Mach-E GT Review: Shelby Speed Despite Truck Tonnage
The Mach-E GT is among the all-time quickest Mustangs to 60 with room for four adults and groceries. Is it the perfect family hauler for Mustang fanatics?
In the ever-churning maelstrom of Internet outrage, few topics conjure as much wrath as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Mach-E GT. An all-electric Mustang SUV? Whaaaaaa? And I get it. Mustangs are, in many ways, my life’s passion. Shelby, Boss, Mach 1, GT, SVO, SVT, Cobra. Legends. Gamechangers. I adore them all.
But a Mustang SUV doesn’t bother me. I see it as Porsche using 911 design language on, well, every single one of its cars and SUVs. I know, not exactly the same, but Mustang STYLING in a non-V8 commuter variant is as old as the very first Mustang.
Photos: Michael S. Palmer
If a Mustang SUV makes you angry like that time Ford ALMOST turned the Pony into a Probe, then head over here to the forum, leave an angry note of protest, and be on with your day, good sir. I’ll be back with some V8 shenanigans very soon, I promise! (I’m also LS swapping a Buick Roadmaster Wagon for those who enjoy non-Ford brands.)
If you stick around, please know that I, your humble Mustang fanatic, am not here to tell you what to buy. Who to vote for. Or to save the planet (although I am pretty fond of clean air and water). My only goal – dare I say, agenda – is to answer one question. Did Ford build a great performance SUV? Let’s dive in.
What do YOU think about the Mustang Mach-E GT?
Let us know HERE in the forums!
SPECS & PRICING
The Mach-E GT and GT Performance Edition sit atop the Mach-E hierarchy. Basically, imagine an extended range battery, all-wheel-drive Mach-E Premium (reviewed HERE), and upgrade the motors, seats, suspension, tires, and brakes.
Today we’re reviewing the penultimate GT. 480 peak horsepower and 600 foot-pounds of instant all-wheel-drive torque with the ability to haul two and a half TONS to 60 in a Ford-quoted 3.8 seconds, which includes a one-foot rollout. Me in the real world and a regular road on a 59-degree morning on all-season Continental tires? 3.99-seconds, which according to Dragy equals 3.73-seconds with a one-foot rollout. (I can’t do that in my Boss.)
Our loaner stickered for (just under) $65,000 in 2021. But for 2022, that price jumps to $67,290, including $795 Cyber Orange paint, $1,500 for a glass roof, and $1,900 for Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 and 360-Degree Camera. Ouch.
Step up to the GT Performance Edition for an extra $6 grand and torque jumps to 634 pound-feet while 0-60 runs drop to a Ford-quoted 3.5 seconds. The Performance Edition also adds unique wheels, magnetic ride control, Pirelli summer tires, and slightly revised sport seating.
In the modern Mustang cinematic universe, $67 grand puts us in Mach 1 or Shelby GT350 territory. Which is a big ask for a “GT.” Although in the Mach-E realm, I should point out that the GT is only a $7,500 upgrade over the Extended Range All-Wheel-Drive Premium (with similar options). And it’s a DRAMATICALLY faster. I know I’d fork over 7,500 bucks to make my Boss a full second faster to 60 if it was that easy (note: it is possible, just probably more in the $10-12 grand range).
PERFORMANCE
Speaking of which, let’s talk performance. If 0-60 acceleration were the only metric, the Mach-E GT would be pretty damned close to perfect. The only way to own a quicker factory Mustang than either Mach-E GT is to buy a Shelby GT500.
Not bad for a 5,000-pound four-door SUV.
But 0-60 acceleration is (obviously) NOT the only valuable performance metric. Or even acceleration in general. Which brings us to DRIVING DYNAMICS. Drop behind the wheel of a Shelby or Boss or a Mach 1 and they feel weightless, balanced, tucked into the road.
The Mach-E GT drives… like a truck.
Heavy suspension. Lots of swaying. And the all-wheel-drive system doesn’t always seem to know where to put the most power. To be fair, it’s one of the BEST trucks I’ve ever driven, but the Mach-E GT falls short of most traditional Mustangs despite being very capable and controlled.
Brakes are good, but not amazing. And steering feel is really artificial, especially when the lane-keeping system overreacts. The sport suspension is also relatively harsh around the city, although this is pretty common in many Performance Package Mustangs. However, it’s worth noting the Mach-E GT Performance Edition offers an adjustable MagneRide suspension. And, based on prior experience, I’d bet that version is more capable and comfortable.
Otherwise, the Mach-E GT drives really well. Smooth when needed, a monster when called to arms. Fun factor remains very high. but there’s no escaping its HEFT.
