I drove Ford's Mustang Mach-E Rally. It looks like a life-sized Hot Wheels toy but is actually a fantastically fast electric SUV.
I was impressed by the Mach-E Rally's spirited performance, bold looks, and comfortable cabin.
I didn't have many gripes, but I would have liked more than 265 miles of range for long road trips.
Ford, Mustang, EV, SUV, and rally car are a collection of words no one ever expected to exist in the same sentence just a few years ago. But that's exactly what Ford has given us with the Mustang Mach-E Rally.
I recently had the chance to drive the special edition racing variant, complete with eye-catching Grabber Yellow paint job and white off-road racing-inspired wheels.
It's meant to compete with other hot hatchbacks like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 5 XRT.
I was impressed with its driving dynamics, rallycar styling, and comfortable interior. And even with the impressive performance and showy exterior, the Mach-E Rally proved to be a comfortable, easy-to-live-with electric SUV that worked great on daily commutes.
The Mexico-made Mustang Mach-E starts at just under $38,000.
My range-topping Mach-E Rally starts at $58,490, but fees and optional extras like BlueCruise driving push the as-tested price to around $64,000.
Ford used the high-performance Mach-E GT as the starting point for the Rally.
The Rally trim gains black racing lines down the middle of the hood and a pair of fog lamps integrated into the front grille.
The black racing stripes continue to the small rear decklid.
The most prominent feature exclusive to the Rally is the large spoiler mounted to the top of the liftgate was inspired by the Focus RS, Ford's previous road-going rally car that went out of production in 2018.
In addition to the spoiler, the Mach-E Rally gets special decals on the front doors and white 19-inch alloy wheels that resemble those found on rally racers.
Despite its off-road pretensions, the Mach-E Rally boasts a somewhat limited 5.8 inches of ground clearance, about an inch more than the Mach-E GT but short of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT's 7 inches.
My test car came with the a keyless entry system.
The SecuriCode keypad, located on the front door pillars, allows keyless entry via a programmable five-digit code.
The Rally is equipped with a 91 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the largest available on the Mach-E.
The big battery helps the Rally achieve an EPA-rated 265 miles of range, which far outpaces the 221 miles of Hyundai's retro-rallycar styled Ioniq 5 N.
As with other Ford EVs, it has access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
The Mach-E Rally is powered by a pair of electric motors mounted to each of the vehicle's axles, creating what Ford calls an eAWD system.
The two motors combine to produce 480 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque, identical to the Mach-E GT.
Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving system worked great on straight stretches of highway,
Ford built an EV that drives like a legit rally car.
In regular operation, the Rally drives like a docile EV crossover, with its traction management systems stepping in to keep the experience on the straight and narrow.
With the RallySport drive mode turned on, the Mustang EV comes alive. The mode, designed to maximize performance on high-speed, multi-terrain race courses, quickens throttle response, dials back the traction control as much as possible, and turns up the intensity of the faux engine noise piped through its speakers.
Although I didn't get the chance to take the Mach-E Rally off-road, it really dazzled on the winding roads in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Handling was quick and precise, and the specially tuned adjustable magnetorheological damper helped optimize traction while keeping the EV under control even as road conditions changed.
According to Ford, the 5,000-lb Mustang Mach-E Rally can do 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, which is not far off the 3.25-second time of the 641 horsepower Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
The Mach-E's cabin feels smart and modern.
Buttons and switches are generally well placed, and there are plenty of storage and charging options. My only complaint is with the large volume dial at the bottom of the infotainment screen, which doubles as the fan speed control for the AC system. This makes it impossible to use the dial without taking your eyes off the road.
The Mach-E's cabin centers on its massive 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen.
I found the Mustang Mach-E's infotainment system to be very responsive and easy to navigate. I especially like the shortcuts that allow you to quickly revisit the screen you most recently used.
The Mach-E Rally features special Ford Performance front seats trimmed in faux leather with imitated suede inserts.
Ford is usually pretty good at making comfortable seats, but these were exceptional even by my lofty expectations. They were soft and supportive with good adjustability and side bolstering. Sitting in them just felt like a warm, reassuring hug.
The rear cabin proved to be remarkably comfortable as well.
The comfy three-passenger faux leather and suede bench seat offers a competitive 38 inches of legroom, which is an inch or two short of the Ioniq 5 and Model Y.
Behind the rear seat is a solid 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
When the rear seats are folded down, the capacity increases to about 60 cubic feet. Under the rear cargo floor, there's also additional storage for charging cables and other items.
The rear cargo compartment is supplemented by a 4.7 cubic foot frunk under the hood.
The frunk, which has a drainage hole at the bottom of its plastic liner, can be filled with ice and used as a cooler when tailgating, Ford says.
My verdict: The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally drives like a racer, but is comfortable and practical like a family SUV.
Ford has a long and esteemed history of building 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 in that lineage of greatness, but with a twist.
Unlike those that have come before it, the Mach-E Rally isn't a specialist vehicle limited to weekend drives. It's got all the tech, niceties, and utility to handle everyday life outside the rally course.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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