The Ford Mustang Mach-E Is a Fake Mustang, But a Real Accomplishment

The fact that you've clicked on a review of an electric crossover built by a traditional OEM proves Ford was right about one thing. Aside from "Tesla," "Mustang" is arguably the most effective name to get people to pay attention to a new vehicle. Ford doesn't need you to be happy about seeing a pony badge on an EV cute-ute. It just needs you to know it exists. The name is a means to that end.

Because the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is, at its core, a first step in Ford's new direction. It's a checkpoint, signaling how the company has changed. It won't replace the F-150 or the internal-combustion Mustang overnight. It probably won't single-handedly decimate Tesla. It's a simple statement of intent. "This is where we're headed," the Mach-E says, beckoning toward a future filled with desirable, mainstream electric Fords.

Ford desperately wants to be seen as a leader in EVs. The automaker wants to make money and claim market share, sure, but it also wants to sell Wall Street on the idea that the most established of establishment automakers can take the fight to Tesla. Ford took its time bringing a long-range EV to market, and now it's trying to position itself alongside the upstart that single-handedly made EVs cool. You can't win that kind of fight without being bold.

So the Mustang badge landed on an electric crossover. And just like that, all the other OEMs talking about "betting it all" on electrification started to look yellow-bellied, feckless. Ford put its most valuable name on the line. Then, when you thought this historic company might blink, it electrified its ultimate money-maker, the F-150. If success was only about taking risks, the game would already be won.

There is, of course, the thorny issue of whether this vehicle is a "real Mustang." Spoiler alert: It's not. Automotive nameplates are a figment of our collective imagination. Of all the Mustangs that Ford has sold over half a century, most barely fit the rip-snorting performance image the badge conveys. No, the Mach-E isn't the bellowing coupe we love. The real question is whether that matters.

I vote no. Forget that this is an electric family crossover supposedly inspired by a pony car. The Mach-E's dynamics defy both its shape and its name. A floor-mounted battery pack keeps the center of gravity low and centered, making for a tall five-door that corners like a sports sedan. It can't emulate the brutality of the bruiser it's named after, but it's not trying to. Instead, the Mach-E pairs the staple performance feature of high-power EVs—instant, walloping acceleration—with a compliant, assured suspension and a chassis delightfully tuned toward oversteer. High-pace corner exits often bring a tidy slide before the Mach-E hooks up and sprints away. Ultra-quick, precise steering lends confidence and control.

The Mach-E has agility, speed, style, and playfulness. It's got a sense of occasion that's missing in just about every other EV built by a traditional manufacturer. A Hyundai Kona EV or Volkswagen ID4 might match the Ford on practicality, but you'll always have to explain what it is, why it's interesting. Here, the badge does all that heavy lifting. A Mustang, but electric. A stretch, maybe, but enough to settle the conversation.