2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally Review
The Mach-E Rally isn’t a full-blown off-road racer, but it does give you a taste of the electric slide
SEATTLE — Reports of the death of the electric car are greatly exaggerated.
Yes, sales growth has slowed a bit, but that’s natural. Initially, we were supply-limited with not enough EVs for all the buyers. Now, every carmaker has released new electrics — some better than others — so anyone wanting an EV can buy one.
However, increased supply doesn’t necessarily translate to increased demand. Many automakers believed that making more electric cars would automatically result in higher sales. However, as supply increased, demand plateaued, leading to a surplus of EVs. This is basic economics.
Despite this, EVs are here to stay. They’re not going anywhere, and there’s still a lot of innovation happening in the industry.
In a campaign speech earlier this year, Donald Trump mentioned rolling back the 2030 EV mandate put in place by the Biden administration. However, he wasn’t advocating against EVs; rather, he suggested that the market should decide. This implies that for EVs to compete, they need to offer interesting features comparable to those of gas-powered cars.
Which brings us to my recent trip to Seattle to test the new Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally. This off-road-focused twist on Ford’s electric car includes a lifted suspension, different tires and aerodynamic elements. Most importantly, it features custom software designed to handle loose surfaces.
Think of rallying as blasting down a forest trail at maximum speed, using the loose surface and lack of grip as an asset rather than a liability. Drivers will enter a turn completely sideways, waiting for the car to slide into position, then blasting up the trail, ready to do it again on the next turn. It’s fantastic — and insane. The Mach-E Rally isn’t a full-blown off-road racer, but it does give you a taste of the electric slide.
Unlike traditional gas-powered cars, which rely on clever differentials and fancy hardware to drive power to the wheels, the Mach-E Rally uses two motors — a larger one in the back and a smaller one in the front, one for each axle.
Instead of hardware wizardry, software wizardry sends power to the front or back wheels. While it may not compete with off-road rally-focused cars like the Subaru WRX STi, it’s perfect for those who want to take their car to a rally school, drive off-road or just have a cool-looking vehicle.
The Mach-E Rally stands out with its Shelby striping and a massive rear wing, adding to its visual appeal. The regular Mustang Mach-E offers several drive modes, including the sportiest “Unbridled” mode. The Mach-E Rally adds a “Rally” mode, which provides more power bias to the rear, allowing the tires to spin more and freeing up the traction and stability control systems. You can further loosen the traction control for more wheel spin or even turn off the system entirely for more sliding and 360-degree spins.
Our test drive took place at DirtFish, a rally school in Snoqualmie, Washington. The facility is gorgeous and a great place to learn how to rally. We started on a small, gravelly autocross course to get a feel for the car. The Mach-E Rally, despite its heavy battery, is impressively balanced. With a touch of the brakes, you can shift the weight over the front wheels, making it eager to turn in, somewhat like an enthusiastic puppy. While it may not be precise, it offers an exhilarating driving experience.
We then moved on to a longer course with more expansive, faster turns to see what the Mach-E Rally was capable of. The car’s abilities well-exceeded my own, and it was surreal to navigate a rally stage without the noise of an engine: just the sounds of grip, rocks, dirt and mud.
The drive was impressively predictable, a testament to Ford’s software team since almost every input has to run through a bunch of computers to result in the car doing what you want. That’s true with a lot of cars these days, to be fair, but especially so with an electric car.
The trip’s highlight was, as ever, a hot lap with a professional driver. He didn’t hold back, showcasing the Mach-E Rally’s true capabilities. It’s clear Ford could make a racing-focused version of this car, and I hope they do. An actual electric rally car would be impressive, which might not be surprising considering Ford’s recent focus on motorsports.
The Mach-E Rally reminds me of Subaru’s Wilderness edition. Both vehicles feature cosmetic enhancements, different colors, raised suspensions and unique wheels, adding personality to the cars. The Mach-E Rally shows that Ford has a sense of humor and isn’t just releasing an EV for the sake of it. They’re committed to special editions and customized versions, indicating Ford is not resting on its laurels.
One significant update in this year’s Mach-E is the new in-house designed and built rear electric motor. This motor, also used in the Ford F-150 Lightning, allows Ford to create its own software and calibration, resulting in a more impressive vehicle. I visited Rivian last year to see that company’s new in-house motor and learned how significant such a development can be.
Ford doesn’t see the need to introduce new EVs as frequently as General Motors. Instead, it’s focused on refining existing cars and preparing for the future. In the short term, Ford says the future looks like hybrids, something Toyota has known for over a decade. Long term, we’ll see. I’m still bullish on EVs, but it will take time for technology, infrastructure and public acceptance to catch up.
The tech will get better, the cars will get better, and we’ll end up with some truly impressive vehicles. I can’t wait to see what the Mach-E Rally looks like in 10 years.
Maybe I can come back to DirtFish and try it out again.
I grew up watching rallying (on TV and in-person), which was really popular in the 80s in England. It's always incredibly entertaining to watch. I really hope electric rallying takes off at some point.