Some words make us envision certain things. For example, when you hear the word “Bronco,” you likely think about Ford’s SUV, if not immediately. With that in mind, when you hear the word “Mustang,” your mind may be drawn to muscle cars, specifically Ford’s half-century-old legend. Face it, we’re all getting older, and if you’re reading this article, the chances are that you’re old enough to drive and have felt old at least once in your life.
Nobody likely feels as old as those growing up when the Mustang first hit the market. If there’s one thing that isn’t immune to the passage of time, it’s innovation, and I assume everyone reading this article has heard of the Mustang at least one point in their life. It wasn’t until recently when the Mustang moniker meant far more than muscle cars; Ford released a new electric SUV in 2020, and low and behold, its name was strikingly familiar. A couple of years later, we have the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
I’m quite a fan of what Ford has done here with the Mustang Mach-E; it’s similar to what they did with the F-150 Lightning. Before anybody argues about the pros or cons of electric powertrains, remember the Mach-E isn’t made to be a replacement to the regular Mustang but a side addition for an entirely different crowd. Ford fans would agree there’s nothing like the Mustang, and those looking for a muscle car will likely not be persuaded into purchasing an electric SUV just because it has familiar branding. Instead, the Mustang Mach-E aims to bring a new generation of Ford fans into the picture by allowing its Mustang name to reach new heights.
Two Batteries, Five Use Cases
Allow me to set the record straight: the 2023 Mustang Mach-E deserves the Mustang name, and one glance at what this SUV can do in the power department and it’s clear that Ford is one of the current kings of matching performance, efficiency, and price in the EV space. The 2023 Mustang Mach-E offers two batteries: a 70 kWh battery that comes standard and a stronger and longer-lasting 91 kWh battery.
These batteries are linked to the expected motors, but what’s not so expected for those unfamiliar with them is the performance you can expect from these batteries. The 70 kWh battery is utilized in what’s called the “Standard Range” and is available in both RWD and AWD. Both used for the 70 kWh battery shows the 2023 Mustang Mach-E outputting 266 hp, 317 lb-ft of torque, and an impressive 427 lb-ft of torque in AWD.
The 91 kWh battery is available in three configurations: RWD, AWD, and an enhanced variant for those who purchase the GT trim. The 91 kWh battery powertrain is known as the “Extended Range,” which is an appropriate name given its increase in total mileage. The 91 kWh battery with RWD creates 311 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque as the RWD variant of the 70 kWh battery, but things certainly get crazier from here.
If you purchase a 2023 Mustang Mach-E with the 91 kWh battery in an AWD setup, you’ll get 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, which already far eclipses the numbers I’ve already presented to you. The AWD variant of the 91 kWh battery provides 19% more horsepower than the RWD model. However, the GT variant is best described as “wild.” Think about it like this; the 2023 Mustang Mach-E with this powertrain is an electric SUV that can output an astonishing 480 hp and between 600 and 634 lb-ft of torque. To emphasize this, think about it like this: this powertrain provides 80% more horsepower and double the torque output than the base Mustang Mach-E model.
“Alright, alright,” I hear you saying, “the Mustang Mach-E is an electric vehicle, so what about mileage?” That’s a great question, and if that wasn’t a question you were asking, you might want to read this anyways. Remember, the Mustang Mach-E is chargeable; you won’t be putting any gasoline in this vehicle. Charging can be done at home with the included Ford Mobile Charger, and you’ll get the option of using a 120V or 240V connection; the latter is the best method for the quickest possible charging at your house.
With the at-home charger, you’ll get 28 miles of travel range per hour that your Mustang Mach-E is plugged in. Tight on garage space? No problem – your charger comes with a 20-foot-long cord, so you can bring the cable outside the garage if necessary. With the base powertrain, you’ll get 250 miles of total range on a full tank; AWD variants of the 70 kWh battery get a reduced 226 miles. The 91 kWh battery can give you a total of 314 miles on a single charge with RWD, which is only slightly reduced to 312 miles with AWD. The GT variant, however, lasts for 270 miles, which is still more than either of the 70 kWh batteries.
Living Large With Equally Large Tech
What immediately drew my attention to the Mustang Mach-E was how Ford implemented its infotainment center. You’ve seen five, seven, eight, nine, even twelve-inch infotainment centers; it’s nothing new. Larger screens aren’t as subjective as a topic like talking about someone’s preferred cell phone. Instead, larger screens in your vehicle are a much-welcomed addition to your life as they can convey more information at once, different information, and are easier to read and use. The screen inside the 2023 Mustang Mach-E is a massive 15.5-inch screen that stands vertically, otherwise known as portrait mode, that nestles surprisingly nicely in the center of your dashboard.
My favorite part of the infotainment center is how Ford implemented a physical volume knob onto the bottom center of the display, but the operating system is designed to ensure it doesn’t get in the way of any necessary information. Overall, it’s an incredibly sleek design that draws my eye more than even those infotainment centers you see from other brands.
Of course, the infotainment center in every Mustang Mach-E isn’t only visually appealing, but it’s also versatile and has an abundance of capabilities. This SYNC 4A system has all the wireless features like a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and, my personal favorites, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, that’s only the beginning of the tech side of things as the 2023 Mustang Mach-E also features newer Ford technologies like BlueCruise for state-of-the-art assistive driving and Ford Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 safety suites.
Reimagining a Classic
Some people can’t wrap their heads around the existence of the Mustang Mach-E, but I believe I’ve figured it out. The Mustang was such an influential vehicle that if Ford were to make another Mustang, why bite into the sales of the classic muscle car? There’s a place for both in the market, but I believe Ford chose the Mustang moniker to create the Mustang Mach-E because they wanted to prove they were looking to make waves in the industry once again.
The Mustang Mach-E, while harnessing the Mustang name, was likely made to be as distant from the muscle car it’s named after as possible. What remains is the incredible power, durability, and reliability of the Mustang, but as an electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E is setting out on a journey of its own. I want to see where its journey takes it, and I’m curious about what comes next: will other manufacturers continue to breathe new life into classic vehicle names with new takes powered by electric components? I believe so, but only time will tell.
