2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally Review and Test Drive

Ford adds excitement to its electric Mustang with the new rally-inspired crossover that's ready to tackle the dirt.

Perry Stern | 

May 30, 2024 | 8 min read

Perry Stern

Ford made a bold move in 2021 when it expanded the legendary Mustang lineup with the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. While many enthusiasts felt that an electric crossover wearing the Mustang badge was sacrilege, the Mach-E delivers the style and driving fun associated with the prior-generation Mustangs.

Ford turns the excitement up a notch for the 2024 model, giving the GT more power and introducing the all-new 2024 Mustang Mach-E Rally to the lineup. The updates should help Ford maintain its position as the second-bestseller of EVs in the United States.

Ford positions the Rally at the top of a 2024 Mach-E lineup, which includes the base Select, mid-level Premium, and racy GT. Prices range from the low $40,000s to the low $60,000s, including the $1,895 destination charge to ship the EV from the Cuautitlan, Mexico, factory that builds it to your local dealership.

For this Mach-E review, Ford provided a Rally painted in Grabber Yellow. Almost everything is standard on the Rally. However, my test vehicle had the optional mobile charging cord and a three-year subscription to BlueCruise, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $64,490, including the destination charge.

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This Mach-E Is Ready to Rally

Ford engineers began planning a rally-inspired version of this high-performance EV years ago. They knew it had to do more than just look the part; a Mach-E Rally needed to provide credible off-pavement performance and survive the added wear and tear that comes with spinning tires and sliding around on rough surfaces. The result delivers on its promise.

The Mach-E Rally stands out from the rest of the lineup with sporty styling that includes a carbonized gray grille with integrated fog lights, a unique front splitter, a black roof, hood and trunklid stripes, 19-inch Oxford White rally-style alloy wheels, all-season performance tires, and a rear spoiler inspired by the Ford Focus RS. Subtle interior differences also differentiate the Rally, including unique dashboard trim, sport pedals, Oxford White interior trim accents, performance seats, and gloss-white seatbacks.

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Ford did more than add racing stripes, door graphics, and performance tires to create the Mach-E Rally. Ground clearance is half an inch higher than the Mach-E GT, and the Rally features a rallycross-tuned MagneRide adaptive damping suspension, an aluminum underbody shield, and a RallySport drive mode.

In addition, all 2024 Mustang Mach-E models get a new rear electric motor built in house by Ford that is lighter and more powerful. The result is a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain in the GT and Rally that delivers 480 horsepower and up to a tire-spinning 700 pound-feet of torque. According to Ford, the Mach-E Rally can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

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Excellent Handling and Grip in the Dirt and on the Road

Ford invited me to Dirtfish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington, to drive the new Mach-E Rally in its natural habitat. The Dirtfish course featured hairpin turns, long and sweeping curves, and high-speed straights, all with a gravel/dirt surface. It rained the entire day in typical Pacific Northwest fashion, adding mud and standing water to the course.

Before setting off, I selected the RallySport driving mode, which is unique to the Mach-E Rally. RallySport mode provides a more linear acceleration response, adds more aggressive suspension damping, and allows more yaw by adjusting the stability control. That relaxation of the stability control translates into more dramatic slides through curves and corners.

With all-wheel drive, grippy tires, and gobs of torque, the Mach-E Rally blasts away from a stop with speed building quickly. Approaching the first corner of the course, I lifted off the accelerator, turned the wheel, and slid the rear end around with a massive grin on my face.

Once the Rally nosed into the next straight, I got back on the accelerator, and the Mach-E Rally rocketed down the road, spewing gravel and mud in its wake. When I found I had built too much speed approaching a tight corner, the brakes did an excellent job of slowing the car before disaster could strike.

What makes this car so enjoyable on loose surfaces and in slick conditions is how easy it is to control. While sliding around the track and drifting through the long curves, the Mach-E's responses proved predictable, from throttle and steering response to braking and handling behavior. That predictability leads to trust, and that trust leads to a heck of a good time.

