
• Semi-automatic parking functionality
• Tyre pressure monitoring

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E range received a five-star ANCAP rating in 2021 with scores of 92 per cent for adult protection, 88 per cent for child protection, 69 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 82 per cent for safety assist. Because the GT lacks a front centre airbag, it is unrated for safety.

Mach-E Premium adds:

• Red stitching
• Projector LED headlights with Matrix adaptive high beam
• Larger 91kWh battery with different chemistry for a claimed 600km (WLTP) of range
• Multi-colour LED ambient cabin lighting
• Different 19-inch alloy wheels with Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres
• Gloss black exterior cladding
• Metal scuff plates
• Red brake callipers

Mach-E GT adds:

• Adaptive suspension
• 20-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero tyres
• Rear electric motor for all-wheel drive
• Suede and synthetic leather Ford Performance sports seats
• Brembo front disc brakes
• GT-branded metal scuff plates
• Untame Plus driving mode
• Removes front centre airbag

Mach-E Select colour range:

• Shadow Black: $0
• Star White (fitted to our test car): $700
• Space White: $700
• Vapour Blue: $700
• Grabber blue: $700
• Rapid Red: $700
• Carbonised Grey: $700

While there are many mid-size electric SUVs to choose from, we consider the Kia EV6 Air (around $79,000 drive away) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 Standard Range (around $74,000 drive away) to be the Mach-E Select’s main rivals and they prove how good value the Mach-E is. Over the more expensive EV6 Air, the Mach-E Select adds synthetic leather trim, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a premium sound system, electric front seats with driver’s memory, a glass roof, a power tailgate, three more airbags, a 360-degree camera, a rear wiper, wireless smartphone mirroring and more.

Over the Ioniq 5 Standard Range, the Mach-E Select adds three extra airbags, heated front seats, full synthetic leather trim, a glass roof, a premium sound system, wireless smartphone mirroring, a power tailgate and a rear wiper. Against those two competitors and based purely on equipment, the Mach-E Select – which is the best value Mach-E by far, in our opinion – looks like pretty good value for money.

How much range does the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E have?

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is equipped with a 71kWh lithium iron phosphate battery giving a driving range of up to 470km (WLTP), with power sent to a single rear-drive electric motor producing 198kW of power and 430Nm of torque – upgrading to the Mach-E Premium increases the battery size to a 98kWh nickel manganese cobalt unit for a claimed 600km of range and a slightly more powerful 216kW motor. The top-spec GT adds another electric motor on the front axle for a total of 358kW/860Nm, and a claimed range of 490km. Against the Select, the EV6 Air uses a 77kWh battery for a claimed 528km of range, while the Ioniq 5 Standard Range uses a smaller 58kWh unit for a claimed 384km of range.

As for charging times, the Mach-E is reasonable, though an Ioniq 5 or EV6 is capable of charging much faster at a peak of 350kW for 18 minute 10 to 80 per cent charge times. Peak charging time for the Mach-E is a slower 150kW for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 32 minutes – using a much more common 50kW charger will increase that to around one hour and 35 minutes and an AC charger (peak: 10.5kW) increases that to around 7.5 hours. Both the EV6 and Ioniq 5 can also AC charge at 10.5kW.

What is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E like to drive?

Based on Ford’s ‘GE1’ platform – which is a heavily modified version of the ‘C2’ platform that underpins cars like the Focus and Escape – the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offers a pleasing driving experience that we think will please enthusiasts more than a lot of its rivals. Like the Focus, the Mach-E feels quite European to drive. That’s thanks to good balance, reasonable steering feel and a darty chassis that makes the Mach-E fun to drive. A Mustang it is not, but we think it’s still fun to drive and just a touch more sophisticated than the real Mustang.

Performance in the entry-level Mach-E Select is good, with a claimed 6.6-second 0-100km/h sprint time. It provides a satisfying level of punch, with the full 430Nm available from a start. As for efficiency, Ford claims that the Select will use 17.8kWh/100km of electricity, and we achieved a touch higher than that at 18.4kWh/100km for a range of around 450km, based on our testing efficiency.

There are three drive modes available in the Mach-E: Whisper (eco), Active (normal) and Untamed (sport) with each differing the car’s character slightly. Whisper is the most refined and efficient, while active adapts between modes, and untamed is sportier with a sharper throttle response and heavier steering. We liked active mode, while we also kept the one-pedal driving mode switched on as the Mach-E’s brakes can be a bit difficult to modulate.

On the road, the Mach-E impresses with its comfort and refined driving experience. The ride quality can be a touch firm – especially compared with the soft and soggy Ioniq 5 – but it’s taut and well tuned. The road noise levels are relatively low, while the active safety systems are well tuned and intuitive to use. The active lane trace assistance that’s used with the adaptive cruise control is excellent as well.

