POWER OF FLUX

The Ford Mustang Mach-E combines Mustang punch with EV crossover practicality. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

There’s an old saying that “the only constant in life is change.”

This is often attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus, who was active in around 500 B.C. However, outside of inspirational quote cards on Google and dubious A.I. search results, no substantial evidence exists that he ever actually coined that saying.

But what is more easily attributable to Heraclitus is the popular adage, “You could not step twice into the same river,” which is how Plato interpreted and paraphrased the former’s original work, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. This is rooted in Heraclitus’ doctrine of “universal flux,” which assumes that everything is constantly changing.

The speed, intensity and value of change certainly vary in different aspects of our lives, but it is arguably a constant presence. For instance, battery-electric vehicles (EV) have been around since the dawn of the automobile, but only now have these simple and silent-running conveyances reached new heights of popularity.

Even Ford has attached the EV resurgence to the decades-long legacy of its legendary Mustang pony car (much to the chagrin of traditionalists who were raised on V8 gasoline power). So, is the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E a change worth celebrating?

Aggressive style

For starters, this electric crossover certainly looks the part (especially in this striking Velocity Blue paint), bucking the soft curves and blob-like shapes that so many EVs go for.

Sleek and powerful LED headlights flank the color-keyed front panel that resembles the Mustang coupe’s familiar grill. The lower bumper scowls at anything that’s ahead, while the galloping horse perched proudly up front leaves no doubt what lineage this crossover hails from.

Down the side are more styling cues from the eponymous coupe, particularly the wide fenders and strong character lines that give the Mustang Mach-E a more muscular stance. Meanwhile, two-tone, 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/55-series tires let you peek at the bright-red calipers of the Brembo high-performance brakes.

Adding to the sleekness of the shape are the body-colored wheel arches and the electric door openers placed on the car’s pillars (perhaps due for change as more markets demand the return of mechanical door handles). The upward kink behind the rear doors is certainly reminiscent of the Mustang coupe’s silhouette.

But my favorite view of the Mustang Mach-E is from behind – the tri-bar LED taillights and black Mustang logo are nicely integrated under the prominent tailgate protrusion. And although the steeply raked rear windscreen eats into the average-sized, 402-liter cargo area, it sure as hell looks great.

The cabin is much simpler than rivals from BYD and Tesla, but lacks sparkle.

Comfortable interior

Inside, the Mustang Mach-E not only has a more functional aesthetic than EVs from BYD or Tesla, but is also considerably more accommodating to five passengers than its coupe cousin.

You get perforated ActiveX synthetic leather with red contrast stitching, while the 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated nicely onto the dashboard. The latter is also linked to a crisp, 10-speaker Bang and Olufsen surround-sound system and a clear 360-degree camera system.

Adding to the airiness of the cabin is the fixed panoramic roof – however, I wish that it could be opened for fresh air and had a sunshade to more effectively insulate the cabin from outside heat. Happily, the Mustang Mach-E has an immensely strong, dual-zone climate control system with rear vents for superb ventilation.

Kudos, as well, to Ford for making the Mustang Mach-E’s functions and controls easier to find and navigate than in the infuriating systems of many Chinese EVs. This includes separating the air-conditioning controls and offering quick tabs to vehicle settings.

Overall, the Mustang Mach-E is a nice place to be in, but it lacks the wow factor that a similarly priced BYD or Tesla offers – the denim-like material on the dashboard feels a little antiquated, while the use of hard plastics for some interior panels is rather unbecoming for a car in this price range.

The rear-quarter view is most reminiscent of the Mustang coupe, particularly the tri-bar LED taillights.

Mustang kick

When you attach the Mustang name to anything with four wheels, it must be breathtakingly fast.

The Mustang Mach-E certainly doesn’t disappoint – its 88-kWh battery pack and dual electric motors send 389 horsepower and 676 Newton-meters of torque to all four wheels, allowing you to do 0 to 100 km/h in under 5 seconds. And when you select the Unbridle drive mode, you even get a whirring sound that adds to the excitement.

But the Mustang Mach-E could use some workout tips from the coupe – the former may have a pliant ride, but the rather soft springs mean spirited driving results in considerable weight transfer for a performance EV. In addition, the light steering needs more feel, while those powerful Brembo brakes are operated by a slightly spongy pedal.

Nonetheless, this electric stallion should be much cheaper to run than its V8 cousin, especially when you master the regenerative braking that is (strangely) only available in the most aggressive Unbridle drive mode. Driven gently, we got 7.7 to 8.3-kWh whether in the city or on the expressway, allowing for up to 745 kilometers of range on a full charge.

And for total peace of mind, there’s the highly effective Ford Co-Pilot360 adaptive driver assistance system with life-saving features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation System, Lane Keeping System, Blind Spot Information System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Reverse Brake Assist.

The fixed panoramic glass roof allows for a bright cabin, but the lack of a sunshade lets too much heat in.

Change isn’t all bad

Overall, 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E successfully carries over most of the stylistic and performance attributes of the traditional Mustang, while integrating the advantages that only an EV crossover can provide.

But at P3,499,000, it faces very stiff competition from more modern rivals like the hugely powerful P3,299,000 Tesla Model Y Performance. And from the People’s Republic, the immensely luxurious Zeekr 7X AWD Performance offers more space and speed at P2,999,000, while the BYD Tang EV has seven seats and similar performance for P3,321,000.

But in a paradigm of universal flux, things can only get better for performance EVs. And I’m grateful that Ford is brave enough to have skin in the game, detractors be damned.