Mustang Mach-E plants Ford flag on Mount EV

I know what you’re thinking: why the heck is there a Mustang SUV — and why is it an electric vehicle? I thought the same thing at first but quickly understood a combination of Ford’s iconic Mustang name paired with an amazing new product might just be the right combo.

By all accounts, and I played chauffeur to many friends and family during my week-long test drive, the Mustang Mach-E will easily put any reservations you might have about using the iconic Mustang name or badge, and if there were any concerns about performance . . . well, those can be put to rest, too.

Impressions

Let’s get the heavy stuff out of the way first. The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E has only one rival and I’d say right now, Tesla should be concerned. My tester was a stunningly sleek and athletic SUV that silently accelerated to impressive speeds.

The Mustang Mach-E offers a 314-mile driving range that should put a lot of range-anxious shoppers more at ease. Truthfully, the app provided by Ford not only gave me a minute-by-minute account of the charge status, but it also provided a constantly updated list of the closest public charging stations. Charging one of these up is no problem, not quite as fast as filling up a fuel tank, but just as easy — and way cheaper.

Costs & Tesla

The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E has a base price of $43,895. My premium tester with AWD managed to land at $56,200, though you can get your Mustang Mach-E up to $67,995 if you opt for the high-performance GT.

I’d be remiss if I did not mention the Tesla Model Y, which I have tested and can make a few comparisons to what is the benchmark right now for an all-electric SUV that can thrill you as much as it wills you to plug in and save the planet. The Model Y offers a tiny third row of seats, faster-charging speeds, and a slightly longer charge range (330). You are also going to pay a lot more for a Tesla.

I was skeptical at first, but the Mustang Mach-E is handsome on the outside, eerily quiet on the inside, and will manage to turn a lot of onlookers’ heads while it may snap yours if you jump on the accelerator too hard.

Performance

You can get your Mustang Mach-E with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel models have an electric motor mounted at the rear axle while the all-wheel variant has one mounted for the front and another for the rear.

Depending on the drivetrain and the battery option you select at the dealership, the Mach-E’s thrill-level (read: power) varies from 266 to 480 horsepower. Trust me, the throttle response for most EVs is pretty unique compared to a gas engine’s response, that’s a given, but this Mustang Mach-E gets up to speed on demand. It’s is immediate and those motors never seem to stop pulling it faster the more you jab the pedal.

One of the really cool features was the one-pedal driving mode. This feels a little odd at first, but you quickly get used to it and the benefits are impressive. The one-pedal mode eliminates the need to use the brake pedal. It actually employs the electric motor to slow the vehicle down once you lift off the throttle, charging the battery in the process.

Range & charging

Available with two battery pack sizes: standard-range (70-kWh) and extended-range (91-kWh), the Mach-E can drive up to 247 miles when paired with rear-wheel drive and up to 224 miles with all-wheel drive.

If you opt for the extended-range models, you start to close in on rarified air that only Tesla floats in with the Mach-E delivering a maximum driving range of 303 miles with RWD and 277 miles with AWD. Ford covers the Mach-E battery with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty.

During my week-long test period, I charged up my Mach-E at a couple of local public chargers at Walmart and a dealership. It’s an easy process and you just use your credit card. The Mustang Mach-E has a charging port in the front fender where you just insert the charger cord and charging starts immediately. I also charged my tester with the standard outlet in my garage. If you own one of these you would likely invest in a charging station in your garage. You can monitor the charge status inside the cabin or with the FordPass smartphone app.

Inside & the ride

The cabin is very upscale with surfaces upholstered or trimmed with soft-touch materials. A huge touch-screen infotainment system anchors the minimal dash treatment at the center. The massive 15.5-inch touch screen offers easy and intuitive use. The menus are straightforward with large icons.

I found the front seats to be very comfortable. There is generous headroom and legroom up front, while rear seats are also spacious. The Mustang Mach-E has 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats and 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. There is also a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk that has drains for pseudo-cooler use or to store wet items.

My Mach-E tester handled like a dream. While it is nothing close to lightweight with all those batteries, the Mach-E maneuvers confidently with responsive steering strong braking power.

Overall, the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E is a stunner. Gorgeous, sleek and powerful, and capable of holding some flame to the Tesla that stands slightly ahead of it, though at a much more affordable price.

• John Stein is a freelance journalist based in Chicago. He has more than 25 years’ experience driving, testing, and writing about the automotive industry, its latest innovations, and vehicles.