2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E preview: price, specs and release date

What you need to know about the new Ford Mustang Mach-E

Mustang Mach-E in Australia: release date

The unique Ford Mustang Mach-E is finally coming to Australia, three years after its release in the US. Currently the Mach-E is due in Australia between October and December 2023.

"The Mach-E has the potential to be popular in Australia, although it's arriving with a steep price tag, which will naturally limit its appeal. The real action in the EV market is below about $75,000 and the cheapest Mach-E is north of that," Toby says.

Interested buyers can 'reserve' a Mach-E on Ford Australia's website by building out their preferred model, making a Ford account, and paying a $1,000 reservation fee. A Ford Dealer will then contact you and discuss confirming a vehicle order. The reservation fee is fully refundable prior to moving to a confirmed order.

Mustang Mach-E model range: price and specs

The Mustang Mach-E comes in three model variants: the entry-level Select, the long-range Premium and the performance-tuned GT.

Mach-E Select

The Select clocks in at $79,925 driveaway in Victoria, with a 71kWH battery capacity and a 470km range (WLTP). It comes in a RWD drivetrain only, with 198kW battery power and 430Nm torque. The Select is fitted out with artificial leather seats, with the front seats heated and eight-way powered for ultimate driving comfort, plus a heated steering wheel. LED reflector headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels with aero covers to reduce aerodynamic drag round out the entry-level Select model.

Mach-E Premium

The Premium jumps up in priced at $94,718 driveaway in Victoria, but you’re paying for a sizable 600km WLTP driving range thanks to a bigger 91kWh battery capacity. Like the Select, it’s RWD only with a 430Nm torque, but battery power increases to 216kW. Red stitching on the seats, gloss black exterior body cladding, and red brake callipers on its 19-inch alloy wheels give the Premium an extra-sporty look. It also boasts metal scuff plates and foot pedals that are unique to the Premium model. Inside, multi-colour interior ambient lighting adds an exciting feel to every drive. From a safety perspective, the Premium has glare-free LED projector headlamps with auto-high beam functionality and a daytime running light pattern.

Mach-E GT

Finally, the GT is priced at $114,210 driveaway in Victoria. The GT comes in a performance-tuned dual-motor AWD drivetrain with a massive 358kW battery power and 860Nm torque. Keep in mind that the GT’s driving range drops back down to 490km WLTP with a 91kWh battery capacity.

In addition to all-wheel drive, the GT is treated to the MagneRide adaptive suspension system, which seamlessly adjusts the vehicle’s character up to 1000 times a second in line with changing road conditions and the selected drive mode. It also features 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero tyres and visible Brembo performance front disc brakes. There’s also unique GT styling with black accents inside and out, plus bolstered wrap-around Ford Performance front sports seats.

Mustang Mach-E driving features and modes

Ford has put a lot of effort into giving the Mach-E driving characteristics and performance that match the lofty expectations of petrol-powered Mustang owners and lovers.

"The EV market goes well beyond style," Toby points out. "People also want to know about technology, functionality, performance and how far it can go on a charge. For those into performance, they'll likely be very happy with what the Mach-E has to offer."

You can choose from three driving experiences in the Mach-E: the normal Active mode, the sporty Untame mode with firmed-up dampers, and the quiet Whisper mode that cuts out faux engine sounds in favour of a subdued EV soundscape. In the GT, you also have access to the Untame Plus drive mode for track driving, which helps balance the powertrain output on a racetrack for lap time consistency, and adjusts traction and stability for a more exciting drive.

The Mustang Mach-E is also equipped with one-pedal driving functionality, which uses regenerative braking to allow you to use only the accelerator pedal for both speeding up and slowing down.

The GT gives you access to the Untame Plus mode for track driving. Image: Supplied

Mustang Mach-E exterior and interior design

Notwithstanding it's an SUV, the Mach-E is somewhat inspired by fabled Mustangs of the past – its exterior, at least. Tri-bar taillights have been a signature design motif of the Ford Mustang since the 1960s (although now they’re upgraded to LEDs). Its aggressive grille and wide rear are reminiscent of the original Mustang too. There are also nifty puddle lamps that project the famous pony emblem at your feet.

"Design is important with any new car, so the Mach-E's muscular looks certainly won't hurt its appeal," Toby says. "No doubt there will be some existing Mustang drivers who consider a Mach-E, but I think the crossover between the two will be pretty small. Ultimately the Mach-E doesn't do what a lot of people want from a muscle car: make noise."

Shadow Black comes as the standard colour, with the following prestige paint colours available at an additional $700: Star White, Space White, Carbonised Grey, Vapour Blue, Grabber Blue Metallic, and Rapid Red.

Inside, the Mach-E is more akin to popular tech-first EV models like the Tesla Model Y. The Mustang Mach-E's 10.2-inch cluster screen and 15.5-inch colour multi-function touchscreen display provides full connectivity and vehicle information at a glance. The touchscreen is curiously portrait-oriented, with a smartphone-like pinch, zoom and swipe functionality. It’s fitted out with voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless phone charging for a hands-free experience. The Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker system was designed in partnership with audio experts and includes a unique soundbar that seamlessly melds into the dashboard, plus a subwoofer.

Most impressive is the panoramic glass sunroof on all Mach-E models that floods the interior with light. The Premium and GT models also have multi-colour ambient lighting inside to match your mood and drive mode.

Space isn’t an issue in the Mach-E, with generous headroom and legroom in the front and back. 60/40 split-fold rear seats mean you can transport large items while still carrying rear passengers, while the two ISOFIX points are perfect for securing child car seats. A frunk (front trunk) provides 134 litres of storage space, while the rear boot offers an additional 402 litres.

Mustang Mach-E ANCAP safety rating

ANCAP has awarded the Mach-E Select and Premium a five-star safety rating, with the GT as yet unrated. The electric SUV’s state-of-the-art safety technology includes:

• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control – maintains a preset speed and distance from the vehicle ahead, slowing to a stop in traffic and returning to your set speed once traffic clears. Traffic Sign Recognition automatically adjusts your cruising speed to the posted speed limit, while Lane Centring helps keep your car centred in the lane.
• Reverse Brake Assist – sounds an alert if an object, pedestrian or vehicle is behind you or about to cross at the rear, and brakes for you if you don’t react in time.
• Blind Spot Information System – helps you change lanes by alerting when a vehicle enters your blind spot zone and resisting a lane change if you miss the warning. When in reverse, the system’s Cross-Traffic Alert warns of traffic approaching from the sides. 
• Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking – alerts you to potential collisions with vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians in front of you or while turning at intersections, and brakes for you if you don’t react in time.
• Evasive Steer Assist – provides steering support to help you avoid an obstacle that Pre-Collision Assist determines is too close to brake in time to avoid a collision.
• Post-Collision Braking – automatically applies moderate brake pressure when a collision is detected, which can potentially lessen injury and damage to the vehicle and reduce the severity of potential secondary collisions.

The Mach-E uses a standard Type 2 charger. Image: Supplied.

Mustang Mach-E battery charging and efficiency

The Ford Mustang Mach-E uses a standard Type 2, Mode 3 charging cable across all models. It can achieve a maximum DC charge power of 115kW on the Select and 150kW on the Premium and GT.