What happens when a vehicle manufacturer flips the script and surprises the masses with a brand new vehicle that takes the concept behind a famous sports car but flips it on its head? The result is an all-electric SUV with a familiar name, and the vehicle we’re talking about is the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E. This electric SUV is still a newcomer to the scene, and with this comes the advantage of being built on the most modern technology, both inside the cabin and under the hood. Let’s begin this overview with a brief look at the available trim levels and pricing.
The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E is available in four distinct trim levels, starting with the Select, at a starting MSRP of $42,895. This price brings an exceptional feature set for a base model, including, but not limited to, a fully-fledged safety package called Ford Co-Pilot360, which we’ve seen in other Ford vehicles. The Select can travel 230 miles on a single charge and is available with both eAWD and RWD.
Up next is the California Route 1, and this trim level has the advantage of having the highest range out of the four trims, able to travel up to 305 miles. This trim also includes what’s known as Ford BlueCruise standard, which we’ll talk about more in-depth later. But for reference, it’s a form of hands-free driving. Then we have the Premium, bringing forth luxurious enhancements such as a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and multi-color ambient lighting. Lastly is the GT, and there’s plenty to be said about this high-performance trim. However, we’ll get into all the juicy details later.
So Many Options
There’s a lot to talk about with the available powertrains for the 2022 Mustang Mach-E, so we’ll get right into it. In total, there are five available powertrains, and all of them are worth discussing. Coming standard with the base model, the Select, a rear motor is combined with a 70 kWh battery, resulting in 266 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. With this combo, you’ll get a range of 230 miles with a single charge. This is a great start, but if you swap from the standard RWD to the available eAWD system, then the torque is increased from 317 lb-ft to 428 lb-ft, a 35% increase. However, with this torque increase comes a slight decrease to the total range, going from 230 to 211 miles, albeit this is only an 8% decrease.
The next available motor and battery combo sees a 91 kWh extended range battery replacing the 70 kWh standard battery that made up the previous two powertrains. This larger battery is offered in three powertrains. In its RWD configuration, it gets 290 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Equipping your 2022 Mustang Mach-E with this powertrain will make it the most efficient, with an estimated range of up to 305 miles on a single charge.
This 91 kWh battery offers better performance when utilizing AWD, and here we see 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. This is a substantial upgrade that offers 19% more horsepower and 35% more torque output. Additionally, with a total range of up to 300 miles on a single charge, this is only a 1.6% decrease for that substantial power increase. However, that’s not all. There’s one more use for this battery that results in an exceptional level of performance, unlike anything that we’ve discussed so far.
Should you opt for the GT model, which you should if you’re able to, you’ll get a special variant of this powertrain. Exclusively fitted on the GT model, this variation gets you a whopping 480 hp and either 600 or 634 lb-ft of torque, depending on whether you opt for the Performance Edition. Let’s compare that quickly to the base powertrain, which for reference had 266 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The GT’s powertrain has 80% more horsepower and a doubling of the torque output at its best. Better yet, even with these stellar performance metrics, the Mustang Mach-E GT can still travel 270 miles on a single charge, which is the third to best out of the five powertrains that we’ve discussed.
Masterclass Technology
Something that deserves mention since it’ll be one of the very first aspects that you’ll notice when stepping foot inside of the Mustang Mach-E is the infotainment center. The 2022 Mustang Mach-E includes Ford’s largest-ever infotainment center screen, measuring in at 15.5-inches. So, if you want an infotainment center that is the size of a television, then it’ll take front and center stage to guide you through some of the most current technology that you can buy. The infotainment center is presented in a vertical position. This means that the screen is taller than it is wide, allowing more information to be displayed on the screen at once.
Our favorite aspect of the 2022 Mustang Mach-E’s infotainment center is its use of both physical and digital elements. A majority of the system is digital, from the clock to the applications that you use, from the standard built-in navigation to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also digital are the climate controls, and these will display on the bottom portion of the screen. Perhaps the best part; in the middle of these controls lays a large volume wheel with a power button in the middle. It’s not only a clever design, but it’s effective too and should satisfy drivers who would like the best of both worlds.
Ford BlueCruise
A new feature that has been stirring up conversation is Ford BlueCruise. What is it, and how does it work? Ford BlueCruise is best described as a hands-free driving system that will allow the driver to take their hands off the wheel and their foot off of the pedals. BlueCruise will control your speed and will also provide steering input when needed. However, this feature will only work on divided highways that have been mapped by Ford’s advanced technology. Still, you need not worry because Ford has already confirmed that there are over 130,000 miles of roads (known as Blue Zones) that currently support the feature. And, more will be added as time goes on, of course. While you can take your hands off the wheel, BlueCruise can detect when your eyes have left the road and will alert you to direct your attention back to it. Overall, it’s a feature that helps separate vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E from the competition.
A Pleasant Surprise
We’ve got the chance to take a close look at the 2022 Mustang Mach-E today, and our consensus is that Ford is onto something truly special here. With the success that the Mach-E has been currently seeing, which is sure to rise over time, the conversation of aspiring Mustang shoppers will shift to “But, which one”? The name Mustang had never been associated with SUVs until this point, but with the Mustang Mach-E’s fully-electric plug-in powertrain, Ford was keen on ensuring the Mustang name could reach new heights. With the rise of electric vehicles appearing in nearly every facet of the industry, there’s never been a more exciting time to shop for one. We recommend that if you’re going to buy a vehicle soon, then make sure to check out a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E before making your final decision.
