It was introduced as a 2021 model under the same name as one of the world's most legendary models and presented as a world first. Two years later, the model is in 11th place among registered electric cars in Norway. Sales are also falling in the US.
Should it have sold more?
The El-Mustang belongs to a very popular group of electric cars – medium-sized SUVs with room for large battery packs with a long range. We are used to finding Ford at the top of the sales charts. A decent 12 Mach-Es have been registered in Norway, but in June this year it is number 520 on OFV's sales list, overtaken by 11 other models in the same segment. Ford's Mexico-made electric car has about the same size, range and driving characteristics as the Tesla Model Y, but sells much worse. In the first quarter of this year, the Tesla was in 7th place on the US sales lists, while the Mach-E ended up in 4st place. When Ford's European Explorer arrives next year, it will also compete in the same segment as the Mach-E.
When I visited RøhneSelmer in Billingstad a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that they were about to deliver many vans and Mustang Mach-E to Hertz. Hertz Bildeling has placed 3 Mustang Mach-Es around Oslo.
We took the one on Frogner
I know people who say: If I'm going to buy an electric car, I'm going to buy a Mustang Mach-E . I suspect that the connection to "Mustang" is what attracts me, but it can also lead some to believe that the Mach-E is higher in the premium segment than it actually is. The interior is delicate and seems durable, the levers and controls are solid and intuitive. But that would also be missing, because in the USA the Ford Mustang is considered a car built for most people. "Our" car had the Premium equipment level with perforated Sensico seats with red contrast stitching. They look good and are good to sit in, both for me and my better half who usually prefers softer seats than me. Electrically adjustable with lumbar support. Sensico is also a vinyl material with all the good properties that real leather has. Car manufacturers are increasingly switching to non-animal materials.
Another trend is that buttons and levers are replaced by touch screens. They are not always as easy to understand when an old man gets into a new car for the first time, but this time it went well. I found the radio channel and was able to take off right away. The car was in "Active" driving mode, set for one-pedal driving. It suited me very well. You have to enter the infotainment system to change the driving mode to, for example, "Quiet" and "Untamed". in other cars they would be called "Eco" and "Sport" respectively. The latter emits a hum through the stereo when the throttle is applied.
One-pedal
Whether to choose one-pedal driving or not is a matter of personal preference. Some people say that it is most economical to drive without one pedal on the road because you can then take advantage of free-rolling, but I think you can drive at least as economically with one pedal if you have turned to the system. In the Mach-E, it is optional whether you want to drive constantly with one pedal or use the gear selector's "L" button to operate regenerative braking manually. The effect of regenerative braking depends on which drive mode is selected. In "Active" (normal) the deceleration is so powerful that it will probably take some getting used to. If you come from another car with one pedal, you will hardly have any problems. The only problem I experienced was dosing the correct braking force when I lifted the accelerator to brake manually. I think it may be related to the fact that the regenerative braking then took hold and reinforced my own braking.
On the road
One of the areas where I think the electric Mustang has common features with the Tesla is the fixed suspension. I think it makes the heavy car feel lighter. Cruise control with automatic lane keeping worked well both on the motorway and as a queue assistant when we sat in a queue for 20 minutes. In the summer heat, accidents abound - often in connection with changing lanes. Wish people would be better at glancing over their shoulder before shifting – or at least swerving calmly over, so affected vehicles have time to adjust or honk. On the Mustang, the visibility obliquely to the rear is very limited due to the falling window line, but blind spot warning devices in the mirrors compensate somewhat. While we stood in line, I could study how the warning lights worked. In my opinion, they could have notified earlier. They do not replace looking over your shoulder.
4WD or RWD?
"Our" car was an LR (Long range) RWD (rear wheel drive). Among Norwegian customers, 3 out of 4 now choose 4-wheel drive. Then they get an electric motor that controls the front wheels. I use to say that 4 wheel drive can save your day. It undoubtedly also provides better traction on uphill slopes in winter, as well as that it can make the car more controllable when accelerating out of roundabouts on icy roads. The disadvantage is that you lose some range, 550 km instead of 600 km. In the Premium version, the 4-wheel drive increases the price by NOK 43. "Our" car will be suitable for someone who has a long journey, drives a lot, can manage without 100WD and who may not have charging options at work.
