2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Not long ago, the thought of Ford applying Mustang styling cues to a five-door crossover SUV shocked the faithful, let alone an electric car. Now, it appears to have been a smart move. And while the Mustang Mach-E’s comparatively long, narrow, and tall dimensions can look odd wearing galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, bold rear fender haunches, and tri-bar taillights, the electric SUV might not be nearly as popular were it not visually tied to the legendary pony car.

Ford has built over 150,000 Mustang Mach-E’s since the EV debuted for the 2021 model year, and it has shipped them to customers worldwide. In Canada, the Mach-E comes in Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT trim levels and ranges in price from $56,995 to $92,745, not including a destination charge of $2,195. As we write this review, the Mach-E Premium and Select grades, when equipped with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or electric all-wheel drive (eAWD) and the standard-range battery, qualify for a $5,000 federal rebate as well as provincial rebates where they apply. Extended-range variants are too expensive to qualify for Canadian EV rebate programs.

Our test vehicle arrived in American GT spec with extra-cost Cyber Orange paint. In Canada, this configuration carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $95,740, including the destination charge. It did not have the new-for-2023 Nite Pony appearance package, which requires Premium trim. (Note that in Canada, the Performance Edition features are standard on the GT model; these are optional in the United States and are not included in the test vehicle shown.)

The Mustang Mach-E GT exudes style, quality, and technology and easily competes with any EV in the same price class regardless of brand, from the Volkswagen ID.4 to the Tesla Model Y. With GT trim, the car gets a more distinctive look with revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel that resembles a traditional grille. Appropriately, it looks more aggressive than other versions of the Mach-E.

Inside, the test vehicle looked and felt like a luxury car. Ford wraps artificial leather and synthetic suede around the sport-bolstered seats, decorating them with copper stitching and piping. Fabric on the classic dual-cowl dashboard, door panels, and speaker grilles adds a high-end look to the cabin, and Ford pairs metallic and gloss-black trim with two rectangular display screens to convey a sporty, upscale, high-tech ambiance.

The throughline here is substance. From the design and details to the quality and materials, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT deftly blends the past, the present, and the future in an undeniably appealing vehicle.

Across the Mustang Mach-E lineup, you can choose your powertrain between standard-range and extended-range battery packs and single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) electric drive systems. Power and efficiency ratings vary depending on the configuration, but they span from 266 to 480 horsepower, 317 to 634 pound-feet of torque, and 360 to 502 kilometres of driving range.

The Mach-E GT Performance Edition has an extended-range battery and AWD drivetrain layout with a more powerful front electric motor than you’ll find in other versions of the vehicle. Output measures 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, and Ford claims the GT scoots to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.7 seconds. The official Natural Resources Canada estimate for the driving range is 418 kilometres.

Like other Mustang Mach-E models, the GT Performance Edition features Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes modifying the EV’s behaviour, responsiveness, and synthetic soundtrack. In addition, the GT gets an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode that Ford claims is for use on a racetrack. One-pedal driving is also available, allowing you to operate the Mach-E by simply pressing the accelerator to go and releasing it to stop.

We evaluated the Mach-E GT in Engage mode with the one-pedal driving feature turned off. As you might expect, the EV is undeniably fast, and while the dual-motor system powers all four wheels, it is wise to apply acceleration judiciously until you acclimate to how the Mach-E responds to your inputs.

In Engage mode, the steering isn’t particularly engaging, lacking the sharp response, crisp accuracy, and communicative feel you might expect from a performance-oriented vehicle. Then again, it’s easy to forget this is a crossover SUV and not a typical car because the overall driving dynamics are impressive.

In addition, the brakes feel good underfoot and offer consistent, fade-free bite. But, evidently, you can only turn the one-pedal drive system on or off because we did not discover a way to adjust the system’s regenerative sensitivity.