While the Mach-E Rally performs incredibly well in the dirt and mud, most buyers will likely spend most of their time on the pavement. The Rally is practically as quick as the Mach-E GT. It is 0.1 seconds slower to 60 mph than the GT with the Performance Upgrade. In addition, its rally-tuned suspension, which makes the ride pliable on rough surfaces, translates to a more comfortable ride on pavement. Nevertheless, it still handles well with excellent grip, even in rainy conditions.

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I expected more road noise from the Rally when cruising at higher speeds on the freeway, but while moving along at 70 mph on Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie the Mach-E Rally proved quiet and confident. There is always plenty of power on tap, and when you stab the accelerator at 60 mph to pass slower traffic, it will still push you deeply into the seat.

All 2024 Mustang Mach-E trims are available with the latest version of BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driver-assistance system. While on I-90, I engaged the system and could relax while the Mach-E stayed in its lane and went around curves without driver input. When the Mach-E slowed to match the speed of a vehicle ahead, all I had to do was activate the left turn signal, and the car changed lanes automatically, resuming the set speed.

While BlueCruise worked flawlessly most of the time, it could not function when rain and spray made it difficult to see. It is important to note that while BlueCruise is a hands-free system, it still requires the driver to pay attention to the road and has a driver-facing camera to ensure the driver isn't distracted.

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2024 Mach-E Sees Improvement in Range and Charging

In addition to making performance upgrades and introducing the exciting new Rally trim, Ford has improved the battery performance across the entire Mach-E lineup.

According to the EPA, a Mach-E with rear-wheel drive and an extended-range battery gets an estimated range of 320 miles, which is 10 more than before. That configuration earns an efficiency rating of 111/100/106 MPGe in city/highway/combined driving.

Comparatively, the more powerful Rally isn't as efficient. It earns a 265-mile range and a rating of 90/81/86 MPGe.

The 2024 Mach-E can charge faster than the 2023 version. Ford says models with the extended-range battery can get from 10% to 80% charge in 36 minutes on a DC fast charger, which is about nine minutes faster than before.

Ford Mustang Mach-E buyers have access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which now includes more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers. Customers who join the BlueOval network before June 30, 2024, receive a complimentary Tesla charger adapter.

I took a 2024 Mustang Mach-E to the local Tesla Supercharger, and the charging process was seamless. With an active BlueOval network enrollment, I simply attached the adapter to the Supercharger cable and plugged in the Mach-E. The charger quickly recognized the Ford, and charging began immediately.

In just eight minutes, the Mach-E went from 78 miles of range (40% charge) to 123 miles (61% charge), gathering more than 5 miles of range for every minute of charging.

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Competitors to the Mustang Mach-E Rally

The Mustang Mach-E is one of the bestselling EVs on the market, and sales continue to climb. With a range of high-tech features, a comfortable cabin, and good storage, the Mach-E works well as a daily driver, and it has the range and performance necessary to make it satisfying over the long haul.

With the Mach-E Rally, Ford is adding a new set of skills to the EV's portfolio. After spending time on and off the pavement in this exciting new variant, I've found the Rally has quickly become one of my favorite electric vehicles.

While the Rally is more expensive than the GT, its broader scope of capability makes it the one I would want. I might lose the racing stripes. Deleting them is an option.

While there are electric vehicles built to handle off-pavement excursions, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and Rivian R1S and R1T, I think no other EVs are tuned to handle loose surfaces at speed like a rally car.

Regarding performance and purpose, the closest matches to the Mach-E Rally would be a gas-powered Subaru WRX or, at the higher end, a Porsche 911 Dakar. Certainly not bad company to keep.

Ford provided the vehicle for this 2024 Mach-E Rally review and paid for airfare, lodging, meals, and driving experiences during the evaluation period.

Perry Stern

I have loved cars and trucks since childhood, and that fascination with anything that drives is just as strong today. As a teenager, I knew I wanted to become an automotive journalist, and during the past three decades, I have driven, written about, and photographed all manner of automobiles ranging from affordable econocars to exotic supercars. With the idea that there is a perfect car, truck, or SUV for everyone, my goal is to help consumers determine the right one for their wants and needs.