The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is an all-electric compact SUV with great tech and good range. Prices start at $46,895 before any federal tax credits, state incentives, free charging, destination charges, or options.
It rides a little higher than a regular car and some variants come with all-wheel drive. Yet it also has a sloped roof, so it’s not quite as practical as a regular SUV. Whatever it is, though, the 2023 Mustang Mach-E is an excellent electric vehicle, or EV.
Maximum range is 312 miles, achieved by the California Route 1 version, which is close to the Tesla
TSLA,
Model Y’s range. That’s the distance covered when starting out with a full battery and running down to almost empty.
Ford
F,
makes a couple of seriously sporty variants as well, making use of another electric benefit — accessible power. Every version of the 2023 Mustang Mach-E has something going for it, however.
We named last year’s model a KBB Best Buy for its class. So yes, we’re fans.
Just to clarify one thing — this isn’t an electric version of the famed Mustang. It doesn’t really share anything with that sports car except for the name, similar taillights, and a couple of horsey badges.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E pricing
The 2023 Mustang Mach-E has a starting price of $46,895, plus a destination charge. That’s for the Select trim with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an extra $2,700, which applies to the Premium trim as well.
Premium is priced from almost $55K. An extended-range battery is offered with this trim at $8,600.
The California Route 1 model (now with all-wheel drive as standard) starts at just over $63.5K. The top GT model is just under $70K. The GT Performance Edition package (including an adaptive suspension) is $6,000, and the most expensive premium paint is $795.
The financial silver lining to these pricey clouds is the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 (electric vehicles from Chevrolet and Tesla currently don’t qualify). Various states may also offer incentives. For example, the California Clean Vehicle Rebate program will give $2,000 to anyone who buys or leases a new Mustang Mach-E. New York offers $500.
Ford also includes 250 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of free fast charging on the Electrify America network.
Other electric vehicles creating a buzz right now include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, both starting in the low 40s. The Volkswagen ID.4 is almost $38K, and the Tesla Model Y is about $66K (with a range of 318 miles and all-wheel drive as standard). The smaller Chevrolet Bolt EUV starts at just over $28K and has a range of 247 miles.
Before buying a new Mustang Mach-E electric car, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area paid for theirs. The Mustang Mach-E has already been recognized by KBB for its strong resale values.
Check out: The cars, trucks and SUVs with the best resale value
Driving the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Standstill to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds is wonderfully fast and thrilling. That’s the driver appeal of electric drivetrains, the delivery of maximum torque as if flicking a switch. This brisk time is achieved by the GT Performance Edition, made possible by its considerable 634 lb-ft of torque.
Not that the regular GT is slow. It’s only 34 lb-ft shy and slower by just 0.3 of a second. The slowest 2023 Mustang Mach-E electric SUV is the Premium with rear-wheel drive and the extended-range battery. Even then, 6.1 seconds isn’t bad, and it’s in keeping with the Premium trim’s more luxurious character anyway.
The battery pack is mounted under the floor, creating a raised ride height while still contributing to a low center of gravity. The Mustang Mach-E feels nice and stable, although still comfortable. The GT Performance Edition does come with an adaptive suspension, though, offering sportier dynamics.
Driving modes are Whisper (great for commutes and long freeway stretches alike), Engage (a bit of excitement coming through), and Unbridled — exploiting those electric motors to the full.
Like most EVs, the Mustang Mach-E also does the one-pedal driving trick. By setting the brake energy regeneration to maximum, the vehicle’s progress is controlled just by using the throttle, while lifting off completely can bring it to a halt. We’ve found this to be particularly useful during the mayhem of city traffic.
Also read: 3 reasons the Hyundai Ioniq 6 makes the Tesla Model 3 seem a bit boring
Interior comfort
Technology is front and center, thanks to a massive 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen set vertically. This is complemented by a 10.2-inch digital driver information display that comes as standard in every new Mustang Mach-E SUV.
Even the base Select trim has an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, while the upholstery is a decent-quality simulated leather. The GT’s seating surfaces include inserts of a suede-like cloth material.
The sloping roof might suggest constricted space for rear passengers, but a couple of average-sized adults should be happy with the amount of headroom and legroom. For the driver, outward vision is also acceptable.
Cargo space opens up from 29.7 cubic feet to 59.7 when the rear seats are folded down. That’s quite similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV. There’s also a storage area under the hood.
