The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is an all-electric compact SUV with great tech and good range. Prices start at $42,995 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 Model Y’s range. That’s the distance covered when starting out with a full battery and running down to almost empty.
Ford 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.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The 2023 Mustang Mach-E is available with either a standard-range 70.0-kWh battery or an extended-range 91.0-kWh pack. These feed an electric motor mounted on the rear or both axles. That latter combination creates all-wheel drive, and on the sporty GT and GT Performance models, the motors combine to make 480 horsepower and up to 634 pound-feet of torque. Ford claims this will send the Mach-E GT Performance from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Less powerful models have 266 to 346 horsepower and 317 to 428 pound-feet of torque.
The Mach-E rides on wheels that range in size from 18 to 20 inches, and it can be had with adaptive dampers for adjustable ride firmness. The earlier version we drove in 2021 was an extended-range all-wheel-drive model that 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.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The 2023 Mustang Mach-E has a Ford-estimated range between 226 and 312 miles, depending on the battery pack and the configuration of electric motors. That isn’t nearly as impressive as the longest-range Tesla models. Every model also has fast-charging capability, and they all come with a mobile charging device that can add up to 30 miles of range per night with a 120-volt outlet and up to 80 percent of battery life overnight with a 240-volt outlet.
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.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Ford says the 2023 Mustang Mach-E has a targeted EPA-estimated range of up to 312 miles in its California Route 1 trim, which is exclusively all-wheel drive. The midlevel Premium model with rear-wheel drive follows, with a Ford-estimated driving range of 306 miles. Of course, there are a wider variety of ranges depending on the model and equipment, with the lowest being 226 miles for Standard Range battery models configured with all-wheel drive.
We haven’t yet had the 2023 Mach-E on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, so we haven’t evaluated its real-world range. For more information about the Mustang Mach-E’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Mustang Mach-E’s battery is located under the floor of the car, which allows for maximum cargo and passenger space. Unlike its exterior, the inside of the Mach-E has little in common with the regular Mustang. Its streamlined dashboard hosts an attractive digital gauge cluster and is dominated by a huge vertically mounted touchscreen. A floating flip-up armrest on the center console allows a purse or other items to be stored between the front-seat passengers.
There are also many slick features that include customizable ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, and more. The front trunk is made of durable plastics that can be rinsed and then drained, which allows for storing ice and messy things. The Mach-E has 29 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and up to 60 with the back seats folded.
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
- 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 Alexa, or Google Home.
- 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 CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and wireless device charging.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Ford’s next-generation Sync infotainment system uses machine learning to fully customize each driver’s experience. Currently, it supports three driver profiles and one guest. The Mustang Mach-E runs the software through a vertically mounted 15.5-inch touchscreen that allows for easy access to the system’s array of apps and features. A benefit of the system is that Ford will roll out over-the-air updates over time, constantly improving the system and adding new content. Top features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2023 Mustang Mach-E is available with a wide array of driver-assistance technology. For more information about the Mach-E’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Available adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Ford’s current limited and powertrain warranty are competitive, albeit unspectacular. Notably, the company covers the Mach-E’s electrical components for eight years or 100,000 miles, which it does for all its EVs, but complimentary maintenance isn’t included.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
No complimentary scheduled maintenance