VISUALS & BUILD QUALITY
Outside, the Ford sculps the Mustang Mach-E GT with a more aggressive front facia, including a faux grille with an illuminated pony badge. Overall, it looks more muscular and I’m personally a sucker for LEDs and puddle lamps. There’s also a GT badge out and red brake calipers. The 20-inch wheels are also GT-specific and seem like aero-EV versions of some optional rims from the end of the S197 era. Personally, I’m not a fan and much prefer the Performance Edition variants.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say the Mach E platform looks as good as two-door Mustangs, but I’d much rather be driving an SUV with Mustang styling than something bland and forgettable. It’s a bit like the Bronco Sport or Ford Maverick; both share a platform with the Ford Escape while offering more style and branding than their crossover sibling.
The only thing that some folks, particularly first-time Ford owners, might not expect at this price point is the fit and finish. To be clear, I’ve heard about and seen much worse on Tesla products. And Mustangs are routinely imperfect. Even the special editions. The Mach-E GT is no different, with what I’d describe as slight fitment issues around the rear hatch. Some of this is just molding elements. Others design choices. But panel gaps could be more consistent.
At the end of the day, Fords are not Lexus products.
INTERIOR AMENITIES
On the inside, the Mach-E GT adds suede seating surfaces and extra bolstering — think ST trim Explorers or Fiestas– along with two-tone stitching that evokes the Unbridled driving mode color scheme. Front seats are heated, but I’m still shocked to see no seat ventilation in a $60,000+ anything.
Outside the cosmetics, it’s very similar to a Mach-E Premium. The large, vertical SYNC 4A screen dominates the front dash, although Ford also includes a digital gauge for the driver that displays, speed, vehicle charge, error lights, and even directions.
While the uninitiated might find SYNC 4A a little cluttered, the learning curve is mild. Ford smartly designed multiple ways to access various apps and settings. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are terrific, though I sometimes had to press a few extra buttons after actually plugging in an iPhone. And my daughter fell in love with the Sketch app, which offers a place to draw, color a Ford, play tic-tac-toe, or use a calculator.
Other nice features include wireless charging, a good amount of storage, as well as USB-A and C charging (front and rear). Speaking of which, all Mach-Es offer a generous amount of leg and headroom for a mid-sized vehicle. Especially with the panoramic glass roof. Which looks nice (although I’ve yet to drive one through the desert on a blisteringly hot day) and makes the cabin open and airy.
CHARGING & EV TIPS
For a more in-depth look at Mustang Mach-E charging, check out this InsideEVs video where they spend 40 minutes on the topic. Inside EVs charged an extended range Mach-E from 0 to 80% using a DC fast charger in about 47 minutes. (Above 80% DC fast charging slows down so much, many recommend unplugging at that point.) At home, charging from 0-100% takes —
- 10 hours using a Level 2, 48-amp, 240v Ford Connected Charger
- 12 hours using a Level 2, 40-amp, 240v third-party charger
- 15 hours using a Level 2, 32-amp, 240v wall outlet & the Ford Mobile Charger
- 95 (!) hours using a Level 1, 12-amp 120v wall outlet & the Ford Mobile Charger
Given this data, road-tripping a Mach-E GT would require stopping (approximately) every 180 miles to charge for about 50 minutes in optimum conditions. If it’s cold, range drops and charging times rise. It also assumes you can find an open DC Fast Charger that can deliver enough juice. That’s actually a pretty similar range to my Boss 302, although its fillups only take ten minutes.
As such, I’d argue Mach-E GTs aren’t for anyone who routinely drives long distances. But for people who drive fewer than, say, 200 miles per day and who have the means to install an at-home 240-volt charging system, you could simply drive during the day and charge the Mach-E GT at night as needed.
Based on my family’s commuting needs pre-pandemic, we probably would have recharged this Mach-E GT once or twice each week. But now with everyone working from home, we could easily go a couple of weeks without needing to plug in.
MACH-E GT FINAL THOUGHTS
Some will say an all-electric crossover can never be a Mustang. And that’s fair. But this Mustang-flavored SUV in GT or GT Performance Edition trim can out-accelerate any factory Mustang not named Shelby GT500. And it might even beat the Shelby in the right conditions/distance. In this context, I’d argue the Mach-E GT is extremely fun and fast while offering more practicality than the two-door originals.
Still, the Mustang Mach-E GT isn’t perfect. It drives like a truck, weighing a half ton more than a Mach 1, and the sport tuned GT suspension is a little rough around the city, a solution (I suspect) you can fix by snagging the GT Performance Edition.
Overall, my heart wants to hate Mustang SUVs, but they keep winning me over with a combination of Mustang-infused looks and fun factor. Are they as good as “real” Mustangs? No, they’re too heavy. BUT, if you’re a Mustang fan who already owns a track toy…
A Mustang aficionado looking for a killer daily…
Or a Mustang family who can’t fit everyone in the back seat of the coupe…
The Mustang Mach-E GT delivers a ton of smiles per gallon (smiles per kilowatt hour?). Anyway, if this fits your life, let the haters crow about road trips. Because the Mach-E GT is a silent monster ready to gobble up hater tears stoplight to stoplight.