Exterior styling
The Nite Pony cosmetics bundle ($800) is new this year. Applicable to the Premium trim with the extended-range battery and the GT Performance Edition, this package adds exterior elements finished in high-gloss black. It’s also available with any paint choice.
On that subject, Carbonized Gray Metallic and Vapor Blue Metallic are new colors for the 2023 Mustang Mach-E SUV lineup, replacing similar hues. The black roof of the GT and GT Performance Edition variants is also gone, making way for a standard fixed-glass panoramic roof.
Favorite features
1. Charge management
The special Ford home charger available with the 2023 Mustang Mach-E EV can be controlled and monitored by using a smartphone app, Amazon
AMZN,
Alexa, or Google
GOOGL,
Home.
2. Infotainment touchscreen
It shows a Tesla influence with its size and orientation, but that’s no bad thing. This 15.5-inch screen has superb graphics, can be controlled using smartphone-like gestures, and is part of a user-friendly system that includes natural voice recognition, Wi-Fi, wireless Apple
AAPL,
CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and wireless device charging.
3. Phone as a Key
This allows users to access their Mustang Mach-E using a smartphone app. They can also open the trunk and the hood, activate the horn and lights, and open or close the windows — all remotely.
4. BlueCruise
This adaptive cruise control system allows hands-free driving on certain highways. However, the driver’s eyes must still be kept on the road.
5. Drainable front storage area
Under the hood is an extra 4.7 cubic feet of storage that comes with a drain plug, so it can be filled with ice and used as a cooler.
6. Bang & Olufsen audio
One way to enjoy the otherwise quiet cabin of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E is to turn up the volume of this high-quality 10-speaker system. Standard in the Premium and GT/GT Performance models.
Engine and transmission
Select and Premium versions of the 2023 Mustang Mach-E share the same setups. Variants with the standard-range battery and rear-wheel drive have a single electric motor developing 266 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. With a second electric motor driving the front wheels (creating an electronic form of all-wheel drive), horsepower stays the same, but torque increases to 428 lb-ft.
Premium then goes on its own journey with the optional extended-range battery. Although torque figures remain the same, a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version makes 290 horsepower and one with all-wheel drive (AWD) generates 346 horsepower.
These higher output numbers also apply to the California Route 1 version, now with AWD as standard.
GT versions pack a mightier punch. Both the straight-ahead GT and the GT Performance Edition have 480 horsepower, but torque is either 600 lb-ft in the GT or 634 lb-ft in the GT Performance Edition. AWD is standard here.
In combination with RWD, the standard-range lithium-ion battery in the Select and Premium models has a range of 247 miles. With AWD, that shortens to 224 miles. The extended-range battery (also lithium-ion), which is optional in the Premium, can cover either 306 miles (RWD) or 290 miles (AWD) — a little hike of 13 miles over last year’s AWD version.
California Route 1 and GT variants come with the extended-range battery as standard. The California Route 1 has the best range of the 2023 Mustang Mach-E lineup: 312 miles.
It’s 270 miles for the GT or 260 miles for the GT Performance Edition.
A DC fast charger can replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 45 minutes. A dedicated Ford home charging station is capable of adding 28 miles of range per hour it’s connected. Or plan on something like 11 hours for a full recharge using a 240-volt system.
These miles-per-gallon-equivalent (MPGe) figures and estimated ranges from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2022, but we expect 2023’s to be close.
Mustang Mach-E Select & Premium w/standard battery
266 horsepower
317 lb-ft of torque (RWD)
428 lb-ft of torque (AWD)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 110/96 MPGe (RWD), 99/86 MPGe (AWD)
EPA-estimated range: 247 miles (RWD), 224 miles (AWD)
Mustang Mach-E Premium w/extended-range battery
290 horsepower
317 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 104/90 MPGe
EPA-estimated range: 306 miles
Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD w/extended-range battery & California Route 1
346 horsepower
428 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 97/84 MPGe (Premium), 105/91 MPGe (California Route 1)
EPA-estimated range: 290 miles (Premium AWD), 312 miles (California Route 1)
Mustang Mach-E GT and GT Performance Edition
480 horsepower
600 lb-ft of torque (GT)
634 lb-ft of torque (GT Performance Edition)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 90/77 MPGe (GT), 88/75 MPGe (GT Performance Edition)
EPA-estimated range: 270 miles (GT), 260 miles (GT Performance Edition)
3/36 warranty
A typical Ford new-car warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first) applies to the 2023 Mustang Mach-E. Components specific to the electric drivetrain, like the battery pack, are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles.
KBB’s car review methodology.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