How practical is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

As with a lot of other electric vehicles, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E presents its passengers with a high-tech but minimalist interior layout that’s unlike anything Ford has ever produced previously. Those wanting buttons instead of touchscreens won’t like the Mach-E’s interior because it’s dominated by a huge touchscreen that controls almost all of the car’s functions – the only buttons outside the screen are for the exterior lights, seat controls, steering wheel controls and windows. Quality is pretty good, however, with synthetic leather trim covering most of the cabin. It’s generally a pretty nice space.

At the centre of the Mach-E’s cabin is a 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen that uses Ford’s ‘Sync 4’ infotainment software. It’s largely identical to the same unit in the Ranger ute, and it’s generally pretty good – response times are snappy, the layout is easy to learn and it’s quite well featured as well. The only issue is that the screen isn’t far forward enough for this writer, so – for example – the reversing camera is huge and appears quite low on the screen, forcing you to look down.

The 10-speaker B&O stereo in the whole Mach-E range is a pretty good unit with good bass and clarity, though don’t expect the same sound quality from the proper Bang & Olufsen units. Elsewhere in the cabin, front seat comfort is good – the seats feature plenty of electric adjustment, though they’re a touch flat and more bolstering would be great. The Mach-E’s visibility is reasonably good too, though the mirrors are a touch small and the window line is high.

Storage inside the Mach-E is excellent, however, with a big tray underneath the centre screen with a wireless phone charger and USB ports, a large bin underneath the central armrest, reasonable cupholders in the centre console, a tray underneath the centre console, reasonable-sized door bins and a big glovebox.

The back seat of the Mach-E is also one of its strong points, thanks to ample space on offer. It’s not as roomy as a Model Y, but there’s still more space on offer than an EV6, though an Ioniq 5’s headroom is superior thanks to its boxier shape. For two six-footers, the space on offer will be more than adequate with good leg- and headroom, while the floor is totally flat as well – plus, there are more door bins, a central armrest with cupholders, air vents, map pockets (not in the GT) and two USB ports (1x USB-A, 1x USB-C) to charge devices. For child seats, there are three top-tether and two ISOFIX points and the rear doors open reasonably wide to help entry and exit.

The boot of the Mach-E is also a healthy size at 519-litres with the seats up and 1,420L with them folded and it fits almost perfectly in the middle of the South Korean competitors with their 490L/1,270L (EV6 Air) and 593L/1,653L spaces (Ioniq 5). The Ford’s boot includes a few handy features like a dual-level floor with under-floor storage, tie down points and side storage as well. Underneath the boot floor lies a tyre repair kit – there’s no spare wheel. In addition to the traditional boot, there’s also a deep 134L front boot, which is bigger than the EV6 Air and Ioniq 5 Standard Range’s 52L and 57L spaces respectively.

What warranty covers the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

As with other new Ford products, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery and up to seven years of roadside assistance if serviced through a Ford dealer. Five years or 75,000km of servicing (whichever comes first) costs just $765 (or $153 per year).

Kia’s standard warranty is two years superior to Ford’s (and Hyundai’s) at seven years in total, with up to eight years of roadside assistance – Hyundai’s roadside assistance lasts as long as its cars are serviced at its dealerships. Six years of servicing the Ioniq 5 costs $2,355 ($392 per year) and five years of servicing the EV6 costs $1,382 ($276 per year) – interestingly, the Ioniq 5’s service intervals are twice as long as the EV6 and Mach-E at once every 30,000km or two years (whichever comes first), adding convenience for owners, but the Ford is much less expensive to service than both rivals here.

Should I buy a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?

Overall, we were genuinely impressed with the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E. It’s obviously not a Mustang and the name choice will forever be controversial, but at its core, the Mach-E is quite a competent product that we think deserves to be selling far stronger than it currently does. Put simply, it’s a great all-rounder: it’s quite practical, it drives mostly well, it’s more than quick enough in base Select form, it’s got a good aftersales program, its interior quality is good and the design is interesting. Plus, thanks to recent price cuts too, the Select trim is actually pretty good value for money in the segment.

Counting against the Mach-E are that its peak charging speeds aren’t amazing, its ride is a touch too firm on urban roads, there’s no sunshade for the glass roof, the Premium and GT aren’t as good value as the entry-level Select and for those wanting all-wheel drive, it’s oddly unavailable on any model but the high-performance GT. But those issues aside, the Mach-E is a much better product than traditional Mustang fans – almost all of whom we’re sure haven’t even driven it – would lead you to believe. If you’re after a mid-size electric SUV, it really should be on your test drive list.