The ride quality is the least satisfying thing about driving the Mustang Mach-E GT. This Mustang has firm suspension settings and a choppy ride, but Ford does a great job of controlling excessive body motions compared to some EV models. However, we tested the GT trim without the Performance Edition features that are standard in Canada, and we’re betting it’s the most satisfying version of the Mach-E GT with an adaptive damping suspension, stickier tires, and larger front brakes.

Overall, though, regardless of the situation, the Mustang Mach-E GT is exciting to drive. In addition, during our test drive, the trip computer said we traveled 4.3 kilometres per kilowatt-hour of energy, translating to 22.9 kWh per 100 kilometres of driving. The official Natural Resources Canada estimate is 25.6 kWh/100 km. So, in our experience, the Mach-E GT was more efficient than expected—noting again that our test unit did not have the Performance Edition add-ons, which would have increased our usage figures.

Thanks to its crossover SUV configuration, the Mach-E is a Mustang that’s just as much about function as form. It offers seating for up to five people and 965 litres of cargo space, including its sizable front trunk (frunk).

Up front for the driver’s seat and front passenger, the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition gets performance seats with gray ActiveX and Miko upholstery in a unique pattern. A stylish tiered centre console separates the front seats and includes a mix of covered and open storage areas. A lower storage tray lives beneath the bridge connecting the console to the dashboard. You should find plenty of space in which to stash your things.

Unlike with a gas-fueled Mustang coupe or convertible, you can comfortably carry rear-seat passengers. With rear doors that open wide and a snug but supportive back seat, you can bring up to three kids or two additional adults along for the ride with sufficient legroom. And now that the Mach-E GT has a standard panoramic glass roof, they’ll enjoy an airy environment with a good view out.

Behind the back seat, the Mustang Mach-E offers 841 litres of cargo space under a large liftgate. Fold the rear seats down, and the cargo hold can carry up to 1,691 litres of whatever you can squeeze into the EV. Under the hood, another cargo area measuring 133 litres is larger than what you’ll find in many EVs. Plus, the Mach-E’s frunk is designed to get dirty and includes a drain plug for when you clean it out.

Like a Tesla, the Mustang Mach-E has a giant touchscreen awkwardly affixed to its dashboard. Mounted in portrait (vertical) orientation, the screen measures 15.5 inches from corner to corner and lacks physical controls aside from an artfully integrated stereo power and volume knob. It runs on Ford’s most modern Sync 4A infotainment platform and stays current through over-the-air software updates.

While the infotainment screen poorly integrates with the Mustang Mach-E’s interior design, it isn’t lacking in features. You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services with access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a navigation system, and wireless smartphone charging. Some of these features require a paid subscription following a complimentary trial period.

In addition to these functions, Sync 4A learns your habits and can predictively suggest destinations and showcase recently used apps. The touchscreen also provides access to everything from the dual-zone automatic climate control system and a seemingly unending list of vehicle settings to a comprehensive trip computer showing detailed energy usage data.

As you might imagine, getting lost in such a comprehensive system could be easy. However, Ford has masterfully simplified the user experience and organized the content to eliminate frustration. After hours of driving the Mach-E, I only wished it had a radio tuning knob and a driving mode button offering quick access to other choices. Maybe Ford could add a red Unbridled button on the GT’s steering wheel.

Sync 4A supports natural voice recognition and successfully parses a long list of conversational commands. The exception was a request for directions to the closest hospital, which pulled veterinary offices into the list of results in addition to hospitals where you might find an emergency room for human beings.

The test vehicle’s Bang & Olufsen premium sound system proved excellent, as we’ve come to expect from components wearing the B&O brand name. Also, every Mach-E has a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display mounted behind the steering wheel. It presents data in a thin strip showing vehicle speed, battery charge, remaining range, and driving assistance system status.

Lastly, the Mach-E has Phone As A Key technology, transforming your smartphone into the vehicle’s key. It allows you to unlock, start, and drive the EV. Then, when you reach your destination, you can relock the Mach-E using your smartphone. We’ve used this same technology in other Ford Motor Company vehicles, and it works even if it comes across as a gimmick that’s hard to trust initially. However, considering the bulky size of the Mach-E’s keyfob, you might be tempted to use it.

