The Mach-E is Fords first true electric car. Sure, Ford has produced some compliance EV’s for California etc such as the Focus EV previously. However, the Mach-E is Ford’s first car designed from the ground up as an EV, and its an SUV, with a Mustang badge on it…I’ll get to my thoughts on that branding choice at the end of this post. Let’s get to the important things though, what can it tow? Well, most versions of the Mach-E, and there is quite a few are rated to tow but only 750 kg. Two AWD versions can tow up to 1,000kg though.
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Key Ford Mustang Mach-E Specs
- Official Towing Capacity – 750 kg to 1,000 kg (SR and ER AWD)
- Availability – Now
- Price – Starting £47,530 (SR RWD) > £68,030 (GT)
- Range (EV Database) – 215 miles (SR AWD) > 280 miles (ER RWD)
- Estimate Towing Range (50%) – 108 miles (SR AWD) > 140 miles (ER RWD)
- Maximum DC Charge Rate – 107 kW
- Rapid Charge 10% to 80% – 38 min
- Check Used Ford Mustang Mach-E Specs
Ford Mustang Mach-E HP & Torque
- SR RWD – 266 HP and 317 lb-ft of torque
- SR AWD – 266 HP and 428 lb-ft of torque
- ER RWD – 290 HP and 317 lb-ft of torque
- ER AWD – 346 HP and 428 lb-ft of torque
- GT – AWD with 480 HP and 612 lb-ft of torque
Ford Mustang Mach-E Towing Capabilities
So in the US as I wrote on my Ford Mustang Mach-E page on electrictowcars.com, the Mach-E has no towing capacity at all. For the UK versions, we do technically get a towing capacity of 750 kg on most models with the AWD SR and ER getting a bump up to 1,000kg. However really, the Mach-E is not competitive to the other electric tow cars on sale and coming to the UK.
The Mustang Mach-E will have half the towing capacity of the Nissan Ariya (1,500 kg) and quite a bit less than the 1,200 kg of the VW ID.4. There are versions of the Mach-E which will compete directly on price with those cars. Hence, as an electric tow car, the Ford Mustang Mach-E as it currently stands will be one to avoid.
So on to that choice of naming the car a Mustang. Now, in the UK we don’t have such a loyal customer base for Mustang branded cars as in the US, namely because its only recently you could actually buy a Mustang from Ford without importing one.
However, most car buyers in the UK will know of the Mustang brand and the type of cars that badge has been put on. Therefore, even UK buyers will probably look at the Mustang badge on the Mach-E with a bit of confusion. Well, Ford has attempted to address that confusion with the video below.
So this isn’t the first time an EV manufacturer has stated their car does and does not have towing capabilities depending on where you live. Tesla did it with the Model 3, which has a UK tow rating of 1,000 kg but no official US tow rating.
Though that hasn’t stopped some US Model 3 owners from retrofitting the car to tow. The Polestar 2 and the Nissan Ariya are two other examples of EV’s with different US and UK towing specifications.
Why does this US/UK towing disparity between the same EV’s keep happening? Its still not completely clear. Some have suggested its due to different towing regulations/restrictions in different markets. That maybe be part of it.
However, I feel it likely has more to do with manufacturers’ concerns over the car’s range, with US customers more likely to take longer journies than those in the UK for example. With a heavier trailer decreasing range more rapidly.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Review
There are lots of reviews out there on the Ford Mustang Mach-E. However, the one which I think summarises the pros and cons of the vehicle as succinctly as possible is from What Car. Namely, while the range of some versions of the Mach-E are above average, the pricing and features/build quality struggle compared to the competition.
The review above concludes that while the cheaper RWD versions of the Mach-E can appear as good value, the AWD versions on price put it in direct competition with the likes the BMW iX3 and Jaguar I-Pace which in several regards are better vehicles.
Though I will also note, both of those examples of the BMW iX3 and Jaguar iPace are not great electric tow cars with a poor 750kg towing capacity. So that’s something they do have in common with the Mustang Mach-E. To further emphasise this point on high pricing though, the Mach-GT is £67K!
My Thoughts On The Ford Mustang Mach-E….
So as you can probably guess, for me the Ford Mustang Mach-E is disappointing as an electric tow car, and to be honest, as an EV in general. In the ‘Making of the Mustang Mach-E’ video I’ve included above, Ford admits the Mach-E originally started its life as another EV compliance car for the US market, to meet Californian regulations etc. Hence, that’s where I think the problems start with the Mach-E.
I think Ford then realised that they were being left behind pretty quickly in the EV game and thought don’t worry, we can change the styling, put a Mustang badge on it and we’re properly in the EV game! The problem is, when you actually compare the Mach-E against the competition, I don’t see how it makes logical sense to choose this car. Sure, if you like the styling and that’s the most important to you, that’s a personal preference.
On the whole ‘Mustang’ branding controversy, I have no personal emotional attachment to the Mustang brand, but I know some people do. I don’t believe their concerns are about an electric Mustang, its more that an SUV has a Mustang badge on it. Ford as you can see from their video are fully aware of the potential backlash from existing customers, and they feel they have designed a car that can reflect what a Mustang should be.
I think the car looks ok personally, but I do find the choice of using the Mustang branding risky. Ford has tried to leverage the Mustang brand to promote a Sports Utility Vehicle which is obviously lacking in the utility department if you are interested in towing.
Therefore what remains? A Mustang with a larger boot and better leg/headroom? Personally, I would have saved the Mustang branding for EV coupes and convertibles without risking a brand built off over half a century of previous vehicles.