On-Road or Off-Road—Just More Fun!
Ford handing over the keys to the 2026 Mustang Mach-E Rally meant fun seat time ahead, but not because we were headed to an off-road course. Our plan was a week of primarily highway driving from Southern California to the beautiful Monterey Bay. Our conclusion is the off-road bits and pieces that make the Mach-E Rally so fun in the dirt did not compromise its driving attributes and only slightly impinged on the efficiency.
Highway Cruising
Our 1,050 miles driving the Mach-E Rally was mostly on the highway with a bit on 17 Mile Drive and winding through Carmel Valley Road. Sadly Pacific Coast Highway was still closed just south of Big Sur, so we were unable to do the “up highway 101 and down Highway 1” loop. Make sure to add it to your roadtrip bucket list once there is news the coastal highway is reopening.
There are three driver-selectable drive modes—Whisper (Eco), Engage (Medium) and Unbridled (Sport) each offering a different driving experience. The Rally also has a RallySport mode for high-performance off-road driving.
The electronic all-wheel drive (eAWD) is standard, which means there are dual electric motors, one each for the front and rear axles. We spent most of our time on the highway in Engage, but then when encountering curves, we cut loose a bit, opting for Unbridled, because, well, why not!
The performance numbers for the Mach-E Rally are impressive, with 480 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque (unless equipped with the Performance Upgrade where the torque jumps to 700 lb.-ft.). Our 0-60 times were 3.8 seconds, while the Performance Upgrade drops it to 3.3 seconds. Both are plenty fast for merging onto the freeway as the instant, linear throttle response with all that wonderful torque available at any speed is what makes driving the Mach-E Rally so great.
While we didn’t seek-out any mountain twisties, we did encounter plenty of higher-speed sweeping and tight curves. The weight balance, with the batteries placed low under the floorboard, feels neutral, making for consistent and predictable cornering. The suspension smoothed-out road imperfections.
The Mach-E Rally gets 235/55/19 Michelin CrossClimate 2 all-season tires that are designed for on-road driving plus on snow, mud and gravel. Our Mustang Mach-E Rally had the MagneRide damping system and Brembo front brakes as standard equipment. The MagneRide, demonstrated here, allows the Mach-E Rally to adapt to changing road conditions for a smoother ride, while also maximizing track or cornering attributes. The four-wheel MacPherson strut with the multi-link independent suspension, combined with electric assist power steering made for confident and accurate driving.
BlueCruise
We had highway time, which allowed us to engage the BlueCruise hands-free driving system. BlueCruise is available to be used on more than 130,000 miles of divided highway across North America. The system utilizes a combination of road sensors, and also has an infrared camera to track the driver’s head movements and eyes, even when wearing sunglasses.
When BlueCruise senses a lack of attention to the road, warnings tell the driver to refocus and take control of the steering wheel. BlueCruise centers the Mach-E between lane lines, can bring the SUV to a complete stop and accelerate again, and can even change lanes when the driver moves the turn signal stalk. Have your Ford dealer sales representative take you out on the highway to demonstrate this cool feature.
Rally Getting Dirty
The Mach-E Rally is a tip-off some off-pavement fun is possible, but leave the rock crawling to the Broncos. In an earlier Mach-E Rally drive we got plenty of off-road, dirty and muddy seat time at the DirtFish Rally School, about 30 miles east of Seattle. Located in Snoqualmie, Washington, it is best known for being the setting for the 1990 television series, Twin Peaks. We experienced a flat autocross course that was a bit of dirt, sand and loose rocks, all in a persistent rain. The muddy puddles were a blast.
Next-up, we moved to a more challenging course where we were taken on a lead-follow reconnaissance lap, followed by getting a few laps solo. I learned what Ford engineers had in mind when they designed the MagneRide damper suspension. The Mach-E Rally handled flat in the corners and gripped without jarring or losing traction on a miserable gutted, loose gravel surface (miserable that is, if it was the street in front of your house!) with ease.
I was then introduced to Adrien Fourmaux, a professional driver on the Ford M-Sport World Rally Team. We were about to head-out on a third and even more challenging course, but this time with Adrien doing the driving and me hanging on. Strapped in and hooked-up to a HANS device, Adrien asked if I was ready. Like most of his passengers I may have been a bit over confident of what was coming even though I have driven many laps on race courses and done a fair amount of off-road driving. I gave my approval, then then it was 1, 2, 3 and launch!
What an absolute blast to ride with a professional that knows how to control a car on a wet, sloppy, muddy, rutted, demanding course where mere mortal drivers dare not venture. We went sideways more than straight. To go straight many times meant the rear of the Mach-E Rally was almost coming around. Adrien’s ability to pivot the car and place the front wheels exactly where they needed to be, to get through very high-speed corners, was amazing and a thing of beauty. When I asked about the balance of the 4,979-pound Mach-E Rally, his response was—“perfect.”