Ford reports that its Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology—which includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and other features—is now standard on all Mach-E models, along with the latest version of its BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system.

Ford says in a press release: “Ford Co-Pilot360 Driver Assist Technology is now standard across Mustang Mach-E across the lineup. On Select models, Ford BlueCruise hands-free driving and 360-degree camera are available for a complimentary 90-day trial period for customers to experience the feature before choosing to enable it for a longer duration.” (Editor’s note: the grammatical errors are Ford’s.)

However, Ford’s consumer website says the surround-view camera and BlueCruise are options with Select trim and standard on other Mach-E variants. So, check with your dealership to be clear about availability.

In any case, the BlueCruise in question is version 1.2. For 2023, BlueCruise 1.2 adds several new features to improve its already impressive performance, including a lane-change function, a predictive speed assist function, and the ability to reposition the Mach-E within its lane to give larger vehicles in adjacent lanes more space.

To thoroughly test this technology, we changed our usual test-driving route to incorporate a typical morning commute into the city from the suburbs. BlueCruise 1.2 proved impressive, but this deeper and more challenging examination of the technology revealed a few critical observations.

First, the Mach-E needs a head-up display. While audible alerts accompany some messages regarding BlueCruise, not all do. For example, when the tech detects an opportunity to change lanes and resume your pre-set travel speed, a message briefly shows on the digital instrumentation. But if you’re not looking there, you won’t see it.

In addition, the digital instrumentation is solely responsible for communicating BlueCruise readiness and active status. You don’t get a separate button on the steering wheel to manually press when conditions for BlueCruise operation are met, and you don’t get a green (or, in Ford’s case, blue) steering wheel light like in a General Motors product equipped with Super Cruise. A head-up display would be helpful to identify at a glance when the system is ready, when it is active, and when conditions are unmet for system operation.

Driving on the highway, the Mach-E’s BlueCruise 1.2 worked exceptionally well. It successfully navigated construction zones with pavement scars and lane shifts, automatically and safely changed lanes to get around slower vehicles, and seemed to give large trucks a wider berth within the travel lane.

However, while winding across the hills, the system requested that we take control but without an obvious, apparent reason. Then, after rounding a curve into direct light from the rising sun, BlueCruise urgently demanded that we take control right away. Later, aimed away from the sun on the highway, the system gave us a “Ready” status for an extended period without subsequently activating BlueCruise.

Overall, BlueCruise is impressive but also a nuisance because the constant babysitting and second-guessing get old fast. After we exited the highway, we never turned BlueCruise on again. However, these comments can apply to any hands-free Level 2 highway-driving assist system. A Level 3 system that does not require driver nannying would likely be more satisfying.

If Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 fails to prevent a collision, it appears this electric SUV provides good crash protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the SUV top marks in most assessments, and it’s a Top Safety Pick for the 2022 and 2023 calendar years.

Unfortunately, as we write this review, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not finalized crash-test ratings for the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The EV got top five-star ratings for side-impact protection and rollover resistance, but frontal-impact results were unavailable. Check the NHTSA website for updates.

As we write this review, the Mach-E Premium AWD or RWD and Select AWD or RWD grades, when equipped with the standard-range battery, qualify for a $5,000 federal rebate as a new vehicle as well as provincial rebates where they apply. Extended-range variants are too expensive to qualify for Canadian EV rebate programs, so you’ll need to pony up full price if you’d rather be able to go further on a charge.

That fact aside, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is a world-class electric vehicle providing style, performance, technology, and utility in equal measure. So, while it might only partially qualify for incentives, it seems worthy of its price before you apply them. And that’s more than half the battle in making any vehicle seem like a value-rich, cost-effective choice to a consumer.

Note: Images show a US model.