Ford Mustang Mach-E review: performance, motor & drive

The Mustang Mach-E is fast – not quite Tesla Model X Plaid-fast – but quick enough to keep up with and even overhaul some ostensibly much sportier petrol or hybrid models. It also handles very well for a relatively large SUV, but the trade-off for this is a relatively harsh ride; the steering isn't the most communicative, either.

Ford Mustang Mach-E 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration

Performance is strong regardless of which battery or drive option you go for. Standard Range cars are only available with rear-wheel drive and output 266bhp. Rear-drive Extended Range cars up this to 290bhp, while those equipped with four-wheel-drive produce a total of 346bhp, thanks to an additional electric motor.

Performance from the dual-motor model should be more than plentiful for most Mach-E buyers: the sprint from 0-62mph is accomplished in just 5.8 seconds, plus there's power easily accessible whenever you need it. Those who want to go even faster should check out the Mustang Mach-E GT, which pumps out 480bhp and a massive 860Nm of torque in a bid to take on Tesla and its famously accelerative lineup. We’ve reviewed the GT separately.

Get underway in the Mach-E and at low speed there's very little noise from the electric motors. The throttle has immediate response and it's easy to tap into the power available. There are three driving modes, called Whisper, Active and Untamed; the first of these is the most pleasant in our view, making the car smoother to drive and cutting off the slightly silly sound synthesiser that aims to reproduce the noise of a petrol V8 engine.

There's also a 'one-pedal driving' setting that allows for very relaxing progress around town: you simply lift off the accelerator to slow down and come to a stop. At higher speeds on the motorway, you can enjoy the Mach-E's great refinement, with only a bit of front-end wind noise really worth mentioning.

Handling

The Mach-E's silent-yet-punchy performance is matched by a chassis that has more of a focus on eliminating body lean than many SUVs of this size. The trade-off, however, is suspension that feels a little too firm for UK roads, never really settling down on rougher surfaces. And while Ford has a strong recent record for creating cars with very nice steering brimming with feedback, the Mach-E's system doesn't quite continue the trend, feeling vague around the straight-ahead and being a bit too keen to respond to inputs beyond that – an issue that’s particularly present in Untamed mode.