While the Ford F-150 Lightning has been hogging the spotlight in the news, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV also still has an important place in the Blue Oval’s all-electric lineup. Ford didn’t give the Mach-E much connection to the original Mustang, other than its nameplate and a few styling cues. However, it’s a solid entry among BEV crossover EVs and a seemingly viable challenger to the Tesla Model S.
Ford makes the Mustang Mach-E in four trim levels, including (from base to range-topping) the Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT trims. The Select and Premium trims are unavailable for ordering as of March 2023. However, interested customers can sign up to receive notification of resumed availability by postal mail, email, or both. Here’s a closer look at which trim is a better choice when they do become available again.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Premium: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mach-E Select | Mach-E Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $45,995 | $50,995 |
| Passengers | 5 | 5 |
| Range | 247 miles | 247 miles or 310 miles |
| 0-60 Time | 5.8 seconds | 5.8 seconds |
| Frunk Space | 4.7 cubic feet | 4.7 cubic feet |
| Rear Cargo Space | 59.7 cubic feet | 59.7 cubic feet |
| Mirrors and Liftgate | Manually operated | Powered |
| Wheels | 18-inch | 19-inch |
| Sound system | Standard 6-speaker | Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker |
| Standard Battery | 70-kWh | 70-kWh |
| Optional Battery | None | 91-kWh |
| Drivetrain | RWD, AWD optional | RWD, AWD optional |
| Warranty | 3 years, 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty; Electric Unique Components 8 years, 100,000 miles warranty | 3 years, 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty; Electric Unique Components 8 years, 100,000 miles warranty |
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Premium: What’s the Difference?
The Mustang Mach-E Select and Premium trims both offer zero-emission driving, fast acceleration, and near-silent operation of today’s electric vehicles. Both carry the famous Pony badge of the Mustang lineup on their grille delete panel.
However, the Select offers slightly cheaper pricing alongside a basic suite of features. The Premium trim costs somewhat more but adds some modestly luxurious upgrades and features to its base-level sibling’s loadout.
Range and Performance
More than 61% of electric vehicle buyers rank range as the most important trait in a new EV, AutoList says. EV automakers vie with each other to offer the highest possible ranges in new models. The Mach-E Select and Mach-E Premium come with the same standard battery, but the Premium offers the option for a notable range boost.
Ford builds the Mach-E Select and Premium with a standard-range 70-kWh battery providing 247 miles of EPA-estimated range. However, the 70-kWh battery is the only choice for the Select trim.
©Floopin Photography/Shutterstock.com
Mach-E Premium buyers can opt for a 91-kWh extended-range battery. This option carries a hefty price tag of $8,600 but boosts range by 25.5%, to 310 miles by EPA estimates.
In terms of drivetrain and performance, both models feature rear-wheel drive (RWD) with their electric motors powering the back wheels. Both offer exactly the same zero-to-sixty mph acceleration time, reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 5.8 seconds.
Both models can be upgraded to all-wheel drive (AWD) for $2,700. The AWD upgrade boosts torque and also shortens 0-60 mph time to 5.2 seconds.
Exterior Features
The Mustang Mach-E’s design as a higher-end crossover EV shows in some of its standard features, even on the base trim. Both the Select and Premium come with standard laminated glass windshields equipped with rain-sensing windshield wipers.
These wipers, on the front only for both trims, switch on automatically when their sensors detect rain. They will also switch off when the rain ceases, reducing the need for driver input. Both trims also have a standard rear window defroster and washer.
The Mach-E Select has LED reflector headlamps and LED taillights with sequential turn signals. Ford built even the base model with the intense, clean light of LED lamps as standard.
The windshield wipers switching on automatically activate the headlights, too. The liftgate giving access to the rear cargo area is manually operated. The Select rides on 18-inch wheels versus the 19-inch wheels equipped as standard on the Premium.
The Mach-E Premium takes the Select’s features to the next level in many regards, some aesthetic and some practical. Its LED projector headlights feature signature lighting details for a swankier look. The vehicle’s engineers included a windshield wiper de-icer to improve winter function.
A fixed glass roof gives the interior more light and a feeling of space. Several exterior features get a powered treatment, including power-folding side mirrors and a powered liftgate, making opening and closing the cargo area easier.
Interior Features
When it comes to interior room, the Ford Mustang Mach-E cabin seats five people regardless of the trim. With no ICE engine, the vehicle’s front includes a frunk (front trunk) with drains so it can hold ice.
The frunk boasts a 4.7 cubic foot capacity in all trims. Cargo space is 29.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.7 cubic feet with the back seats folded flat.
