That old adage of wisdom “…from the mouth of children…” may not apply to my 21 year old nephew. Still, we’ll give the kid credit for summarizing the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD in a few words. During a week-long test drive of Ford’s latest performance, all-electric SUV, I took this smart guy to our regular dinner where we enjoyed an interesting meal and solved all the world’s problems. As he settled into the passenger seat, he noticed the sweet interior that was soaked in that new car smell carved from recycled materials.
His first judgment? “I like it. It’s cool.” As we pulled in at midnight, he remarked that the EV was smooth and comfortable. He’s less of an avid gear head, so it’s no surprise when he asks which car took him to his Indian dinner that night. I touched the center of the steering wheel and the galloping horse symbol. He looked at the image around the car and turned back to me: “No. This is not a Mustang.
There we have the combined problem of the Mustang Mach-E since it arrived in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, when saving the world was on everyone’s mind. The ecology-centric plug-in EV is a good-looking, sporty crossover/small SUV with decent range. All the while, it carries the iconic logo that should be reserved for the Mount Rushmore of cars and not the forced-burning of a Ford car that wanted to sink into the industry.
I’ve had four Mustangs over the years. My first ride at the age of 16 was a very used but good-spirited 1975 Mustang Mach I V8 with all its 122 horsepower. After wrecking it while driving between summer errands (I still have the ball on the gear shifter), I downgraded it to an underpowered but good-looking 1977 Mustang II Inline-Four. When Ford redesigned the Mustang in 1996, I was able to buy the new V6 version for my first job out of grad school. Finally, my 2011 Mustang GT 5.0L V8 makes a loud noise as I pull out of my Mustang class.
The common factor that ties all four of those cars to today’s Mustangs is the simple fact that they existed and they were all coupes. The type of classic model car is forever married to its identity. Ford wouldn’t make an F-150 hatchback, and Lincoln doesn’t sell a scooter and call it the Navigator Lite. It’s unfair for an automaker to simply take the most popular car it’s ever built and put its own badge on a crossover.
Still, given what it is more than what it’s called, the Mach-E Premium AWD is a very competitive EV. It uses two permanent magnet AC motors over the axles that produce 370 hp in extended range trim. The physics and nature of the torque from the electric motor lends exceptional acceleration to the performance of EVs, and the Mach-E Premium packs 500 lb-ft of torque, making a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds.
Range is just north of the 300-mile mark, while the battery charges from 10 percent to 80 percent in 36 to 40 minutes on a DC fast charger. The car comes with an adapter that will charge the car from any standard garage or outdoor outlet, but that functionality requires eight to 12 hours of uninterrupted charging time.
Inside the passenger compartment, there is a 15.5-inch vertical infotainment screen oddly placed in the middle of the dash. Still, the screen offers hands-free access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to the usual suite of Ford apps that the company puts on all of its 2026 vehicles.
The exterior aesthetics are as graceful as a crossover can be. The car segment is little more than large hatchbacks. However, the designers of the Mustang Mach-E have provided a flowing line from the front to the tail and a good running condition. The only detail that hearkens back to the classic Mustangs proper aside from the dash logo are the rectangular crossover taillights.
The driving experience is fun and practical. The quick acceleration of the trip is useful in traffic, and the distance is sufficient for any passenger’s needs. That nephew of mine loved the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD, and the fact that an EV is appealing to a social justice and climate change-minded young man as he settles into his first job.
However, he made it clear that, despite the car catching his eye at first, the marketing of calling the Mach-E Premium AWD Mustang upset him. When it comes to the automotive industry as the first horse car, authenticity is key.
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