On the road with the Ford Mustang Mach E RWD

Yes, it’s called Mustang. And yes, it deserves to be called that, although enthusiasts refuse to see their iconic car transformed into an SUV. An electric SUV at that, which adds insult to injury.

But its driving, its behaviour, its overall look, are not so far from the muscle car we’ve loved for over five decades. It doesn’t have the wild side of the noisy Mustang. But at least it has the advantage of being more pleasant than the abominable Mustang II of the 80s.

In short, it’s a Mustang. Electric. And one that I liked enough to want to own one day. Nothing less.

Not on the first contact

I have to admit that I didn’t feel the same way when I first got to know the Mach E. The all-wheel-drive version of my original test drive had decent handling and performance, but nothing more. It’s about as good as any sedan gets.

In the case of the rear-wheel-drive version, however, there are a few nuances. Like all sports cars that transmit their power to the rear wheels, the Mach E RWD allows the rear end to waltz along nicely, giving a more dynamic driving feel. The tires, adapted to electric vehicles (their 18-inch size can go up to 20 depending on the version) were developed with this kind of driving in mind. And if you opt for the GT version, you’ll even get performance Pirelli tires under your car.

Imagine, you don’t hear any noise, but you feel that your car is capable of giving you quite a bit. Not as much as a big noisy V8, I admit. But the torque is present enough to give you some feeling and a big smile.

It’s only a feeling, I should add, because the multiple onboard safety systems prevent you from going too far, and you have to push to destabilize the vehicle.

It’s true that when it comes to power, despite the amazing ability of electric vehicles to accelerate quickly, we’d like a little more. The 290 horsepower is interesting, but the slightly more than 4,500 pounds temper the ardour of the ensemble a bit. You may say that this is of little importance, which is perfectly true. But the driving enthusiast in me still finds the brutal acceleration of a big engine exhilarating. You can’t change your mind.

Pretty and well thought out

Whether you like the name or not, you have to admit that the Mach E has some features that resemble the traditional Mustang. The front headlights are not too far off, nor are the rear light clusters, which feature Ford’s distinctive sequential flashing.

The interior, on the other hand, has nothing in common. Forget the dials, which have become obsolete. They have been replaced by a small horizontal screen that provides essential information, such as the speedometer. I admit that it takes a few days to get used to it.

In the center of the console, a screen worthy of a digital tablet sits, housing a new but efficient Sync4 system that is faster and simpler than ever. Add to that, on my tester, a B&O audio system, and you’ll know that the cabin is an interesting place to stay.

Especially since unlike the Tesla Model Y it competes with and loses performance to, it’s not assembled like a child’s Lego model. The quality of finish, materials and even the body joints are impeccable.

Range or not?

Of course, the big question remains the range. Because I had the extended-range version, with a usable 88 kWh battery, the full charge showed on the dashboard some 430 kilometres of range (Ford predicts 483). This technically means 18.3 kWh per 100 kilometres. Let’s face it, I did better.

My average, after a full week of testing and without any sparing, was more like 18. A simple drive to Montreal to bring the car back, in traffic and on the highway, even beat the odometer. I drove 76 kilometres, but the vehicle’s estimation was only 45 kilometres lower.

In other words, the estimated range of the car is sometimes underestimated. So there is no need to worry about the distance to be covered. Of course, recharging and its duration are always a concern, but we must admit that the Mach E is well worth the sacrifice.

If you’re looking for a slightly sporty electric car, and if the $65,000 or so price tag doesn’t put you off too much, the Ford Mustang Mach E is a top choice.