- The Mustang Mach-E Rally is simply a high-performance, off-road mentation of Ford's flagship electrical SUV.
- I was impressed by the Mach-E Rally's spirited performance, bold looks, and comfy cabin.
- I didn't person galore gripes, but I would person liked much than 265 miles of scope for agelong roadworthy trips.
Ford, Mustang, EV, SUV, and rally car are a postulation of words nary 1 ever expected to beryllium successful the aforesaid condemnation conscionable a fewer years ago. But that's precisely what Ford has fixed america with the Mustang Mach-E Rally.
I precocious had the accidental to thrust the peculiar variation racing variant, implicit with eye-catching Grabber Yellow overgarment occupation and achromatic off-road racing-inspired wheels.
It's meant to vie with different blistery hatchbacks similar the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 5 XRT.
I was impressed with its driving dynamics, rallycar styling, and comfy interior. And adjacent with the awesome show and showy exterior, the Mach-E Rally proved to beryllium a comfortable, easy-to-live-with electrical SUV that worked large connected regular commutes.
The Mexico-made Mustang Mach-E starts astatine conscionable nether $38,000.
My range-topping Mach-E Rally starts astatine $58,490, but fees and optional extras similar BlueCruise driving propulsion the as-tested terms to astir $64,000.
Ford utilized the high-performance Mach-E GT arsenic the starting constituent for the Rally.
The Rally trim gains achromatic racing lines down the mediate of the hood and a brace of fog lamps integrated into the beforehand grille.
The achromatic racing stripes proceed to the tiny rear decklid.
The astir salient diagnostic exclusive to the Rally is the ample spoiler mounted to the apical of the liftgate was inspired by the Focus RS, Ford's erstwhile road-going rally car that went retired of accumulation successful 2018.
In summation to the spoiler, the Mach-E Rally gets peculiar decals connected the beforehand doors and achromatic 19-inch alloy wheels that lucifer those recovered connected rally racers.
Despite its off-road pretensions, the Mach-E Rally boasts a somewhat constricted 5.8 inches of crushed clearance, astir an inch much than the Mach-E GT but abbreviated of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT's 7 inches.
My trial car came with the a keyless introduction system.
The SecuriCode keypad, located connected the beforehand doorway pillars, allows keyless introduction via a programmable five-digit code.
The Rally is equipped with a 91 kWh lithium-ion artillery pack, the largest disposable connected the Mach-E.
The large artillery helps the Rally execute an EPA-rated 265 miles of range, which acold outpaces the 221 miles of Hyundai's retro-rallycar styled Ioniq 5 N.
As with different Ford EVs, it has entree to the Tesla Supercharger network.
The Mach-E Rally is powered by a brace of electrical motors mounted to each of the vehicle's axles, creating what Ford calls an eAWD system.
The 2 motors harvester to nutrient 480 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque, identical to the Mach-E GT.
Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving strategy worked large connected consecutive stretches of highway,
Ford built an EV that drives similar a legit rally car.
In regular operation, the Rally drives similar a docile EV crossover, with its traction absorption systems stepping successful to support the acquisition connected the consecutive and narrow.
With the RallySport thrust mode turned on, the Mustang EV comes alive. The mode, designed to maximize show connected high-speed, multi-terrain contention courses, quickens throttle response, dials backmost the traction power arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, and turns up the strength of the faux motor sound piped done its speakers.
Although I didn't get the accidental to instrumentality the Mach-E Rally off-road, it truly dazzled connected the winding roads successful the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Handling was speedy and precise, and the specially tuned adjustable magnetorheological damper helped optimize traction portion keeping the EV nether power adjacent arsenic roadworthy conditions changed.
According to Ford, the 5,000-lb Mustang Mach-E Rally tin bash 0-60 mph successful conscionable 3.4 seconds, which is not acold disconnected the 3.25-second clip of the 641 horsepower Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
The Mach-E's compartment feels astute and modern.
Buttons and switches are mostly good placed, and determination are plentifulness of retention and charging options. My lone ailment is with the ample measurement dial astatine the bottommost of the infotainment screen, which doubles arsenic the instrumentality velocity power for the AC system. This makes it intolerable to usage the dial without taking your eyes disconnected the road.
The Mach-E's compartment centers connected its monolithic 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen.
I recovered the Mustang Mach-E's infotainment strategy to beryllium precise responsive and casual to navigate. I particularly similar the shortcuts that let you to rapidly revisit the surface you astir precocious used.
The Mach-E Rally features peculiar Ford Performance beforehand seats trimmed successful faux leather with imitated suede inserts.
Ford is usually beauteous bully astatine making comfy seats, but these were exceptional adjacent by my lofty expectations. They were brushed and supportive with bully adjustability and broadside bolstering. Sitting successful them conscionable felt similar a warm, reassuring hug.
Behind the rear spot is simply a coagulated 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
When the rear seats are folded down, the capableness increases to astir 60 cubic feet. Under the rear cargo floor, there's besides further retention for charging cables and different items.
My verdict: The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally drives similar a racer, but is comfy and applicable similar a household SUV.
Ford has a agelong and esteemed past of gathering legendary road-going rally cars, from the mid-engined RS200 to the highly sought-after Escort RS Cosworth.
To me, the Mustang Mach-E Rally is the latest successful that lineage of greatness, but with a twist.
Unlike those that person travel earlier it, the Mach-E Rally isn't a specializer conveyance constricted to play drives. It's got each the tech, niceties, and inferior to grip mundane beingness extracurricular the rally course.