5 Reasons to Avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E at All Costs

Key Points

• The Ford Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s all-electric reimagining of its iconic vehicle, combining the Mustang’s sporty heritage with the advantages of electric power.
• The Mustang Mach-E won Car and Driver’s first EV of the Year award in 2021.
• Reasons to avoid a Mustang Mach-E include flawed charging infrastructure, range anxiety, lengthy charge times, higher upfront costs, and higher maintenance and repair costs.

With its sleek design, impressive electric range, and the inherent allure of the iconic Mustang brand, the Ford Mustang Mach-E seems like an enticing choice for electric vehicle enthusiasts. However, before heading to the dealership, it’s crucial to consider the EV’s potential drawbacks and carefully weigh your decision accordingly. Let’s explore five compelling reasons why you should avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E at all costs.

5 Must-Know Facts About the Mustang Mach-E

• The Mustang Mach-E is a fully electric SUV that offers impressive torque for an EV. It ranges anywhere from 317 to 634 lb-ft. Plus, its electric powertrain delivers instant torque, which provides quick acceleration for a thrilling driving experience.
• Ford offers several different battery options for the Mach-E, allowing drivers to choose the range that best suits their needs. With the available extended-range battery, you can also travel longer distances on a single charge — reducing the need for frequent charging stops.
• The Mustang Mach-E provides a spacious and comfortable interior, especially for an SUV. It can accommodate both passengers and cargo, making it suitable for family outings or carrying bulky items alike.
• The first line of Mach-Es introduced drivers to SYNC 4: the latest version of Ford’s iconic infotainment system with a new and improved user-friendly interface, better voice commands, and more advanced smartphone integration.
• Ford is especially proud of the sheer number of sustainable materials incorporated into the Mustang Mach-E. This includes recycled plastics and synthetic leather implemented throughout the interior.

Mustang Mach-E Specs

The History of the Mustang Mach-E

The Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s all-electric reimagining of its most iconic vehicle. Presented in the form of a compact crossover SUV instead of the model’s traditional muscle car look, the Mustang Mach-E first emerged as a concept in 2019. Ford’s goal for this concept was to showcase its vision for an all-electric SUV while combining it with familiar elements from one of the manufacturer’s most memorable looks. Judging by the excitement and anticipation generated after its official debut, it feels safe to say Ford succeeded.

At its official debut event in Los Angeles in November 2019, Ford showed off the Mach-E in all its glory. Bringing together the Mustang’s sporty heritage with the advantages of electric power, the Mach-E’s performance specs were hugely impressive for an EV SUV. Production began in 2021, with first deliveries hitting the streets not long after. The Mach-E received refreshingly positive reviews for its sleek design, spacious interior, and enjoyable driving experience overall. Plus, its range of electric powertrain options allowed customers a great number of choices depending on their needs.

The car’s eco-friendliness, its array of innovative infotainment features, and its dependable electric range all make for an attractive-looking EV. Combine this with the inherent appeal of owning a Mustang, and it’s not hard to see why the Mach-E won Car and Driver’s first EV of the Year award in 2021. But, despite all it has going for it, the Mustang Mach-E is not perfect. There are still five serious qualms that suggest you should avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E at all costs. Let’s review them all below.

Why Avoid a Mustang Mach-E?

The Ford Mustang Mach-E represents a successful expansion of the Mustang brand into the electric vehicle market. It has garnered a ton of appeal by providing an exciting and eco-friendly option for customers seeking a sporty electric SUV with a recognizable brand name attached. However, this isn’t reason enough to purchase a Mustang Mach-E yourself. In fact, there are five legitimate reasons to avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E altogether. Let’s examine these reasons below.

Flawed Charging Infrastructure

One reason to avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E is the potential challenge of finding a charging station. While EV charging infrastructure continues to grow year over year, it’s still far less accessible than your traditional gas station is. This is especially true in suburban and rural areas. The further away you are from highly populated cities, the harder it’ll be for you to charge your Mach-E at a public station.

Anxiety Over Range

Going hand-in-hand with this previous point is the range anxiety that may come with driving a Mach-E. Some of the more affordable models offer ranges closer to 200 miles per charge. If you have a long commute to and from work and errands to run in between, your EV might not make it without scheduling a charge at some point. This can make driving incredibly stressful, which no one wants to experience behind the wheel.

Lengthy Charge Times

Most of us can fill up a gas-powered vehicle in five minutes or less. Even large tanks can fill up with gasoline in a jiffy compared to recharge times for an electric car. Without a fast charger, you’ll need to leave your Mach-E plugged in for anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. Depending on weather and battery conditions, that could be half your day’s waking hours stuck at home because your car needs to charge.

Higher Costs Upfront 

Electric vehicles are marketed as money-savers because drivers don’t have to spend any money on gas. However, this is just a generalization used as a marketing trick. The truth is that electric vehicles — including the Mustang Mach-E — have much higher upfront costs compared to traditional gas-powered counterparts. The Mach-E’s starting price is $44,795, and it only goes up from there. Sure, there still may be potential savings on fuel and maintenance over time. But that initial investment simply won’t work for many drivers on a budget.

Other Maintenance and Repair Costs

The extra costs don’t stop there, either. Even after paying more to drive off the lot, the Ford Mustang Mach-E can continue to nickel-and-dime you with higher maintenance and repair costs. This is a result of the EV’s many specialized parts combined with the limited availability of EV service centers nationwide. (After all, not every repair shop can work with new EVs.) This is a major concern that makes us want to avoid a Ford Mustang Mach-E at all costs.

In Review: Reasons to Avoid a Mustang Mach-E Today

While the Ford Mustang Mach-E looks sleek, markets an impressive electric range, and has the appeal of the Mustang logo, it might not be all it’s cracked up to be. If you’ve been considering a Mustang Mach-E, then it’s essential you carefully consider these drawbacks before making your decision to purchase. Let’s review these five drawbacks below.

• The Mustang Mach-E is held back by a flawed nationwide charging infrastructure
• Drivers might feel anxiety over the EV’s limited range
• It takes a long time for the Mach-E to charge to 100%
• The Mustang Mach-E is one of the pricier EVs on the market today
• EVs, including the Mach-E, can come with higher maintenance and repair costs

Similar Vehicles

• Mercedes EQB
• Rivian R1S
• Volvo EX90
• Tesla Model 3
• Subaru Solterra

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mike Mareen/Shutterstock.com.