Range like a petrol car
Estimated range based on our trip was 620 km. That's on par with the range of a petrol car. Stated range according to WLTP is 600 km. Since we were left queuing for a long time after an accident further down the road, our consumption figures may have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The driving computer judges how you have driven since the last stop, and here I get 100% for acceleration, 85% for speed reduction (recovery of regenerative energy?) and 98% for speed. The consumption was measured at just 14 kwh/100 km - stated consumption is 17,3. I think the queue has to take credit for that. I can also retrieve figures for all driving in the last 3300 km. It shows a consumption of 20 kwh/100 km – not bad either considering that it has included several drivers.
Cargo
Mustang Mach-E owners have access to Ionity Plug and Charge, where you can simply plug in the charger and it will automatically charge after charging. I haven't tested charging on "our" Mustang, but I remember talking to a new Mustang owner last winter who happily told me that his car charged at about 100 kW on Ionity, while I charged at an empty Tesla station next door. Even with a partially preheated battery, I didn't get more than 30 kW on my charge.
Place
The space in the front and back is good, and fully on par with the competition. The rear luggage compartment holds 402 litres. In front, there is a "frunk" of 100 litres. This is on par with competitors such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Volvo XC40, but not on par with the Tesla Model Y. Tesla tempts families with children with a whopping 854 liters behind the rear seats and 117 liters in the "frunk". That is probably one of the reasons for the model's success. Both Tesla and Mustang also have ISOFIX mounts only in the outermost rear seats - none in the front passenger seat.
Now with roof load
A small detail is that the Mach-E is now approved for roof loads of up to 75 kg and 65 kg for cars with a panoramic roof. In the first years, the roof load was unclear, so the importer and a body builder set about retrofitting through-load hatches for skis. Even if the need is not as great as in the past, it is certainly still possible to have a loading hatch installed.
Recalls
All car models have one or more recalls that are handled in the dealer links. Since the Mustang Mach-E was put into production as a 2021 model, there have been several recalls, one of which was discovered in Norway when several cars were left with locked wheels on the way down to Geiranger. The error had occurred in connection with regenerative braking and was fixed with a software update.
Forced recalls only cover defects that could cause accidents or endanger life and health. A "fault" that Ford is fixing on its own initiative is improvements in connection with the Mustang failing the Teknikens Världs moose test . According to the website Cars.com, there are no recalls for the 2023 model, but among the 2021 and 2022 models there are the following recalls:
- Risk of the front window and panoramic roof falling off.
- Early cars with AWD can accelerate/brake unmotivated.
– Bolts for fixing the auxiliary frame (front) can come loose.
– Part of the right drive axle set at the rear can break off.
- Rear seat belts can come loose in an accident.
Conclusion
To succeed in creating an electric car with a long range, car manufacturers use an SUV to carry the weight of the battery pack. This has meant that the market is flooded with one uniform type of car where the differences are very small. The Mustang Mach-E looks great from every angle, but where does it stand out from the competition? Is it for price, appearance, space, driving characteristics or quality? I am left with a single number on my block: 600 km. - A lot of range for the money!
Facts about the Ford Mustang Mach-E LR RWD
Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 471 x 188 x 162 cm
Wheelbase: 298 cm
Net weight: 2088 kg (without driver)
Payload: 442 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 1500 kg (from 2023-)
– without brakes: 750 kg
Roof load: 75 (from 2023-)
Drivetrain
Motor: Electric
Power: 301 hp
Torque: 430 Nm
Wheel drive: RWD
Consumption and range
Battery capacity: 99 kwh gross, 88 kwh net.
Stated consumption (combined): 17,3 kwh/100 km
Measured consumption: 14,0 – 20,0 kwh/100 km
Stated range (WLTP): 600 km
Calculated based on driving under ideal conditions: 620 km
Luggage compartment
As a five-seater: 402 liters in the back
As a two-seater: 1441 litres
"Frunk": 100 litres
Tires
Dimension: 225/55 R19 V XL
Type: Summer tire
Brand: Continental PremiumContact 6
Prices:
Price for Premium LR RWD: 532
Fees: 22
Total: 554
About the car
Place of production: Mexico
Colour: Solid Black
Leased by Hertz Car sharing
Model: 2023
Mileage: 3987
Km driven: 174
Sources: vegvesen.no, Ford.no, Goodcarbadcar.net, Cars.com/recalls, Elbilstatistikk.no
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