TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC GLEAMS

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E

Don’t be fooled by that name and its sporty heritage: Ford’s first mainstream electric car is an SUV. Still, there are some design hints of where the Mustang Mach-E has come from, including distinctive bonnet lines and rear taillights… along with the horsey badging. And it looks the part, though the low ground clearance isn’t ideal for off-road SUV larks.

Driving the Mach-E turns out to be a more interesting experience than we expected. You’ll be rewarded with some thrills, even from the rear-wheel-drive basic model. Select a drive mode to match your mood and it proves to be

a real driver’s car. It’s fairly affordable and spacious, with four doors and a family-friendly boot.

There’s a fake engine burble that can make you think you’re driving something else entirely. But this Mustang is zippy enough, while the GT edition is properly hot. Plump for an extended-range model if you’re looking to cover more miles, though – that’s a sensible bet if your nerves start to fray with a carload of impatient toddlers onboard.

Ford has got its interior ideas right on the money these days and the Mach-E is another hit in that area. You get lots of space, comfort and tech to fiddle about with, the seating is nice and bulky, and infotainment is well covered by the big central touchscreen. There’s also the latest incarnation of the Ford Sync voice-control system, which works to great effect.

While most of the laugh-out-loud