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I'm a car fanatic. I've owned more than 25 cars in my 36 years of life (yes, my wife is the greatest), and I drive more than 100 cars a year for my gig as an automotive journalist.
Driving that many cars has been both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it's awesome to experience so many vehicles in a short amount of time. On the other, it breeds a certain attunement to which cars are good and which cars – struggle.
When given the chance to test the 2023 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles out for a few days, I admit I was skeptical about this battery-powered SUV that bears the beloved Mustang nameplate. Could it really measure up to the brand's legacy? Could it actually be something special?
Well, I can happily report that it does and it is. It's excellent. If you're on the fence about getting an EV, you'll want to check out the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Car and Driver gave it a 9/10 rating and I can see why. Here are four things I really enjoyed about my time with it.
Better than expected range
Talk to any prospective EV buyer and you'll undoubtedly hear concerns about range. I've even voiced some of these concerns myself. However, after commuting and running errands in the Mach-E for five days, I found its range was much better than expected.
My premium trim model came with the optional $7,000 91 kWh battery that extends the range to 290 miles with all-wheel drive models. I ran the Mach-E with the stereo, heated seats and air conditioning every day and found the range had depleted very nearly mile for mile for the 190 miles I drove it. To have commuted and run errands for five days and still have nearly 100 miles left in the "tank" was pretty confidence-inspiring.
Add the peace of mind from Ford's new deal with Tesla that will allow the use of their supercharger network and the Mach-E makes a pretty compelling case for itself.
If you want to charge at home, you should plan to get a charger installed. Car and Driver suggests "A Ford charge station can be ordered online and installed by certified electricians, with the ability to replenish 32 miles per hour and recharge the battery overnight."
Fun to drive
When the Mustang Mach-E was announced the internet went into a tizzy. Surely, this electric SUV could not be worthy of bearing the Mustang nameplate, right? I'm going to let you decide whether it's a true Mustang or not, but this thing is a blast to drive.
Most EVs are very, very quick and such is the same with the Mach-E. Where the Mach-E stands out is in its handling and poise. It drives much smaller than it is, and when in "unbridled" mode with the sound propulsion turned on, there are moments you feel you're in a pony car, hustling up a canyon road. It's addicting and made all the better by the throaty yet fake engine sound pumped in through the speakers.
Car and Driver felt similarly when they said the Mach-E was "... quick and better to drive than most ordinary crossovers. Drivers shouldn't expect the Mach-E to be nearly as engaging as the traditional Mustang. However, the Mach-E's quiet operation and super-smooth ride were most impressive."
The best part? Hooning the car around, or at least mashing the throttle on on-ramps didn't seem to deplete the range too much.
Comfortable and practical
One of the things I enjoyed most about the 2023 Mustang Mach-E was its super comfortable seats, excellent driving position and supremely practical interior packaging.
Starting with the seats, they were among the softest, plushest seats I've ever sat in. Every ride I was overjoyed with how comfortable they were, and would happily spend all day in them. They also had some of the best heating functionality I've experienced. If you've become addicted to keeping your buns toasty warm, you're going to love the seats in the Mach-E. Seriously, that single feature might be worth the price of the car. Given how comfortable it is, this is a car I would happily road trip in, especially once the Tesla supercharger network becomes available.
Another huge benefit of EVs, as evident with the Mach-E and its skateboard-like platform, is how superbly spacious and practical their interiors are. The Mach-E isn't a particularly large vehicle, but you will be amazed at how much room is inside, even for larger occupants.
There's plenty of knee, leg, shoulder and headroom in both front and rear seats. We had our two kids in their booster seats in the backseat and they had plenty of space, and were endlessly intrigued by the door handle "buttons." In addition, the cargo area was large enough for a pricier-than-expected Costco run, and the frunk was a surprisingly useful feature.
I can't end without giving major kudos to Ford for their easy-to-use infotainment system. EVs tend to be a bit too tech-heavy for my liking, but the Sync system was excellent in its responsiveness and intuitively designed. It didn't feel intimidating at all. I really enjoyed the 15.5-inch display, especially with wireless Apple CarPlay connected. Owners are treated to over-the-air updates to the car's systems to ensure your Mach-E is always running at its peak.
Final thoughts
There's a lot of hesitancy surrounding EVs. They're new, it's a change and they're different from what we've done in the last century. I get it. But you need to drive the Mustang Mach-E. The range is great, it's very comfortable, and it's fun to drive.
And with the ability to charge at home and on the road, even nationwide, you'll always have enough juice to get where you're going. Whether it's a "true Mustang" or not is up to you, but regardless of the nameplate, this ride deserves a good look the next time you're in the market for a new car.
