New Ford Mustang Mach-E GT 2022 review

The new Ford Mustang Mach-E GT offers 480bhp and a 310-mile range so is it one of our favourite electric SUVs to date? We find out…

Verdict

When we first drove the Mustang Mach-E in 2020, we thought the pick of the bunch might be the entry-level rear-wheel drive model and after driving the new range-topping GT model, our opinion hasn’t changed. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E GT is an impressive electric car with acceleration to rival the fastest Teslas, but driving engagement doesn’t quite honour the pony badge, plus it’s expensive and doesn’t score well for practicality.

The Mustang Mach-E has been given the hard task of introducing Ford into the tough world of electric SUVs while also carrying the weight of expectation with that famous pony badge.

This new GT model is the fastest model yet and if any Mach-E will do the Mustang name justice, it should be this one.

We’ve already seen the RWD, entry-level version take a shock win against our former car of the year, the Tesla Model 3 – so we know the Mach-E is one of the best electric cars. On paper this new GT model looks even better.

It receives a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, with 480bhp and 860Nm, giving it a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds – which is enough to challenge Tesla’s Model Y Performance. Like most electric cars there’s impressive traction from a standstill and virtually no delay from throttle pedal input to acceleration. Even at motorway speeds the GT is able to offer more than enough power to make overtaking a doddle, but press on and you’ll find the GT’s initial punch begins to fade away.

The 98.2kWh battery the GT is bestowed with makes all this supercar-baiting straight line acceleration possible, and despite its high kerbweight of 2,273kgs, the GT is genuinely fun to drive on backroads too.

​​Ford’s MagneRide 2 adaptive suspension set-up manages to dial-out some of that weight in the bends with decent body-roll control, but try to attack a sequence of corners and you’ll notice it struggling to keep up. Considering it’s a big, electric SUV, the steering has a nice weight to it and it’s responsive enough, but it can feel a little vague at times.

There are a few driving modes available – Whisper, Active, Untamed and Untamed Plus. Each one slightly changes the car’s focus from ‘calm and quiet’ in Whisper to ‘exhilarating’ in Untamed (Ford’s words, not ours). Even in Untamed mode you’ll get the sense the Mach-E GT is on your side. On corner exit you can apply its instantaneous torque to highlight its rear-drive bias, while Ford has made sure the traction control isn’t too intrusive either. There’s been a clear attempt to give the Mach-E GT entertaining driving dynamics and while it’s still a way off its internal combustion-engined Mustang cousin, it’s one of the more fun EVs on sale.

The huge 385mm Brembo brakes have excellent stopping power and there’s decent feel once you push on, but in town they’re difficult to modulate and can be quite bitey – making the Mach-E GT tough to drive smoothly at low speeds. Fortunately, the GT comes with a regenerative braking one-pedal driving mode which helps eliminate the problem.

When we first drove the GT on a smooth Croatian test route, we had no complaints with the ride quality, and on rougher UK roads the Mach-E manages to cope well. The stiffer chassis and 20-inch wheels mean that even in its softest Whisper setting, potholes and bumps can still unsettle the ride, but it’s far from uncomfortable.

At £66,280, the Mach-E GT costs £23,750 more than the entry-level RWD model and there are some exterior enhancements to reflect the additional outlay. Body-coloured wheel arches, GT-branded sill plates, redesigned bumpers with a new grille and those larger 20-inch wheels are all standard on the GT.

The interior gets Ford Performance seats and all the standard kit from the AWD Extended Range model – including wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

An impressive 15.5-inch touchscreen sits in the middle of the dash and it’s coupled with Ford’s latest SYNC4 infotainment. Unfortunately there’s nowhere to rest your arm so it can get quite wearisome, although the touchscreen itself is responsive and the system is easy to use. A smaller 10.2-inch display behind the steering wheel highlights all key information so you’re never distracted by the larger central screen.

The GT is adorned with quality leather and soft touch plastics and with the optional panoramic £995 sunroof, flat rear floor and plenty of storage areas the Mach-E GT is an enjoyable car to spend time in. It’s odd the Mach-E doesn’t receive the same steering wheel as the V8-powered Mustang, however. Boot space is slightly disappointing with just 402 litres in the rear and an additional 81-litre ‘frunk’.

The larger battery in the GT means a claimed 310-mile range is on offer, but you’ll struggle to get near that figure if you decide to tap into its performance credentials. Should you run low on battery, the Mustang Mach-E GT does at least have 150kW fast-charging capability – a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes 45 minutes.

Incoming upgrades to the rest of the Mach-E lineup will see the Standard Range RWD model getting as much as a 17-mile gain in range, possibly bumping it up to 293 miles. Given the price deficit it’s difficult to suggest the GT over that car, even with the scorching performance.

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