Even the base Select trim includes quite a few features that might be considered premium on other vehicles. The cabin design incorporates many storage cubbies and spaces. The driver’s seat includes eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support.
©Nick Shoe/Shutterstock.com
The entertainment system features a 15.5-inch touchscreen and six speakers. The owner’s iPhone can be used as a key to unlock the vehicle. The vehicle features a push-button start and a universal garage door opener. 12-volt outlets are available in both the front console and the cargo area.
Ford designed the Mach-E Premium with all of these features and some extras. Standard features included a heated steering wheel, multicolored ambient lighting, a 360° camera with a split view, and a front washer.
BlueCruise 1.2 semi-autonomous driver assistance technology enables hands-free driving on the highway. Consumer Reports recently awarded BlueCruise first place among active driving assistance systems. The system offers collaborative driving, enabling the driver to take over driving briefly without switching off BlueCruise.
Comfort and convenience features don’t end there. Both the driver’s and passenger’s seats adjust eight ways with powered, not manual, adjustment. Both front seats are heated, and perforated seating material is optional. The sound system is upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen system with 10 speakers.
Price
Potential drivers choosing between the Mach-E Select and Premium trims will weigh all the pair’s other features in the final scale of all purchase decisions: price. The two trims offer pricing that’s only about $5,000 apart when looking at the base MSRP.
Before the customer adds any options packages, the Mach-E Select is priced at $ 45,995. The Mach-E Premium carries a base price of $50,995. Ford is looking to cut its Mustang Mach-E prices to challenge Tesla, which is also reducing its prices, Road & Track reports.
Interested parties choosing a lease will pay $606 monthly for the Select versus $636 per month for the Premium on a 39-month lease, according to Ford. Buyers opting to finance an 84-month car loan for an outright purchase would pay $653 per month for the Select.
For the Mach-E Premium, the monthly financing payment jumps to $721 monthly on average. All these scenarios assume a $4,750 to $5,250 down payment.
Customers leasing a Ford Mustang Mach-E will typically pay just $30 more per month for the Premium. The gap grows to $68 per month for 84-month financing. Buyers picking 36-month financing, Ford’s shortest, may see the difference in Select versus Premium monthly payments increase to almost $200.
Tax Credits
Ford notes that the Mustang Mach-E is eligible for the $7,500 maximum federal tax credit under the new rules introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act. Under the original scheme, the lowest trims of the Mach-E would have barely qualified, with a $55,000 cutoff.
However, the IRS reclassified many crossovers as SUVs, raising the maximum MSRP for eligibility to $80,000. While some top-level trims loaded with every conceivable option might break this threshold, the Select and Premium do not.
Buyers of both Mach-E Select and Mach-E Premium crossovers should be able to claim the full $7,500 tax credit for their purchase.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Premium: 5 Must-Know Facts
- Both trims come with a 70-kWh battery offering 247 miles range, but the Mach-E Premium has a 91-kWh, 310-mile optional battery for $8,600.
- Both trims include a 4.7 cubic foot frunk (front trunk) and 59.7 cubic feet maximum rear cargo space.
- The Select features manual mirrors and a liftgate, and the Premium includes power mirrors and a liftgate.
- An AWD upgrade is optionally available for both, increasing torque and reducing 0-60 mph times.
- Base MSRP is $45,995 for the Mach-E Select and $50,995 for the Mach-E Premium.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Select vs Premium: Which One Is Better?
Both the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select trim and the Mach-E Premium trim are high-quality, enjoyable-to-drive crossover SUVs. Neither is a bad choice and both offer very similar dimensions and features in many regards.
However, there’s also no doubt the Premium trim lives up to its name, even if it can’t rival the California Route 1 or GT. It takes all of the features found on the Mach-E Select and refines them further.
For instance, both have a liftgate, but the one on the Select is manual while the Premium offers the convenience of a powered opening. Both seat five and have similar zero-to-sixty times, but the Premium’s bigger battery option offers 25% more range per charge.
For those who can afford to pay a little extra, the Mach-E Premium provides a more polished and satisfying set of features. Drivers leasing the Mustang Mach-E pay very little extra to upgrade to the Premium. The difference in monthly payments when financing a purchase is worth deeper consideration. However, the difference still amounts to only about 10%.
Choosing the 91-kWh extended-range battery makes the price gap more pronounced with its $8,600 price tag. However, the time savings from less frequent charging probably make the Mach-E Premium worth it to those drivers who can afford it; meanwhile, the option isn’t even available on the Mach-E Select.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mike Mareen/Shutterstock.com.
