The Ford Mustang Mach-E was launched in 2021 amid a swirl of outrage as Ford dared to bestow its beloved pony car badge not only on an EV but also an SUV. But the controversy has largely died down over time, and purists are now simply a vocal minority. Whatever you feel about the name, the Mustang Mach-E has been largely successful, ranking as the second-best-selling non-Tesla EV in the segment. It was bested only by the Chevrolet Equinox EV in 2025—falling short by fewer than 7,000 units. Notably, the Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to get the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving capability, and only the Equinox EV and the Tesla Model Y offer similar tech.
Among the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s virtues are its advanced features, sharp handling, and sexy design. It also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which neither the Model Y nor the Equinox EV offer.
Our Ford Mustang Mach-E buying guide looks at how this electric SUV has evolved since its introduction, the best and worst versions to buy, and how much shoppers can expect to pay for one.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ford Mustang Mach-E years are the best?
We’d recommend the 2024 model year, because it’s the first one to receive a better-than-average reliability ranking from Consumer Reports and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), also the year when consumer complaints and recalls drop dramatically. The 2025 model year is also a good bet, with high predictive reliability scores and few complaints.
Which Ford Mustang Mach-E years are the worst?
The first three model years of the Mustang Mach-E are beset with consumer complaints and recalls, according to NHTSA, while the first model year had 328 consumer complaints and 12 recalls. The first three model years also receive a below-average predictive reliability score from Consumer Reports. In the first two years, the most significant concern was that the high-voltage battery junction box (HVBJB) was prone to overheating during DC fast charging or aggressive acceleration, while 2021 models also suffered from software freezes. Be aware that while latter years are more reliable, 2021 to 2025 models have been recalled for rear door latches that may not unlock if the 12V battery is low.
Is a used Ford Mustang Mach-E a good deal?
Whether or not the Ford Mustang Mach-E is a good deal depends on shoppers' tolerance for problems. It can be comparatively cheap to buy, with the first two model years often available for less than 50% of the original MSRP, but buyers will want to be sure that the HVBJB recall was completed. We think the best deal in terms of value and reliability is a 2024 model, and we’d opt for the well-specced Premium trim with the extended-range battery.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Fun to drive
- Standard advanced safety features
Cons:
- Lacks physical buttons for HVAC
- Choppy ride quality
- Would benefit from a head-up display
Ford Mustang Mach-E Generations
Ford Mustang Mach-E First Generation (2021-Present)
The first-generation Ford Mustang Mach-E stirred up some serious controversy when it came on the scene in 2021. In addition to being Ford’s first mass-market electric car, it was the first time we saw the Mustang nameplate on a (gasp) SUV. Whether or not shoppers agree that this electric SUV is worthy of the pony badge, the Mach-E is significant, because it was one of the first mainstream EV competitors from the Detroit Three and showed how committed the Blue Oval was to electrification. Prior to the Mustang Mach-E, Ford had dabbled in electrification with the Ranger EV and the Focus Electric, but they collectively sold less than 7,000 units, while the Mustang Mach-E sold 27,140 in its first year.
At launch, the Mustang Mach-E came standard with a single motor and rear-wheel drive, but a dual-motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) version was also available, along with both standard- and extended-range battery options with anywhere from 211 to 300 miles of range. There were also multiple power outputs starting with 266 horsepower and between 317 and 428 pound-feet of torque on standard-range models with RWD and AWD, respectively. Extended-range models deliver 290 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque with RWD and 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque in AWD models. Then there are the AWD GT and GT Performance models, which produce 480 hp and between 600 and 634 lb-ft of torque.
In its first model year, the Mustang Mach-E had five trim levels, including the Select, Premium, California Route 1, First Edition, and GT. The First Edition was dropped for 2022, and the California Route 1 was discontinued in 2024, when Ford added an off-road-focused Rally trim. From 2024, there are just four trims: Select, Premium, GT, and Rally.
The Mustang Mach-E has a lot of standard features, including a 15.5-inch vertical infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Ford’s Sync 4A operating system, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, front and rear USB ports, and 18-inch wheels. Available features include LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, a hands-free liftgate, panoramic fixed-glass roof, pony puddle lamps, multi-colored ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, a B&O premium sound system, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and active park assist. Performance-oriented GT models add 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, sport seats, and aluminum interior trim.
Ford’s Co-Pilot360 safety suite is also standard and includes reverse-brake assist, reverse parking sensors, lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist, and automatic emergency braking. Significantly, the Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to get the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving tech.
It’s also worth noting that the Mustang Mach-E has received a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for every model year. In 2024 and 2025, it even received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.
There haven’t been any major redesigns so far, just continuous improvements. For example, in 2022 the usable battery capacity and the range were increased. In 2023, the standard-range models switched to a lithium iron phosphate battery for improved durability and longevity. This was also the year Ford committed to the North American Charging Standard (aka Tesla’s charging system), and started promising NACS adapters to its current owners, which arrived in 2024.
Shoppers considering a used Ford Mustang Mach-E should be aware of its numerous known issues, which range from annoying to catastrophic. The most significant is the aforementioned HVBJB failure, which affects 2021 and 2022 models with the extended-range battery, especially GT trims, and it can leave the car immobile. Early fixes included software patches, but the hardware itself needs to be replaced for a full repair.
Other problematic issues include the roll-away risk on 2024–2026 models, which can be fixed with a software update, and 12-volt battery failures on 2021-2023 models, which can also be fixed with a software update. Issues that are more annoying than truly problematic include Sync 4A software freezes, windshields and glass roofs that weren’t properly bonded (2021), the rear camera not displaying (2021–2023), and rear door latch failures (2021–2025).
At the time of writing, the average price for a used Mustang Mach-E was around $32,000, according to CarGurus used pricing data, but average prices can range from $23,000 for a 2021 model to $39,000 for a 2025 example. We saw more than 1,500 used listings nationwide, with prices ranging from $16,000 to $72,000, and there were plenty of clean, sub-60,000-mile options below $30,000. There were close to 150 examples from the 2024 model year—our top pick—with prices ranging from $25,000 to $52,000.
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