All-Electric Driving Range
The Mach-E comes in four model choices: Select, Premium, GT and Rally. All-wheel drive (AWD) is on all but Select, and rear-wheel drive available in Select and Premium. The all-electric driving range for each is:
- Select and Premium, RWD 260 miles
- Select Extended Range, RWD 300 miles
- Premium eAWD Extended Range 320 miles
- GT eAWD 280 miles
- Rally eAWD 265 miles
Charging
There are two ways to charge, with the most common plugging into either a home or public charger, the other is through regenerative motor braking. The Mach-E, depending on which trim, has either a 73, 88 or 91 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, and a 11.0 kilowatt (kW) on-board charger that can charge up-to 115 KW when using either a 150 kW or 350 kW DC fast charger.
DC fast charging times are 10-80% in 32 minutes for the extended range battery, and 10-80% in 32.3 minutes for the standard range battery. Level 2 charging takes between 11 and 14 hours, depending on the battery size. More charging details can be found here; the FordPass Connect Plug & Charge explained here.
One-Pedal Driving
Regenerative motor braking converts kinetic energy into electric energy and stores it in the battery. One-pedal driving, where lifting off the accelerator pedal slows and eventually brings it to a stop, is our preferred mode of travel in an EV. Ford’s system has no steering wheel-mounted paddles, but uses a simple on/off choice in the center-mounted touchscreen. This system, letting the computer set the regen level, is not unique to Ford, as Clean Fleet Report has found it on other EVs we have reviewed. The one-pedal driving learning curve was quick.
Mach-E: In and Out
Ford designed the Mach-E interior to be a familiar place for car buyers, not a futuristic cockpit. It’s modern and uncluttered. The power and heated seats are supportive and comfortable. The heated steering wheel has a good, solid thickness. The center armrest is deep for storing purses and bags, and the panoramic sunroof is large, opening the cabin for front and rear seat occupants.
The horizontal 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster provides vehicle operational information, including the all-important notifications when safely in BlueCruise. The 15.5-inch, vertical touchscreen handles the Sync 4 connectivity system that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and Waze navigation. The Mach-E Premium comes with a upgraded 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system that sounded great. There is no head-up display on the Mach-E.
The Mach-E has room for five passengers (four for longer distances) and cargo space that measures 29.7 cubic-feet. With the split rear seat folded, cargo space jumps to 59.5 cu.-ft., but that isn’t the only place to store stuff. Under the hood is a front trunk/frunk (2.6 cu.-ft.), which can hold a carry-on sized bag and has been cleverly designed with a drain to hold wet or dirty items, or even be packed with ice for beverages, and then cleaned out.
The distinctive Mustang exterior design heritage continues onto the Mach-E, including a long hood and the three LED tail lights that are sequential turn signals. Very oh-so classic Mustang. LED projector headlights and daytime running lamps frame the nose with the iconic lighted Mustang pony badge. To complete the exterior there is a power lift gate, heated power-folding outside mirrors that project Mustang pony puddle lamps, and the fixed glass panoramic roof. The sleek, smooth Mach-E is nearly devoid of badging, save for the nose and tailgate, and the lower front doors.
One note on the glass roof. Even though it is tinted, it is possible to get a sunburn. So, pack a hat or go here to find a shade.
Technology
The 2026 Mustang Mach-E is available with advanced driver-assist technology (ADAS) labeled Co-Pilot360 2.0. Features that help make driving safer and more confident include automatic emergency braking, blind spot and active lane control monitoring, post impact braking, evasive steering assist and adaptive cruise control.
FordPass Connect is standard, offering a 4G LTE Wi-Fi that can handle mobile devises and allows for over the air software updates. This is also where electric charging can be managed, including charging and payment through the Blue Oval Charge Network, the largest such network in North America with more than 106,000 charge ports. All Ford EVs will be able to use Tesla Supercharger network with approximately 3,000 stations and 35,000 charging ports in the United States.
Pricing and Warranty
The all-electric 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in four trims, with these base prices, including the $2,045 destination and delivery fee, but not including federal and state tax incentives. Please see a CPA before visiting your Ford dealer.
- Select $39,840
- Premium $42,640
- GT $55,440
- Rally $59,735
Warranties include:
- Bumper-To-Bumper – Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
- Battery – Eight years/ 100,000 miles
- Battery Capacity Coverage: Repairs or replaces the battery if it retains less than 70% of its original capacity within eight years/100,000 miles
- Roadside Assist – Five years/60,000 miles
- Corrosion Perforation – Five years/Unlimited
Observations: 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
We set out to see if the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally designed and outfitted for aggressively driving in the dirt and mud could be tamed for everyday milk and egg runs. It was, and it does.
Ford gives Mustang Mach-E owners every opportunity to express themselves, whether with rear or all-wheel drive, or starting with the standard Mach-E and adding performance and range with the GT and Rally.
The instant acceleration and performance are only the beginning as its every day practicality comes through very quickly. With ample passenger and cargo space, interior comfort features, and a smooth and quiet ride, the Mach-E is sure to replace many a gasoline powered crossover SUVs in garages everywhere.
The Mach-E compares well to any EV, so visit your local Ford dealer to check it out.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
